Marathon des Sables with Chris Timms
Endurance Asia
Chris Timms returns to the Endurance Asia Podcast fresh from Marathon des Sables, the legendary multi-stage race across the Sahara.
This episode breaks down the reality of MDS — from the race format and self-supported setup to the physical and mental demands of racing across multiple days in extreme conditions.
Chris shares how he trained in Singapore, how he approached pacing and fueling, what surprised him most, and what he would change if he did it again. The conversation also dives into the emotional side of endurance — including racing with grief, being disconnected from family, and what the desert teaches you.
Beyond performance, this is a story about community, resilience, and why stage racing is a completely different challenge.
Timestamps 01:15 Intro and Chris returns from the desert 02:35 Why Marathon des Sables had always been on the list 06:43 MDS explained: stages, format, and self-supported racing 11:20 The field, the stories, and DNF reality 13:10 Training for MDS in Singapore 17:45 Gear choices: shoes, pack, and foot care 23:20 Nutrition strategy and calorie planning 26:07 Sleep, recovery, and life in camp 31:22 Pacing the race and lessons learned 36:57 Race result and finishing top 30 38:35 Camp life and learning from elite runners 41:54 Finish line energy and community 43:49 Bag weight, comforts, and mistakes 45:30 Racing with grief and mental strength 47:18 Time away from family and isolation 49:34 Why stage racing is uniquely hard 51:46 What’s next after MDS
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