Exploring on a Seven Mile Run

  Since I am currently on a build up cycle in my training, my mileage is beginning to ramp up and I am constantly looking for new places to run so as not to get bored. This past Wednesday I had an easy seven miles with just enough time to fit them in over lunch so I did a little exploring in a farming area close by the city.

Sheep!

Horse!

  As is the case with almost all of Marrakech, the route was pancake flat which is a problem I am going to have to find a solution for or suffer later in some of the events I would like to participate in this year. Sadly, it was still close enough to the city that I was running on pavement and not trails but although there was no sidewalks there was (as usual) a large shoulder. Also, as usual the cars and trucks passing gave me plenty of room. The sites I got were awesome, even if the smells were not. This was due to the amazing amount of donkey cart traffic on the road taking vegetables to the city and their byproducts. 

A Farm and Farm House

An Empty Field and Mountains

  This week, if you have the time, go out on your run, ride, hike, or walk and do some exploring in your area. I remember that when I was living in the States and started running I began to discover parts of my city my friends, some of whom had lived there much longer than me, had never even heard of. So, go out and find something new or interesting. Try out a trail or bike path you have never done before, you may find your new favorite route. If you find somewhere new or interesting tell us about it in the comments below. Now get outside and enjoy!

Marathon Training with a European

    Yesterday I was out for my last long run before race day. The Marrakech marathon is this coming weekend. It was a simple, nice and slow 14 mile run and as I set out I had no real route in mind. I normally like to map out my route and know where I am going to run so this is unlike me. As it turned out, this lack of planning turned out to be a good thing. 

    About three or four miles into my run I caught up to a a guy who is from Europe and we ended up running for about six miles together. While running, I found out that this new European friend of mine 

was on vacation in Marrakech for a week. He said that he came to Morocco for a short vacation and to be able to do a weeks worth of longer runs in a warmer climate as he trains for a 100 kilometer ultra marathon in Europe. Being an ultra marathoner myself made our conversation even more fun.

Check out my awesome photo skills

    Since I have started running I have learned that it is very easy to make friends while out on a run, whether that be a long training run or a race. Some of my favorite runs of all times are the ones where I started off by myself and ended up running for a long time with someone I met on the run. In a half marathon I ran this past December I ran for the last 6 miles with a guy from California who flew across the USA only to run that race. Over a year ago in my first ultra marathon, a 50k, I ended up running for about 4 hours with a husband and wife couple from Alabama. My point is this, i

f you are new to running, one of the things you will learn quickly is that it is easy to become friends with someone out on a run. And, if you are in Morocco who knows where some of those people will be from.

    Running by myself is fun, but running with someone even if you have just met the person can often make a run very enjoyable. Morocco has given me the opportunity to meet many people while running and something I have discovered is that for the most part the people that share this hobby/addiction/healthy lifestyle are some of the nicest people out there. 

    If you are living in a colder climate like the friend I met yesterday, I do recommend a getaway to Marrakech! Not only will you enjoy the warmer weather to run in, you can explore the exotic culture of Marrakech!