Welcome to Morocco and the 1998 Eco-Challenge. The race has begun and we're there to bring you once daily coverage, with audio, photos and updates. On many occasions, there will be two dispatches a day, so to get the morning news, just scroll down the update page.
This year, 54 teams representing 27 countries will test their boundaries on the 300 mile (480 km) course that will take them over rivers, through slot canyons, up to 13,000 ft (4,000m) and back down again. And they'll do it any way they can: kayaks, camels, horses and probably by day five or so, piggyback.
And we'll be right there with them through daily updates, photos, audio and video. Some racers have even agreed to be recorded when they come into a check point so the real agony and ecstasy will be heard in their voices.
And because it's in Morocco, a kind of mysterious and exotic place in North Africa, the exploration of the culture is fascinating and it's all in here, from the Morocco tour where you'll find slide shows, music and even a recipe for brains with sauce to the bios of every single competitor to an in-depth interview with Eco-founder Mark Burnett.
