MDS 120 Jordan

Results: 2026

506 of 514 starters finished.

LiveTrail shows all three courses finished: 303 of 305 starters on the 120 km, 118 of 119 on the 100 km and 85 of 90 on the 70 km. Antonio Toston (11:31:09) and Franck Clarté (12:38:07) completed the men’s 120 km podium, and Audrey Roynard (15:41:31) and Laure Masson (16:39:49) the women’s. LiveTrail now gives the billed distances; its course profiles end at 113.7, 94.25 and 74.18 km. The organizer had not published a winners report by November 9.

Source: LiveTrail: MDS 120 Jordan 2026 final rankings. Checked November 9, 2026.

Event Overview

A three-stage, food-self-sufficient desert race in Jordan’s Wadi Rum, with 70, 100 or 120 km options, three nights at a fixed bivouac and a 3.5 km/h minimum speed.

Course & Terrain

Three marked desert stages in Wadi Rum with total distances of 70, 100 or 120 km. The bivouac stays in the same place for the whole race. Stage 2 is the long stage and the one where the three distances differ.

Key course features to know before comparing this race:

• Wadi Rum canyons, arches and red sand
• Visit to Petra after the final stage
• Two hotel nights on the Dead Sea before and after the race

The regulations describe a varied landscape and say the distances are indicative and may be reduced to suit the terrain and climbing. The route stays secret until the road book is handed out. The course is marked about every 50 to 100 m, with reflective markers for the night. In a sandstorm with no visibility, runners must stop on the course and wait for the marshals.

The regulations give theoretical November averages of 24°C by day and 8°C at night. Headlamps must be switched on at nightfall on the long second stage.

Format & Support (as run)

Why This Race Matters

MDS 120 Jordan is the Wadi Rum edition of the three-stage format run by What An Adventure (WAA), the company behind the Marathon des Sables. The 2026 regulations call it the 6th Marathon des Sables Jordan. DUV lists the earlier editions as the Half Marathon des Sables Jordan: November 2022, November 2023, May 2024, November 2024 and November 2025. The MDS had raced in Jordan once before, with the Desert Cup, a non-stop run of about 168 km from Petra to Wadi Rum held from 2001 to 2003. Entrants choose 70, 100 or 120 km. The first and last stages are about 25 to 30 km, and the second stage is 20, 40 or 60 km. Everyone carries their own food for four days in the desert, and the organization supplies only water. In November 2025 LiveTrail listed 545 finishers: 261 on the longest course, measured at 113 km, 150 at 100 km (93 km) and 134 at 70 km (73 km). Salameh Al-Aqra won the longest course in 11:26:59 and Olga Maas was the first woman in 14:03:11.

Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):

• 2026 winners on the longest course (billed 120 km; LiveTrail’s course profile ends at 113.7 km): Mahé Freydier, 11:16:06; Héline De Souza, 13:32:03, fifth overall.
• 2026 winners at 100 km (94.25 km): Salameh Al-Aqra, 9:32:30, first overall; Louise Marcant, 10:46:36. At 70 km (74.18 km): Nicolas Jaramillo, 9:31:13; Anne Corjon, 10:56:34.
• Most wins on the longest course: Rachid El Morabity, three (November 2022, November 2023 and November 2024), per DUV.
• Routes and measured distances change each year, so winning times are not directly comparable.

Preparing for a Race Like MDS 120 Jordan

The stage race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:

• Stage race packing list: Mandatory kit, daily carry, camp bags, food and foot care.
• Walking strategy for ultramarathons: When and how to walk by terrain, effort and cutoffs.
• Hydration and sodium for ultramarathons: Fluid, sodium, thirst, sweat rate and hyponatremia risk.
• Blister prevention: Socks, taping, lubrication, shoe fit and hot spots.

Best Fit

• First-time desert stage racers
• Walkers who want a timed race with generous cutoffs
• Runners who want to combine a race with Petra and the Dead Sea

Planning Notes

• Study the mandatory gear list early and rehearse carrying the exact pack weight you expect to use on race day.
• Heat, sun, and dry air require event-specific preparation. Test sun protection and cooling, drink in response to thirst, and remember that sodium cannot make overdrinking safe.
• The directory marks this as having comparatively simpler logistics. That editorial label is not a safety rating; verify cutoffs, terrain, support, crew access, and withdrawal procedures.

Event FAQs

Related Preparation

• Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
• Browse the multiday stage-race calendar
• Open the Stage Race format guide
• Compare all race formats
• Use the timed-race pace calculator
• Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
• Estimate race calories and plan fueling
• Build a crew and drop-bag plan
• Build a race-specific gear checklist