‘RUN: Races & Trails Around The World’ – Personal ultra race stories

RUN is a book every ultra runner needs on their bookshelf.

There’s more awe-inspiring, jaw-stopping worldwide races and trails in RUN than you will have ever seen before, and we can guarantee you’ll spend hours deciding which one(s) to take on. We’re lucky to have such an abundance of beautiful running trails to choose from, and what can be better than combining a trip with your favourite activity.

Could you choose between running alongside the Pyramids of Giza or the tropical beaches of Mauritius. Find it easy to pick from the salt flats of Bolivia, cliff tops of the Giant Causeway, the high rises of Monaco and the Khmer temples in Cambodia. Don’t get us started on trying to decide between the Rocky Mountains in Canada or the volcanos in Nicaragua.

“Compiled by enthusiastic runners, sports journalists and travel writers, RUN features 100 of the world’s best running routes, from organised marathons to community-focused parkruns, tough trail runs to scenic city stretches… Race against a horse, try to beat the tides or lap ’til you drop: those up for a challenge will find it in these pages.”

And don’t just take our word for it, we spoke to two super-motivated ultra runners who have tried, tested and ultimately triumphed some of these heartbreakingly beautiful ultra marathons.

They give us the lowdown on their epic adventures in Nambia and Greece.

Nicky Chrascina at FLANCI Activewear has completed around 125 marathon/ultras including MdS, Atacama, Comrades x 4, Grand 2 Grand and numerous other multi-stage events.

I am usually found in the back third of the field chatting, taking photos and enjoying the atmosphere, scenery and company of the other runners. Ultra running for me is fun and a way of seeing places I would not normally visit.

What prompted you to think about taking on the Atacama Crossing Ultramarathon?
I love the multi-staged events and love the desert. Whilst doing Grand 2 Grand, one of the other competitors was telling me about Atacama and what a great event it was, so I added it to my bucket list.

Did it take much planning in advance?
As I have done several multi-day stage races, I had most of the equipment required and the know-how when it came to food, etc. I had to defer my entry for a couple of years though because of Covid and injury so by the time I eventually did do the race all my plans were well in place. Saying that, bag packing day as usual proved to be a challenge! How to fit everything required into the back pack, what to take as a luxury item, what to ditch! It never gets easier.

What pre-race training did you need to put in?
I didn’t actually put enough training in. My husband Alf and I own FLANCI, an activewear brand which involves working long days and weekends so I did miss out on several of my long runs which I regretted as soon as we hit the first steep hill climb!  Hill training and running with your loaded pack I think are the 2 main requirements plus back-to-back long training days.

When you arrived did you need to acclimatise to the new environment?
I arrived 5 days before the event started to get used to the altitude and environment. I think if you have this luxury it is a good idea. The area was a lot dustier than I anticipated so I did make some changes to how things were packed in my bag to try and keep things as clean and sand free as possible.

Tell us about the Ultramarathon and what is the terrain like?
The scenery is stunning with the impressive Licancabur Volcano being the main focal point and visible on most days. The terrain is made up of a variety of surfaces including sandy tracks, crunchy salt flats, dry river beds and big sand dunes.

You run through the famous Valle de la Muerta (Valley of Death) and Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) – two of the most visited tourist spots in the Atacama.  We encountered a massive sand storm on Day 3 which was no fun. We were held in a checkpoint until a decision was made by the event organisers, to evacuate and temporarily suspend the race. An unscheduled night and rest day were spent in a shelter before being moved back to camp where a revised version of the race was put together. This meant the long march was cut slightly short with no rest day to follow. It all made the adventure slightly more exciting.

What was your BIG highlight?
Valley of the Moon. Reached by climbing a lung busting, knees on thighs sand dune and being presented with the most awe inspiring lunar landscape. It is no wonder that several feature films including Matt Damon’s ‘Martian’ were filmed here.

No visit to Atacama could go without mentioning the night sky. No surprise that Atacama is home to the Paranal Observatory and ALMA (the largest land observatory ever built). Atacamas’s small human population and isolation results in almost no light pollution so the clusters of stars and Milky Way are incredibly bright.

Did you encounter any major difficulties while running the Atacama Crossing? Which was the hardest stage of the race?
I seem to suffer with a lot of blisters in the heat so this was an ongoing issue that I had to address each evening, but I think the hardest thing overall for me was the extremes in temperature. We had a couple of nights where the temperature dropped to -7 degs then would rapidly rise to the early 30s as soon as the sun popped up. My water bottles would freeze solid over night and standing around outside being sociable, prepping meals and doing general self care admin of an evening could get very tedious when your hands and feet are numb with the cold!

