ultra running
Running the Everest Trail Race Ultra
November 17, 2018
The Everest Trail Race is one of the toughest high altitude ultra marathons in the world. 160km over 6 days, you do 15000m of climbing and go to an altitude of over 4000m. I took on the race in 2018.
Climbing Toubkal in one day
October 27, 2018
Mount Toubkal is the highest point in north Africa at 4,167 metres and I wanted to climb it in a day. Imlil-Toubkal-Imlil in one day instead of the usual two or three is how I told myself I would be ready for the Everest Trail Race.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!