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THE 4 DESERTS GRAND SLAM, A
SERIES OF THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST
ENDURANCE RACES
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THE 4 DESERTS GRAND SLAM, A SERIES OF THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST
ENDURANCE RACES
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Top 20 Things to Know About the 4 Deserts
Grand Slam Before You Sign-up
To say that participants competing in the 4 Deserts Grand Slam are mentally tough
is an understatement. These men and women are going beyond the limits of physical
fitness and mental endurance. Not only are the 4 Deserts located in some of the
largest and most perilous deserts on the planet, it is a 7-day, 250-kilometer race
100% self-supported. Yup! You heard it correctly. All participants are required to
carry their own equipment and food in some of the most barren and challenging
landscapes. And, while it might not seem reassuring to most, drinking water and a
tent are provided by the series.
Below, we’ve outlined a few important details about each of the 4 Desert races and
the differences between them when it comes to location, climate, weather, and
more. Along with that, we have listed a Top 20 list of, what we feel, are some of the
most important pieces of information to note before signing up (if you dare) for one
of the most intense and challenging endurance races in the world.
Sahara Race
Along the dune ridge in the Sahara Race. Photo Credit: 4Deserts (http://www.4deserts.com/)
Date: April 30, 2017
Location: Skeleton Coast National Park in Swakopmund, Namibia
Climate: One of the oldest deserts with the largest dunes in the world spanning 300
meters high and 32 kilometers long. The
Weather: One of the driest countries in Southern Africa. Temperatures on the coast
can get down to 10 degrees Celsius at night and reach 25 degrees Celsius during the
day. Expect coastal fog and a breeze. Humidity is low and wind can be a factor.
Itinerary: Click here (http://www.4deserts.com/sahararace/itinerary).
Gobi March
Running through the Gobi Desert. Photo credit: 4Deserts (http://www.4deserts.com/)
Date: June 18, 2017
Location: The Gobi Desert in Hami, eastern Xinjiang Province, China
Climate: 5th largest and windiest desert in the world. Varies in topography to
include plain, desert, and mountain climates.
Weather: Temperature changes over the course of the race and can include
intermittent rain, sleet, and high winds. Temps can reach 40 degrees Celsius during
the Summertime. The area gets less than 27mm of rain per year.
Fun Fact: The Gobi march was founded in honor of three missionaries: Mildred
Cable and sisters Francesca and Eva French.
Itinerary: Click here (http://www.4deserts.com/gobimarch/location_culture).
Atacama Crossing
Starry night during Atacama Crossing race. Photo Credit: 4Deserts (http://www.4deserts.com/)
Date: October 1, 2017
Location: Atacama Desert in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Climate: Driest non-polar desert in the world and one of the driest places on Earth.
Weather: Extreme weather is likely including strong winds, and rain. Temperatures
-1 degree Celsius by night and 35 degrees Celsius by day.
Fun Fact: People began to settle in the Atacama Desert around 1500BC according
to some research.
Itinerary: Click here (http://www.4deserts.com/atacamacrossing/itinerary).
The Last Desert*
Danko Island surrounded by icebergs at the Last Desert race. Photo Credit: 4Deserts
(http://www.4deserts.com/)
Date: November 2018
Location: Weather permitting, this race takes place in up to 6 locations in the
Antarctic Peninsula and Mainland.
Climate: Largest desert in the world with 70% of the worlds fresh water (or ice,
rather). Coldest, driest, and windiest continent and has highest average elevation.
Weather: Temperatures can be -89.2 Celsius although with the race happening in
the Southern Hemisphere summer, temperatures are expected to be around -20
Celsius. Racers can expect winds and very strong sun and more than 20 hours of
daylight.
Fun Fact: As of 2016, there are roughly 135 permanent residents with up to 5,000
people residing throughout the year at the research stations across Antarctica.
Itinerary: Click here (http://www.4deserts.com/thelastdesert/itinerary).
