Alex on Trails

When I was studying applied mathematics at school, one of the first famous exercises that I got was the backpack challenge. Imagine you are given a list of items with a 'utility' and a 'volume', and the objective is to fill the backpack maximizing utility. In other words, w hat is the optimal backpack? 15 years later, I would never have imagined myself to be back in a similar situation preparing for one of the toughest races on Earth. The optimization challenge for the MDS race is actually a lot more complex than the one I had at school for a few reasons: - some items are mandatory (e.g. aspi-venin suction pump, GPS, mirror, compass, sleeping bag etc...) - for the food, I am optimizing for the highest ratio calories / weight, knowing I need to have a minimum of 2000 calories per day. - highest constraint is of course to have the lightest bag - other optimization factor to take into account is comfort vs weight. Comfort for the nights at the camp: should I brin...

Last Saturday, I experienced what was probably the best run of my life in Paris under extraordinary circumstances. It had been snowing in the city for the past four days, and for once, the snow was sticking due to the persistent cold. Saturday promised clear, sunny skies with no clouds on the horizon. With these perfect conditions, I decided to embark on a long run along my usual route. However, this time, the familiar path was transformed into a winter wonderland, with every segment blanketed in snow. As I ran, the scenery felt almost magical, making it hard to recognize the usual landmarks. A few kilometers in, I felt an unexpected surge of energy. My legs were strong, and the crisp weather was invigorating. Fueled by this newfound vitality, I decided to extend my run further along the canal than ever before, all the way to Aulnay-sous-Bois. The combination of the serene, snowy landscape and the sheer joy of running made this an unforgettable experience. It was a reminder of how bea...

When I first told you that I wanted to run this race in the summer 2016, I remember your jaw-dropping face and then smile, and then cheering.  Thank you for letting me be absent all those mornings on the weekends when I was out running, and late for lunch or at night after work, in addition to all the travels I do and when I am not home. Thank you for bearing with me all those times I was annoying you with some details about the race, talking about  my  running shoes or how  my  legs were hurting or I needed that piece of light equipment. Thank you for being  my  coach-nutritionist and spending hours on the Internet or at Vieux Campeur getting more information about what is the most interesting ratio weight/calories and getting all those tips for the race. Not only you supported me in the process to get ready to the race but you also started to run with me.  I had some of the best times with you last year on the hill of Paris...

Counting down the days, 56 (!) before the start. I have just finally confirmed today with MDS organization that I will be participating to the race in April. Running any marathon, 42.2km (26.2 miles) is tough. Now imagine running the equivalent of 6 marathons in six consecutive stages for a total of 256km (the longest stage is about 80km long). Then consider that you are going to be running in the middle of the Sahara Desert, making your way along the sand dunes and rocky desert terrain. But on top of that you have to carry a backpack with all your food and supplies, and the race organizers only provide you with water and a bivouac for the night. That is the MDS. A few facts about the race : Average day temperate between 25 and 45 degrees Celsius Average night temperature 5 degrees Celsius Food self-sufficiency over the distance, which means you also have to carry a bag between 7kgs and 13kg while running ~1300 competitors participating in 2018 A few facts about ...