Search
RUN247 / Running News / Trail Running News / Marathon des Sables among Spanish football star’s running achievements

Marathon des Sables among Spanish football star’s running achievements

Olly Green
Reporter
Published on

The Marathon des Sables is one of the most iconic – and demanding – ultra running events on the planet and it has the power to attract the biggest names in the sport.

But one star, best known for his achievements outside the running world, to have taken on the brutal Sahara Desert race is Luis Enrique, a former Spanish international footballer who has gone on to manage Barcelona and the national side.

Enrique ran the Marathon des Sables in 2008, finishing just outside the top 300 – in a field over 700 runners.

The former Real Madrid and Barcelona midfielder completed the gruelling, 250km challenge in 41 hours, 14 minute and 43 seconds.

Advertisement

Fitness dedication

Enrique, now 52, retired from football in 2004 but was keen to retain his elite level of fitness, subsequently diving into various ultra running, triathlon and cycling events.

He ran the New York Marathon in 2005, clocking a 3:14:09, and improved on that effort a year later at the Amsterdam Marathon, managing a staggering 3:00:19.

Marathon des Sables finisher Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique has taken on several high-level football management roles since finishing the Marathon des Sables in 2008. [Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons]

Enrique’s running development continued in 2007, as he knocked another two minutes off his 26.2-mile time, finishing the Florence Marathon in 2:58:08.

But his transition from football to running wasn’t all plan sailing – he suffered foot issues due to relentless nature of endurance events.

Advertisement

Foot swelling

“When I left football I wanted to take up running, but after 45 minutes my feet would swell up because I was used to football,” he told FourFourTwo in 2014.

“In football it’s 50 metres, then stop, 10 metres, then stop. I was used to that. I could run for a long time, but in a football way.

“Marathons were at the same pace all the time. That was hard to adapt to, but I did after a lot of training and then I started doing triathlons.

Enrique, whose running endeavors have been limited as he has coached some of the biggest teams in world football, offered advice to those looking balance the sport with everyday life.

“You need hours and hours of training, which is difficult when you have other things to do,” he explained.

“So set yourself a challenge. You can run a marathon, but you don’t have to do it in three hours. If four hours is realistic then aim for four.

Enrique won’t be among the contenders for this year’s Marathon des Sables, which gets underway on April 21, as he eyes up new positions in football after leaving as Spain head coach following the World Cup.

Olly Green
Written by
Olly Green
Olly is the content lead for RUN247, is a regular contributor to TRI247 and keeps an eye out for content that appeals to both audiences including interviews with pro Heather Jackson.

Latest Running News

Ruth Croft on her way to victory at the 2021 Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB 102km photo credit: Graeme Murray
Stellar fields, hat-trick seeking Kiwis and Western States Golden Tickets up for grabs in T102 in New Zealand
Konoka Azumi wins the 100-mile race at the 2024 Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB
Azumi looking to double up as she makes short hop to Rotorua for 100-miler at Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB
Hayden Hawks UTMB CCC 2024 photo credit UTMB
UTMB CCC champ Hayden Hawks looking to start year in style at Tarawera Ultra-Trail T50
XTERRA-Oak-Mountain-2023-men-podium-Serrieres-Lagerstrom-Sloth
‘Pure magic’ – triathlon star the latest to make ultrarunning mark with podium at Black Canyon
Paris-2024-Olympic-mens-triathlon-Alex-Yee-run-for-run247
“Hopefully I’ll have fun for the first 32km” – Olympic champ on digging deep in first marathon
trail running on your terms

Never miss out with our trail alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.

The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...