Latest news with #MarathondesSables
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Runner, 60, dies just seven miles into brutal 102-mile mountain race in USA
Elaine Stypula, a 60-year-old runner from Michigan, passed away just seven miles into the brutal 102.5-mile Hardrock 100 race in Colorado, United States, on Friday A 60-year-old ultra-runner sadly died while competing in a brutal 102-mile event in the United States. Elaine Stypula died on the side of a mountain just seven miles into the Hardrock 100 race in Colorado. The experienced runner was taking part in the event, which is known as one of the toughest in the world. It is raced over a 102.5-mile course through Colorado's San Juan Mountains, includes 33,197 feet of elevation gain and descent and has a 48-hour cut-off. Stypula, from Michigan, was only a few hours into the race when a rescue team and a helicopter medical unit were called out. And while they delivered CPR, she passed away on Friday in the remote mountains, 2.8 miles short of the event's first aid station. A statement read: 'On Friday July 11th, 2025, at 9:02 am, the San Juan County Sheriff's Office and the Silverton Medical Rescue team received a Search and Rescue call about a CPR in progress by the Hardrock 100 Safety Sweep Team members. 'The incident took place near Gold Lake on Little Giant Trail in San Juan County Colorado. The Silverton Medical Rescue team took 4x4 back country roads and then hiked in a quarter of a mile on the Little Giant Trail to the scene, which is a part of the Hardrock 100 course. 'Once arriving at the scene, the Silverton Medical Rescue Team hiked a quarter-mile up a steep, rugged, remote trail and once arrived performed resuscitation efforts on the patient. 'Unfortunately, the 60-year-old patient was pronounced deceased at 10:27 am. The San Juan County Colorado Coroner's Office has identified the 60 year old female as Elaine Stypula of Michigan. 'Responding to the call were the San Juan County Sheriff's department, Silverton Medical Rescue, along with a Flight for Life helicopter medical team to the search and rescue call.' "I want to extend my condolences to the family, friends and community of Elaine Stypula," said Keri Metzler, San Juan County Colorado Coroner's Office Hardrock 100 said in a statement: 'We are deeply saddened to share that a beloved member of our Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run family has passed away during this year's event. Our hearts are with their family, friends, and fellow runners as we grieve this tremendous loss. 'We are committed to caring for runners, crews, volunteers, and all members of our community through the event's duration and beyond.' Stypula was an experienced ultra-runner, having racked up more than 40 finishes of races of over 100 miles. She had taken part in Hardrock 100 once previously in 2018, dropping out at the 91.2-mile aid station after 45 hours and 14 minutes on the course. She had completed legendary races, including the Marathon des Sables, which is run across sand dunes in north Africa, the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, in the Alps, and Badwater 135 Mile, the ultimate test in California's Death Valley.
Khaleej Times
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Look: Abu Dhabi-based runner who ran 250km in deserts 9 times, says it 'saved his life'
The first time Ammar Sabbah ran 250km across the Sahara desert, he didn't do it for the glory. He did it because it sounded like fun. 'I love the desert and I love camping,' says the Abu Dhabi-based ultra-runner. 'So, when I heard about the Marathon des Sables — 250km, self-supported, sleeping in tents, carrying everything on your back — I thought, why not?' That casual 'why not' has since turned into nine finishes of the world's toughest footrace, with a tenth on the horizon. Now 57, Sabbah speaks about running like others speak of meditation — or religion. In fact, running has brought him closer to both life and death than he ever imagined. 'It saved my life,' he says. 'Twice.' Running into the void — and finding clarity The Marathon des Sables isn't a regular race. Held in Morocco, it's a week-long ultra-marathon through sand dunes and scorching temperatures, with competitors carrying their own food and gear. 'You get water stations. That's it,' says Sabbah. 'Everything else — sleeping bag, food, safety equipment — you carry on your back. It's not just a physical challenge. It's mental. Emotional. Spiritual.' During the longer stages, he often slips into a trance. 'Your brain goes into places. I've had full conversations with people who aren't here anymore. My late mother, my uncle. Sometimes it feels like I'm dreaming with my eyes open.' It's also when he writes — not with a pen, but in his mind. 