Marathon des Sables . . .

Takes place: April 4th-10th

Takes place: April 4th-10th

Location: Held in the Saharan provinces of south Morocco, usually in the vicinity of Ouarzazate.

Distance: Although the route changes annually and is withheld from competitors until the eve of the race, the distance is always 230 km, divided into stages of 15, 18, 22, 50, 26.2 and 9 miles.

Terrain: Varies from sand tracks to stony plateaus, covering small mountains of around 1,000 metres, dried lakes, palm groves, dried river beds and dunes. Sand, however, makes up no more than 50 per cent of the course.

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Temperature: Often reaches around 120F during the day time, dipping dramatically with evening's fall.

Conditions: Competitors are required to carry all survival gear (food, sleeping bag, extras) except for water, which is distributed in rationed amounts. Toilet facilities are described by the organisers as `primitive'. There are no wash facilities, so generally, back-packs comprise of a sleeping bag, flare, compass, map, snake-bite kit, whistle, signalling mirror, salt tablets and enough freeze-dried food for the week. Competitors sleep in open air or tents with Berber carpets on the ground.

Coverage: TV3 will broadcast live footage of the Donovan brothers' progress every night on News@6 from April 4th to Aril 10th and on Sports Tonight throughout that week.