Last week we met Cristian Viruel, the only Mijas local and one of the few Andalusians who, at the age of 48, has managed to complete one of the toughest races in the world, the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara (Morocco), which celebrated its 40th edition this year. He is still recovering from foot injuries after covering 270 kilometres across the desert in six stages. The adventure connects Ouarzazate and Merzoug via the dunes, with stages of 35, 30, 100 (the greatd filter), 42 and 30 kilometres, reasons why many consider this race the toughest on Earth.

Christian, better known as ‘Muralla’ after the CrossFit gym he runs in Las Lagunas, had been dreaming of taking part in this race for over 20 years. Part of the legendary Marathon des Sables, the event operates on a self-sufficiency basis: “In other words, you carry a rucksack weighing around 10 kilos with all your food for the race; the organisers only provide one carafe of water a day, which dictates your meals and hygiene because everything has to be carefully measured. You ensure your hydration and little else”, explained the runner, adding that “iit’s in these situations that you truly value a bed, a shower, and a home-cooked meal”.

 

This year, said Cristian, the timing, financial, and family factors finally aligned to fulfil his dream. He prepared for eight months, “training with three weekly CrossFit sessions interspersed with running, using the rucksack every time I ran and adjusting the weight depending on the distance”. Regarding nutrition, “for weeks I tested the food I would eat there and what would fit in the bag; it was quite extensive preparation, but I’m happy with the result".

Accustomed to other long-distance events, he says this sand race in Morocco “is another story altogether. It starts with the first two days when the rucksack feels heavier, and from then on, it’s the feet. Physically I felt very good, but my feet were destroyed by blisters, and it was very difficult to run”.

Finally, after significant physical and mental exhaustion, high temperatures, and even sandstorms, but with the timely support of his loved ones, Cristian reached the finish line with a rucksack empty of food but full of unforgettable moments. “ I’m taking away so many memories, especially of the mates in my tent; we’ve seen some beautiful and breathtaking places. Watching a sunrise from the top of a Sahara dune is indescribable”.

 

Out of 1,500 participants, the Mijas runner finished 450th overall and 47th in his category, without any physical injuries. A true example of perseverance: “I tell my people and everyone at the gym: if you have a challenge, prepare well and go for it with everything you’ve got. Life is short; you have to enjoy it and make dreams come true”.

From now on, the marathon star wants to recover from his injuries because “in three weeks I want to return to the ‘101 de La Legión’ race. The summer will be for resting, and we already have something in mind for afterwards”.

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