Marathon man of the sands ; the story of Lahcen Ahansal

• Date de parution : 06/09/2018
• Editeur : Eddif Maroc
• EAN : 9789954105191
• Série : (-)
• Support : Papier

• Nombre de pages : 230
• Collection : (-)
• Genre : Littérature étrangère
• Thème : Littérature anglaise
• Prix littéraire(s) : (-)

Lahcen Ahansal is a child of the desert. Born into the Aït Atta tribe of southern Morocco, his family suffers the consequences of desertification and the decline of the nomadic way of life. Having lost his father, he is a rebellious pupil chafing under social constraints, finding his only escape... Voir plus

Lahcen Ahansal is a child of the desert. Born into the Aït Atta tribe of southern Morocco, his family suffers the consequences of desertification and the decline of the nomadic way of life. Having lost his father, he is a rebellious pupil chafing under social constraints, finding his only escape in the simple act of running. One day he witnesses the legendary Marathon des Sables: a 250 km foot race in the midst of the desert, requiring total selfsufficiency, to the tune of one marathon per day on average. On a whim, he raises his djellaba, the traditional robe, and runs alongside the competitors, finishing first in the opening stage. The race organizer, Patrick Bauer, introduces him to a runner from Casablanca, who will recruit him for his team one year later. Penniless, and training purely on instinct, Lahcen Ahansal will suffer countless setbacks before claiming his tenth Marathon des Sables victory in 2007. A star among Moroccan athletes of the ultramarathon, and going on to train his brother Mohamad, he becomes an icon in his home country. His life, fraught with clashes with tradition, emblematic of the evolution in Moroccan society, bears humble witness to the will and fierce determination that can lead to a better life. Does poverty generate champions? Through stories of both humor and profound emotion, Lahcen Ahansal offers resounding proof that one must believe in one's dreams.