epic running
An adventure run to Essaouira
February 13, 2018
16km of pristine, virgin Atlantic beach stretching out ahead of us as we started our adventure run from Moulay Bouzektoun back to Essaouira on Morocco's coast. Winter sun beating down and lots of golden sand to cross.
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.
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.
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....
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!
Atlas to Atlantic: A first
August 18, 2015
The Atlas to Atlantic trek started at the summit of Mount Toubkal (4167m), the highest point of North Africa, and finished at sea level, with our feet in the Atlantic Ocean at Agadir. Three hundred kilometres up and down across the Atlas mountains. It was sponsored by adventure travel company Epic Morocco.
I think the snake is dead
July 2, 2015
12 hours 20 mins of hiking. 1300 metres of ascent and 31 kilometres covered. A big day out in the Atlas Mountains, climbing Mount Meltzen
Sometimes dreams DO come true
June 5, 2015
This is the saga of trying to get an idea off the ground. The excitement of the idea through the slog of translating that into reality and then the endless hurdles that are put in your way. This one was to set up running training camps to help people just like me improve their running skills, learn how to put together a running programme and maximise their nutrition and guess what.......