B.C. teen the youngest competitor in race across the Sahara Desert

At the time of this writing, Fort Langley, B.C., teen Jack Davison is likely knee-deep in hot sand and questioning his choices.

The 16-year-old is the youngest of the roughly 800 racers of questionable sanity taking part in this year's Marathon Des Sables (marathon of the sands) in Morocco, which kicked off April 7 and runs through April 13. 

The MDS is an epic six-stage, 254-kilometre race across the Sahara Desert and, should Davison make it to the finish line alive, he stands to become one of the youngest ever to complete the event in its 34-year history.

Reached by email after completing the brutal fourth stage in just over 14 hours, Davison described the race as "both amazing and horrible at the same time."

"I've ran roughly 32, 33, 37 and 77 kilometres over the past few days and in stock for tomorrow is a gruelling marathon with a bunch of massive mountains," he wrote.

"We have had super-hot days, super-cold nights, scorpions, camel spiders and our tent blew down last night."

Speaking from home, mom Rhonda Janzen said Jack seems to be coping so far.

"The real challenge is how he can get the brain to keep going," she said.

If nothing else, his misery has company. Davison's dad, Aaron, is also competing, looking to bag his fourth MDS. 

Often described as the toughest foot race in the world, MDS racers must carry their own food and sleeping bag, camping in the desert overnight between stages.

Blisters, hallucinations and heat stroke

During the days, temperatures can climb to 45 C, making blisters, heat stroke and hallucinations as much an obstacle as navigating the massive dunes of shifting sand.

But even at his tender age, Davison seems uniquely qualified to attempt the MDS.

He's an elite tennis player — ranked 12th in the province in U-16 boys — with the accompanying physical and mental foundation.

Plus, he has the stage race experience of successfully finishing two 125-kilometre half Marathon Des Sables last year — one in the Canary Islands and one in Peru. 

Tennis coach Larry Jurovich has no doubt his student has the right stuff to complete the MDS.

"What I've learned about Jack over the years is that if anybody can do it, it's him," said Jurovich. "He's clearly gifted physically but to get out there and mentally put yourself through that type of adversity, it's phenomenal." 

Janzen says her son has never shied away from an adventure, whether it be paddling the Bowron Lakes, hiking the Chilkoot Pass or trekking across England on the Wainwright Trail.

"He's always been full of energy and has a huge enthusiasm for life," she said.