'I love writing. I get poetry ideas during runs. Business ideas too. The basics of a piece just start to flow. Some of them I remember. Some get lost in the sand.' Desert highs and near-death lows Sabbah isn't driven by competition. 'I never trained to win,' he says. 'My goal was just to break into the top 150 once. My best was 242 out of 1,200. And I was thrilled.' But even as he pushed through race after race — Oman, Jordan, Morocco — something started to feel off. 'In 2016 I wasn't improving anymore,' he says. 'I thought, okay, maybe it's age. Maybe it's the ACL tear I'd had. I just wasn't getting faster.' Then came Al Marmoom Ultra Marathon in Dubai — another 250km. Sabbah wasn't planning to enter, but the organiser reached out directly. 'He said, 'How can we not invite the guy with the most desert ultras in the UAE?' So, I agreed.' The entry required a cardiologist's clearance. Sabbah wasn't worried. 'I'd just done a 100km race in Jordan. I felt fine.' But during the test, the doctor paused. Something was wrong. 'He told me, 'I don't think I can let you run.' Later, we discovered I had over 90 per cent blockage in a major artery. I was one heartbeat away from collapse.' He underwent urgent surgery. 'I went from being 'fit' to nearly dying, just like that. And it was because I signed up for a race. That's how running saved me the first time.' Training in sandstorms and city limits For Sabbah, training has never been about long hours. 'Daily runs are short. Never over 10km. Weekends we go longer — 30km maybe. And before a big race, we'd do a five-day desert camp: Run in the morning, rest, run again at sunset.' When he moved to Dubai in 2014, he lived near Al Marmoom and trained between office meetings. 'I'd go out for 45 minutes in the sand, then go back to work.' Now based in Abu Dhabi, he drives out to Al Wathba's artificial mountain area to run. 'You can still find that nice heavy sand, or gravel, or uphill. You train your mind more than your legs.' Still, he admits he sometimes overdid it. 'There were years I'd do two or three of these races in one season. I remember running in Oman, then Morocco three weeks later. Not a smart idea.' The second scare — the valve that almost stopped everything Years after his first surgery, Sabbah began feeling the same decline. 'I wasn't getting faster. The fatigue was back. Something felt off.' A second opinion confirmed it: the previous stent was fine, but his aortic valve was calcifying. Eventually, it was opening just 20 to 25 per cent — far from what the heart needs. In September 2023, he underwent open-heart surgery to replace the valve. 'I told my doctor, let's just do it. I don't want to lose my performance slowly. Let's fix it properly.' A year later — almost to the day — he was back in Jordan, running a 250km trail race through Petra and Wadi Rum. 'It wasn't my best performance. I was still in rehab. But emotionally? It was everything. The nostalgia. The silence. The people asking, 'Where have you been for so long?' It was like coming home.' No carbs, no gels — just grit and fat-burning A clinical nutritionist by training, Sabbah has re-thought everything about endurance fuelling. 'For years, we all followed the high-carb diet. Energy gels, pasta loading — all of it. Now, I've switched to low carb. I run without sugar. Without gels. I go straight into fat-burning.' He's careful not to push extremes. 'I'm not fully keto. And I worry the new trend is the same mistake — just in the other direction. But for me, this works.' He adds: 'I have degrees in biochemistry, clinical nutrition, exercise physiology. And after all that, I still believe everybody is different. You've got to find what works for you.' Sabbah now owns Arena Fitness in Abu Dhabi, where he combines decades of ultra-running experience with professional expertise in clinical nutrition and exercise physiology. But he's careful not to glorify suffering. 'We've made overachievement look glamorous. But if you're running ultra-marathons just to prove something on LinkedIn — that's not it.' His advice? 'Only do this if you love it. If you don't have the passion, the pain won't be worth it. But if you do — it's the most beautiful experience you'll ever have.' And if he's not enjoying it? 'I don't run. I haven't run in six weeks,' he said, laughing. 'My mind's busy with business. I'll get back to it when I feel like it.' When asked what's next? Sabbah says he hasn't picked his next race yet, but Morocco is calling. 'I want my tenth Marathon des Sables; it would be the 40th anniversary; I'm not sure I'm ready… but I might just go anyway.'
