Hi, and welcome back to the Mohsin Salya blog.
Getting tired of your local 10k route? Not feeling inspired by the thought of your city’s next half marathon event? Well, maybe it’s time to look further afield and try something different. This post is all about just a few of those iconic events that we should all tackle before we die. So, with that in mind, here are a few ideas for your next big challenge.
Where better to start than the home of long distance running itself? No one runs quite like the Ethiopians – the country has produced legends including Haile Gebrselaisse, Kenenisa Bekele, Tirunesh Dibaba and Abebe Bikila – and this event is the perfect opportunity to follow in their footsteps. Join 37,000 other people on the streets of Addis Ababa for this celebration of running.
Its Paris. In April. Do we need to say any more? Run on the streets of one of the most beautiful cities in the world and get a unique perspective of this very special place.
Siberia in January is a world away from Paris in the springtime – temperatures hit -32C at times on the streets of Omsk. Thick socks are a must for this gruelling half marathon.
This the one that started it all. It’s as hot, hilly and punishing as Greek runner Phidippides found it back in 490BC when he ran from Marathon into Athens, so bring a hat and plenty of sun cream. It starts at the old battlefield site in Marathon and finishes in the Olympic stadium – an unmissable experience for any marathon runner.
Normal marathons are hard enough for most of us – but the Great Wall of China version adds in the extra challenge of 5,164 steps to keep you on your toes.
The perfect antidote to some of the tougher races we’ve mentioned above – the Marathon du Medoc passes through number of stunning French vineyards, giving you plenty of opportunity to stop and ‘rehydrate’ en route.
Until the next time,
Mohsin Salya.