Bubble
There's something about the Marathon des Sables that you simply can't explain to someone who hasn't been there. It's not the sand, the heat, the endless dunes or even the extraordinary physical challenge. It's something far more powerful than that.
It's the Bubble.
For a few precious days, you leave the real world behind and enter a place where everyone speaks the same language - not necessarily English, French or Arabic, but the language of endurance, determination, adventure and shared ambition.
And for me, that's where the real juice of the Marathon des Sables lies.
So, here’s a question for you - How many of the people in your world genuinely understand why you need go and run 120 or 250kms in the Sahara? Most of your friends will think you're completely mad. They’ll question your sanity, motivation and probably your bank balance.
However, inside the MDS bubble, nobody questions you.
Everyone kinda gets it.
You're surrounded by people who have made similar sacrifices, trained through the same miserable winter mornings, worried about blisters and have dreamt about the finishing line. People who understand why it matters.
And suddenly, in this new desert landscape, you're not the odd one out. You’ve found your tribe.
Having just returned from MDS 120 Morocco, I'm reminded once again why this event has been such a huge part of my life. After 24 visits to MDS events, you'd think the magic would have worn off by now. But quite the opposite. The older I get, the more I appreciate what being there gives.
It's not just about the running. In fact, my favourite MDS moment at this race had nothing to do with running. The journey out of the desert which would normally be six hours was actually ten. Torrential rain and flooded rivers made the journey quite treacherous in places, and it was uncertain if we’d ever get back to Ouarzazate. However, as fifty random passengers from all nations we shared, laughed, and even sang because we had the experience of the MDS Bubble in common – which meant that anything was possible, especially when you’ve conquered a week in the sand – and if we had to walk or sleep on the bus, then we would as we were with our tribe.
Nobody cared what car you drive, how much money you earn or what your job title is. We were simply a person who took on the desert and won, and that was incredibly liberating.
Now as a coach, I see something else that's equally special. I watch people arrive carrying nerves, doubts and expectations. Within days, they're laughing, sharing stories, helping complete strangers and discovering a version of themselves they perhaps didn't know existed.
The MDS bubble gives people permission to be adventurous, vulnerable, courageous and completely themselves. There's no social media performance required. No need to impress. Just genuine human connection, shared experiences and a common purpose.
Of course, when the race eventually finishes. Bags get packed, people go home, and normal life comes crashing back through the front door, but something stays with you.
The friendships. The confidence. The memories. And that wonderful feeling of having spent time amongst people who truly understand you.
That's why people return year after year. It's why I've kept coming back for decades. And it's why I encourage others to experience the Marathon des Sables at least once in their lifetime.
The desert provides the challenge. The people provide the magic.
And being inside that extraordinary MDS bubble? Well, that's the real juice of the race.
The Rory Coleman Method – Raise your Average.