Marathon des Sables 2015: MdS Route, Start Time, Date and TV Info

The Marathon des Sables is the toughest footrace on Earth.

There are plenty of people in this world who've never run 150 miles in a lifetime. The roughly 1,500 people headed to the Sahara Desert in southern Morocco are gearing up to run just over that distance in the span of six days.

But this is more than just a physical test for the competitors.

"For a lot of participants, the Marathon des Sables is an opportunity to break with everyday life and feel a sense of timelessness," Frenchman and race founder (1986) Patrick Bauer told CNN.com's Teo Kermeliotis in 2013. "There is even a spiritual dimension, a quest for answers to what are at times very personal questions."

Be it for a spiritual awakening or an intense physical test, runners are in search of conquering when it comes to the Marathon des Sables. The 30th installment of the ultra-marathon begins on April 3 and runs through April 13:

Date	Time	Event
April 3	N/A	Departure for Morocco
April 4	TBD	Technical, medical and administrative formalities
April 5	TBD	Stage 1
April 6	TBD	Stage 2
April 7	TBD	Stage 3
April 8	TBD	Stage 4
April 9	TBD	Day Off
April 10	TBD	Stage 5
April 11	TBD	Stage 6 (timed, solidarity stage)
April 12	TBD	Free Day
April 13	TBD	Leave Morocco

Naturally, a spiritual race comes shrouded in mystery. As per tradition, race officials do not disclose route information until hours prior to the initial start. The specific layout of each of the race's six stages rarely changes drastically from year to year, however.

The distance of each stage is highlighted below:

Stage	Distance (km)	Distance (miles)
1	33.8	21
2	38.5	23.9
3	35	21.7
4	81.5	50.6
5	42.2	26.2
6	15.5	9.6
Total	246.5	153

As if running those unruly distances wasn't enough, participants must also deal with potentially unbearable heat. This is the Sahara Desert, after all, home of one of the most unforgiving climates in the world. 

The race's official site notes that temperatures can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit this time of the year, meaning pace and consistent hydration will be key. But you can't run marathons without adequate footwear, and the official site devoted an entire section to ensuring that runners choose the proper sneaker:

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The latest neon blue, mp3-playing trainers will do you no favours here. You need the right footwear. The extreme heat, distance and constant friction will test your shoes to the limit, so choose them carefully ensuring that their size will accommodate any swelling of your feet in the desert heat. Of course you have to wear them in before they get used in anger! And that goes for the rest of your clothes and your rucksack. Save the Elvis costume for next time you do your local marathon.

"

With the terrain varying by stage, runners should expect a mix of sand and stone along the arduous path to the finish line.

Packing a rucksack is just as strategic as actually conserving energy during the race. The minimum weight for a pack is 6.5 kilograms (roughly 14.3 pounds), so runners shouldn't think they can get off the hook without something on their backs. Water and snacks are a must, but a compass wouldn't be a bad idea to include either.

Such a race would definitely be interesting to watch on live television, but there are unfortunately no TV broadcasts of the event. That said, iRunFar.com is coming through with daily updates regarding the race.

This race is not a joke. Combine the temperatures with the terrain and the length of this course, and the potential outcomes can be dangerous. Good luck to all those set to venture forth on April 3.

Note: More race information can be found on the Marathon des Sables' official website.

Kenny DeJohn is a Breaking News Team Featured Columnist. Follow him on Twitter.