Author: Alice
Running tales: A thief and a knight
February 4, 2017
Running in Morocco is always an adventure. Sometimes the trails are long and sometimes they are short, and this morning's run in Essaouira had its fair share of surprises.
Whipping down your sweaty shorts
January 19, 2017
Penis envy is something I have never previously suffered from, but the challenges of maintaining some degree of decorum while cycling across Africa, drinking four litres of water a day ... well, let's just say, far too many people on that continent have seen my bare bottom.
The life of an ultra running journalist: covering UTMB
August 30, 2016
Covering the greatest race on the ultra running calendar, UTMB, the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc is a dream assignment. I was asked to do just that by Linda Sanders of IRun4Ultra, part of Hope So Bright, which uses ultra running to raise awareness of issues affecting children, including ADD/ADHD and Autism. She is building up www.irun4ultra.com as a resource and inspiration for runners. What a fantastic week of ultra racing it was!
Being a freak
August 1, 2016
Fair skin and hot climates don't mix. Add to that a childhood before suntan cream became ubiquitous and I have developed some small skin cancers - rodent ulcers. The treatment is to burn them out and I am hoping it works because the next step is surgery and reconstruction but in the meantime I am having to come to terms with looking like a freak.
The Full Moon Run
June 20, 2016
The Full Moon Run in the Agafay desert in Morocco is run annually in the month of Ramadan. It brings together runners of all nationalities and religions to celebrate the Muslim Holy Month with a 12 km run through the desert under the light of the midnight moon.
Oops! I seem to be running an ultra…
June 2, 2016
I had volunteered to go along and be the translator for the Trans Atlas Marathon, a six day trail running ultra across the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Little did I know that I would also be running it.
Hell on Wheels
May 19, 2016
Some days test you to your utmost. The lava road in Kenya was to be one of those days. Kenya was the fourth country on our mad race through Africa by bike. We had started in Cairo and were ending in Cape Town as part of the Tour D'Afrique, the longest bike race on earth. This is an extract from my book about the adventure, Dodging Elephants,
Running Tales: An Unlikely Guardian Angel
April 27, 2016
Morning runs in Marrakech always bring some form adventure, be it big or small. Today's involved a coffee maker and a Guardian.
Survivors’ Stories: Marathon Des Sables 2016
April 19, 2016
I ran the Marathon Des Sables in 2014 and for the last two years, I have been going down to Ouarzazate for the end of the race as a volunteer to help the runners check in to their hotel, relax and then get on their flights at the end. This year I was also working as writer for www.runultra.co.uk and www.hopesobright.org. That added an extra depth as I followed our heroes' journeys across the sand. Marathon Des Sables, ultra race, trail race, ultrarun par excellence - the toughest footrace on earth. Here are some of their stories.
Planting a future in the Moroccan Mountains
March 25, 2016
I had gone up to the mountains to meet friends for a couple of days of hiking. Remote and wild, we had fantastic days out across canyons, up river beds and into secret valleys. Our host and guide, Ali, not only shared his knowledge and experience with us, he also invited us to help him plant a wood of almond trees. Leaving something for the future.