Belfast Telegraph
14-06-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
NI man tackles famous seven-day marathon in Sahara desert to raise funds after son's life-threatening diagnosis
A Lisburn man recently completed a 250km Sahara adventure to raise funds for the BHF after his son was diagnosed with a heart condition Darran Cusick undertook the Marathon des Sables to fundraise for the British Heart Foundation after his teenage son Ashton was diagnosed with a heart condition. Travelling the world through his work, and being used to working in extreme temperatures for 20 years means Darran was well used to the sun when it came to his ultramarathon participation.
Belfast Telegraph
14-06-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
NI man completes gruelling desert marathon to raise funds for British Heart Foundation after son's life-threatening diagnosis
A Lisburn man recently completed a 250km Sahara adventure to raise funds for the BHF after his son was diagnosed with a heart condition Darran Cusick undertook the Marathon des Sables to fundraise for the British Heart Foundation after his teenage son Ashton was diagnosed with a heart condition. Travelling the world through his work, and being used to working in extreme temperatures for 20 years means Darran was well used to the sun when it came to his ultramarathon participation.
Morocco World
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
2026 Marathon des Sables: Registrations Open for ‘the Hardest Foot Race on Earth'
Registrations opened on June 11 for what has been dubbed 'the hardest foot race on earth,' a grueling 250km ultra-marathon through Morocco's Sahara desert. The Marathon des Sables (MDS) Legendary event is a 6-stage ultra-marathon race, with competitors racing 20 to 80km each day across the harsh desert terrain. The MDS Legendary race is a 11 day event, with 9 days in the Sahara desert and 6 days of racing. Competitors may run or walk the race, each trying to get to the end to claim the title of 'legend.' MDS is conducted in self-sufficiency, requiring competitors to carry their gear and food, while water and tents are supplied by the organisation. The race occurs in April where temperatures in the desert often fall between 15 to 30 degrees celsius. Racing through the desert across the sand dunes and rocky paths, contestants of the MDS Legendary are battling more than just intense heat, with wind, sandstorms and rain occasionally breaking up the monotony of the clear blue skies. This year celebrates the 40th edition of the classic MDS in the Sahara desert. The race will take place between April 3-13, 2026, with registrations for the event opening on June 11. MDS Legendary brings together participants from all corners of the globe, from seasoned runners, to your everyday adventure junkie. Past competitors have described the mood at camp as jovial and full of camaraderie. Everybody is out there to achieve something great, running for themself, a family member or a charity. Each day is a new chance to push the boundaries of what the human body can do. Past edition of MDS The2025 MDS Legendary saw approximately 1200 competitors and a 95% completion rate. This is higher than prior years, likely due to changes in the way the race is managed like the introduction of stock cubes for rehydration, cold water for cooling, and the elimination of water rationing at checkpoints throughout the race. Rachid El Morabity was the fastest male competitor, securing his 11th title in the time of 20:55:47. Meanwhile, Maryline Nakache reclaimed her 2023 crown as the fastest female, in a time of 23:57:20. The fastest competitors averaged overall speeds just over 12km per hour. This is incredibly speedy to have traversed 250km through the dunes of the desert, and the races are only getting more competitive. MDS advises that the average speed of the racers is 5.5km per hour, with a minimum cut off time of 3.5km per hour. In 2025, the slowest competitors took about 75 hours, covering closer to 3.3km per hour. While plenty of athletes return each year to race this grueling ultra-marathon, many others are there to undertake an adventure of their lifetime. One 2025 competitor said that ever since she had discovered the MDS, she had been determined to complete it. Another was racing her 15th MDS all while battling cancer. Others claim to be running for their partners and their children. Every competitor has their own motivations and their own story. While running an ultra-marathon across the Sahara desert is undeniably hard and painful, each competitor is proud to have achieved something amazing, with many claiming it is the 'adventure of a lifetime.' The number of runners enrolling in marathon and ultra-marathon events has increased exponentially over the past 20 years, following the increased visibility of marathons and ultra-marathons in media around the world. With more and more competitors each year, registrations for MDS and other running races are becoming more competitive.
