The Marathon is not for the faint of heart. Competitors have to run over sand dunes and carry their own food and supplies on their backs in a race that tests the endurance of marathon runners five and a half times over. "Everyone carried all seven day's worth of food, sleeping and running gear, medical supplies and emergency equipment," said Ethan.

Temperatures reached over 110 degrees Fahrenheit by noon and dipped to 40 degrees at night. There is a requirement that each stage be completed in a maximum number of hours, mandated by the race officials at the start of each day based upon heat and humidity levels. And yet, there were some amazing sights during the journey as well. "We had a nearly full moon to illuminate our way through the dunes," said Ethan.

The exact route is not revealed to runners until the day before the start to prevent competitors from practicing, although it is difficult to imagine who would want to do any more of the course than necessary. Ethan trained by running the Grand Canyon Double-Dip "It's a desert environment, rocky, long, and hot," said Ethan. "But it's also spectacular scenery that everyone should take time to experience."

Of all the days, runners were most anxious about the long stage on the fourth day. This 44-mile run took most competitors well into the night and some took the entire 48-hour maximum time to finish.

Approximately 800 people representing 35 countries registered for the race, only 22 of which were U.S. citizens. "Although many people competed in the race, the course was so long that most of us ran alone," said Ethan. "But it was encouraging that when any two runners crossed paths they would offer each other inspirational support, despite the fact that they were probably from different corners of the world and didn't speak the same language."