Daniel A. ‘Danny’ Bobrow, placed 333 of 1017 competitors in the 25th Marathon Des Sables staged in Morocco.

“Considering I’d hoped just to finish, I was pretty happy about my ranking” says Bobrow, 52, a native of Chicago, and one of 68 Americans competing in this year’s event.

To celebrate its 25th Anniversary, the race organizers extended the length to 250 kilometers (155 miles), making it the longest course in MDS history.  Temperatures reached 122 Degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity, at 18%, close to three times normal.

Bobrow continues “The entire experience defies description.  One of the high points is the camaraderie and espirit de corps shared by all competitors, regardless of their standing.  This is especially true of your fellow tent mates.”

Competitors camp 8 to a tent.  Each camp is broken down, moved, and set up each day by 450 volunteers and race personnel, to follow the racers through the course.

When asked if he would do it again Bobrow replies that, while not ruling it out ”…(and while) the experience was unequivocally postiive and fun for me, there are a number of other things I’d like to do, and am not sure when a second MDS fits in my to do list.”

Bobrow also used the trip as a fact finding mission to determine feasibility of establishing a new Climb For A Cause dental education and treatment project in the region near Ouarzazate, Morocco.  “While not definitive, indications are positive we’ll be able to set something up with our new friends at Solidarite de Marathon Des Sables.” says Bobrow.