A Brief History On The Trans Atlas Marathon

Now world-famous for having completed the Marathon du Sables 15 times, brothers Lahcen and Mohamed Ahansal created the Trans Atlas Marathon in 2013 and today the race is deemed as the toughest stage-race in Morocco. Six days of gruelling terrain, plateaus and valleys, massifs including the Saghro Mount Toubkal and even palm groves. Six days of sleeping in a tent as the local semi-nomadic Ait Atta tribes do. Six days of experiencing the true Morocco! Six days to complete 285 kilometres and it attracts both local and international runners.
After all, the race provides runners with an opportunity to see areas of Morocco they would not otherwise see – the untouched diverse landscapes combined with Berber villages in the High Atlas Mountains, where the brothers come from. In fact, the race starts in their home village of Zaouiat Ahansal. As stated on their website, the race traverses ‘terrain that will keep you gasping for breath, not only physically but also metaphorically, through the diverse beauty of the landscape they want you to experience’. In 2017, the race will also run past the lake at Ben Al Widane.