*Invitation only
Top 20 Things to Know:
Atacama Crossing. Photo Credit: 4Deserts (http://www.4deserts.com/)
1. Athletes can compete in the 4 races in any order they would like except for The
Last Desert race in Antarctica.
2. The Last Desert race in Antarctica is invitation only (must complete 2 other races
to get an invite).
3. There are approx. 47 competitors have completes the 4 Deserts Grand Slam in a
one-year period of time.
4. The quickest completion of the 4 Deserts was a time of 23 hours, 12 minutes, and
33 seconds.
5. 20% of participants run the entire course, 60% combine walking and running, and
20% walk the entire course.
6. You can’t take your sweet time and go as long as you want, because there are cut
off times! Cut-off times are based on average speed of 4km per hour.
7. You must be between the age of 21 and 70 to compete.
8. 80% of competitors are men and the remaining 20% are women.
9. Worried about safety on the course? There is a pro-medical team working on-site
throughout the event. There is approximately 1 medical doctor per every 25
competitors.
10. In ten years, there have been over 10,000 competitor’s registrations for the 4
Desert races.
11. The Sahara Race has been relocated to Namibia due to instability and conflict in
Northern Africa where it normally occurs.
12. These races do not require qualification, but don’t think you can just sign up
without months of training.
13. You need a medical certificate from a registered physician before race day.
14. The cost isn’t cheap either! The entry fee is around $3,700 per event.
15. All 4 events are capped between 150-200 competitors.
16. Expect solitude. While the races start out thick with people, sooner than later,
the crowd thins and you are on your own in a desolate, hot or freezing environment.
17. Time Magazine recently ranked the 4 Deserts #2 on its list of the world’s top
endurance competitions.
18. You’re not just racing for yourself, you’re racing for charity. Millions of dollars
have been raised for hundreds of charities around the world through the 4 Desert
Series races.
19. If you find a running buddy, don’t expect to “chat” with them. There could be a
language barrier. There are more than 30 countries represented in each 4 Desert
race.
20. You can compete as a team or individual.
And, if the above Top 20 aren’t enough to rev-your-engine, maybe a few words of
wisdom and advice straight from the horse’s mouth would help! We had a chance to
speak with the Event Director with the 4 Deserts Race Series, the lovely, Sam
Fanshawe. Here’s what she had to say (brace yourself for goosebumps):
Competitors for The Last Desert will be boarding the expedition ship in Ushuaia to head to
spectacular location of Antarctica! Photo Credit: 4Deserts (http://www.4deserts.com/)
NAT: Why should someone choose this series over other adventure races around
the world?
SAM: The 4 Deserts Race Series are life changing for some and life enhancing for
all. Many life- long friendships have been made during 4 Deserts races – some that
have ended up with wedding bells! Amid the stunning scenery in places that are
usually hard to get to / explore, pushing your mental and physical limits life gets put
into perspective about what is truly important. The race participants are limited in
number to enhance the experience and camaraderie making the experience very
personal and one that veterans remember for the rest of their life (and come back
again and again to experience).
NAT: It sounds like these events are not for the faint of heart. Is there a training
regimen that you recommend to anyone who is going to try to take this on for the
first time? Maybe it isn’t for first timers?
SAM: The race attracts first timers and the ultra-experienced. To finish on the
podium you need to put in many miles on the trails and in the gym. To finish you just
need to want to be there and get to the finish line. Training should involve 40 –
120kms per week (speed depends on your end goal) with some cross training
thrown in and a couple of peak weeks. It is not unusual for first-timers in long
distance stage races to finish on top.
NAT: Of the 4 Deserts, which do you believe is the toughest?
SAM: The answer to this is different for everyone. To cover 250km in 7 days on foot
in any terrain or climate is a challenge. Some say the Sahara Race is the easiest as
there is minimal elevation and the weather is more temperate – but if you get a
blister on day one it will be the hardest!
