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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.
Marrakech by sidecar .. toot, toot
March 11, 2016
I thought I knew Marrakech and the winding streets of the medina pretty well. I was sure I knew the roads of the Palmeraie, which I have run along many a time, intimately. But a half-day tour in a vintage sidecar with Insiders Experiences gave me a whole new perspective. A mini adventure.
Why I love running in Morocco
March 7, 2016
Even when I fall out of love completely with the pain of running and the slog of training, there is always something that lures me back in and here in Morocco that is doubly true. The smell of orange blossom, the quiet of the desert, the offer of a cup of mint tea....
DNA Diet and Fitness
February 13, 2016
I don't think I am alone in struggling with my diet and fitness and wondering whether I keep failing purely because I am weak and the lure of cake and a box set of The Walking Dead is strong. I am also disillusioned with all the fads and fashions in the food industry - eggs are bad/eggs are good, coconut oil will save your life, gluten is the devil. So, when I was offered the chance to try out a food and exercise programme, based on my genetic predispositions I was all in. This is how it works.
A million miles from ISIS
January 21, 2016
Macro and micro - two perspectives separated by just one tiny vowel. Living in a country which is not your own is a privilege. It gives you the chance to look at things differently. Every time I go for a run or a walk in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, I get to see Islam at the micro level. The level lived by so many million muslims around the world. This story is about that community of spirit.
Running training plan
January 14, 2016
January is the month of resolutions. Back on the training treadmill, I want to do it right this time. I hate being too constrained but I am hoping that a bit of discipline and structure will set me free. Here are my running training plans for 2016.
Ten things I love about running
January 7, 2016
Running may be glorious but it is also very, very hard. I am in no way a natural runner and so just getting myself out there can be a trauma. Worse, I have taken a long break, and now it is time to knuckle down. I have really written this as my New Year's Motivation to GET running again. My own personal ten top running tips!
Making like Lawrence of Arabia
December 5, 2015
Camel riding in the Palmeraie of Marrakech at sunset - it should definitely go on your bucketlist
Top ten tips for driving in Morocco
November 17, 2015
Fancy a spin? Don't want to risk life and limb? Here are my top ten tips for driving in Morocco. The do's and dont's and the why oh whys.
A day in the life of an Ultra journalist
October 5, 2015
Last year, I was running UTAT, this year I am their "British Ambassador" trying to spread the word far and wide about this amazing ultra in the Atlas. It's my first experience of reporting on an ultra race. This is what it was like.