NAT: Have you done the 4 Deserts Grand Slam? Or one of the 4 Deserts?
SAM: I have completed a 4 Deserts race – the Gobi March – and I loved it. The
opportunity to run / hike free at your own pace on a marked course with
checkpoints every 10kms full of excited and encouraging volunteer and medical
teams is priceless. Then when you get to camp all you have to do is eat, sleep,
stretch, recover and chat to interesting people from all the around the world.
NAT: Do you anticipate the series to grow beyond 4 Deserts?
SAM: We already have the 4 Deserts race PLUS the RacingThePlanet race which
moves to a new location each year. We have ideas for new formats but for now we
are focusing on the core five races that we know and love.
NAT: Since participants can choose, does that mean that some participants would
be racing in both 2017 and 2018 depending on which event they start with? I am
assuming they have to compete on the dates that are listed on your website?
SAM: Some people just do one 4 Deserts Race. Most come back again and again.
Then there are the elite few who choose to do the 4 Deserts Grand Slam (or Grand
Slam PLUS – just 7 in the world!). For those who want to do the Grand Slam they
have to complete all the races in the same calendar year – therefore they need to
complete the races in the order they are scheduled for the year. For those who
want to just complete one or all of them in their own time they can do so in any
order and over any period of time – they will still become members of the 4 Deserts
Club for completing all 4 Deserts races even if it takes them thirteen years (which it
recently did take Christopher Lewis – a Welshman who lives in Japan. Chris has
completed every RacingThePlanet race and the Gobi March a few times in that
period). However, you can only join The Last Desert (Antarctica) after receiving the
invitation which is sent to those who have completed at least two of the 4 Deserts
Races.
NAT: Any hints on what is to come for 2018?
SAM: Watch this space (our Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter accounts and the
newsletter).
NAT: What can you tell me is the coolest experience you have seen from these
events either as a participant or event director?
SAM: There are so many!!! Sleeping in traditional yurts on the Gobi March course or
listening to the local Namibian camp team (from one of the local tribes) chanting
around the camp fire each night. There are just too many to write them all down.
NAT: I would imagine these events are life-changing for many…any cool stories to
share in that regard?
SAM: Also so, so, so many.
A Belgian man and a Welsh man were sharing a tent in one race. They both came
back to another race and embraced like life-long friends – however they had only
been at one race together and neither speaks the others language.
There have been plenty of marriages that have resulted from the races. There have
also been a few engagements (of people who came to the race together). Recently a
couple came to The Last Desert and we arranged for them to be married by the ship
captain on the shoes of Antarctica surrounded by running friends and penguins.
Being a checkpoint when one competitor decided to withdrew – they were hot and
tired and handed in their bib. They were resting at the checkpoint when a blind
competitor came through with his guide – he rested a while to deal with his awful
blisters and then prepared to get up and carry on. The person who had decided to
withdraw took back their bib and carried on to finish the race.
NAT: Wow, Sam. That last story gave me goose bumps! I am in awe of these stories
and experiences.
Well, it seems as though these races can change your life and your perspective
whether you are looking for a challenge, adventure, or even love. They are much
more than just “another race”. They are a true test for some of the strongest people
in the world, both mentally and physically. For those of you looking for the next best
thing in adventure challenges and travel, I think this is your best bet! Sign up.
4 Deserts Race Series Trailer
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Natalie Stangl (https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-stangl37651b8?trk=hp-identity-name)
Natalie is an American expat freelance writer and marketer living in Hokkaido,
Japan. She is a born and raised Minnesotan with an accent thicker than a pint
of Paulaner Beer. She has a serious love for sports, outdoors, and overall
health and wellness. While most would shutter at the thought of -27 degree
wind-chill, you’ll find her embracing it with a smile on her face. She is an an
adaptable, loyal, and fierce woman of “The North”. Aside from her love of
sports and outdoors, her partner is an Import professional ice hockey player in
Japan and together they have one child, their 7 year old golden retriever,
Frenchy.
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