The hardest stage for me was the day with all the river crossings. I think we waded through the ice melt water around 20 or so times. My feet were so cold it was agony. The water in places was also very fast flowing so I found it fairly nerve racking – no one wants to fall into that – some unfortunates did!!

Do you have any recommendations for other ultra runners looking to take it on?

• Take food that you have tried and tested, and that you can tolerate/enjoy all week
• Look after your feet and deal with any hot spots as soon as you can feel them
• Take lots of photographs!

James Ellis started running in 2009. After taking voluntary redundancy from work, he set up a streak running blog called 1095Miles – a challenge to run three miles a day from a standing start every day for a year. He is a nutritionist and health coach.

What prompted you to think about taking on the Spartathlon?
I received a message something along the lines of ‘If you think what you’re doing is tough, take a look at this’. Could we do it? Was it a dream? Were we being stupid? A week later, we were looking up qualifying criteria. When I lined up the first time at the start under the Acropolis, it was, I think only my eighth ever time running more than 26.2 and the first time I’d done more than 100. But it inspired a passion for the race that still hasn’t gone away.

What training plan and strategy did you need to undertake in preparation?
I’m a plodder. I’m not a front of the pack runner, so I go mainly for base mileage, averaging 80-100 a week for a couple of months ahead of the race with some strength training too. Plus lots of trying to replicate the heat. In the UK it can be pretty grim in Summer so I run with garbage bags under my kit, or on the treadmill in the garage surrounded by heaters.

You’ve run it seven times (finished five), what makes you keep going back for more?
It is without doubt one of the most spine-tingling races. You start at the Acropolis in Athens and run to the Statue of Leonidas in Sparta. It’s the original ultra run, set by the messenger Pheidippides in 480BC so it’s laden with history. I think there is seven or eight ancient sites you pass on the way.

You have the history, the heat during the day, incredible views over the Aegean Sea but you also have the traffic of Athens, the distance, the cold at night, the crossing over a 1,000m mountain – located right at the 100 mile mark. You have to run the first 50 miles pretty fast – back to back 4.45 marathons.  And, I guess, as I have lived in Greece before it feels a bit like my home race. 

When you DNF’d what were the challenges and difficulties that you experienced?
The first time I had an injury on my left shin. It literally felt like I couldn’t run from pretty early in the race but I managed to get past half-way before giving myself a break. I was heartbroken. 

In 2022, I made a total mess of things. I normally carry electrolytes. I forgot the bag and the salt tablets just melted away as I was filling my bottle. I ran the second marathon with no electrolytes in 38C heat. By the time I saw my crew again at the 50 mile point I was cooked. I managed to carry on but two miles further on my legs gave way with the most painful cramps ever. I was literally on the floor in a puddle of water by an aid station screaming. I managed to get up, but it was a while before my legs could get going again. I managed to get through the night but had lost too much time. I pulled at the Nestani check-point at 107 miles as I was just a minute under the cut-offs and couldn’t see me pulling any time back.

Tell us what an ultra runner can expect from the terrain along the Spartathlon route?
It’s mainly road, dusty and hot. A lot of time time in Athens itself, you are running alongside a highway at rush hour. It’s one of the reasons the first 50 miles are so quick – to get you out of the city as quick as possible. As dusk starts to fall you end up in some beautiful countryside, going through tiny villages where the locals all come out as though you are a celebrity – kids literally want autographs. The mountain section is a pass that takes around 45 minutes to get up and down but it’s scree and you can lose your footing easily. It undulates quite a lot. Then there’s about a 13-mile stretch into Sparta at the end which is mainly downhill and is amazing.

What has been your biggest highlight?
Kissing the foot of Leonidas, every single time.

From all your running experience, what makes the Spartathlon so special and why should other ultra runners give it a go?
I simply don’t know anyone who has taken part as a crew or runner who doesn’t take something away with them. It creates a unique bond and a unique feeling in your heart. Everyone goes back… maybe not immediately. But everyone goes back.

In conclusion, ultra running and traveling go hand-in-hand, making it easy to enjoy both at the same time. We’re fortunate to be able to explore the world and experience its beauty through running.

RUN offers an abundance of breathtaking worldwide trails that range from simple jogs along scenic oceanside pathways to multi-day journeys into high-altitude mountain territory. It can be quite a challenge deciding which destination you should tackle first!

Nothing beats a run that is both fulfilling and memorable. So what are you waiting for?

RUN: Races and Trails Around The World
£18.79
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FLANCI Activewear - “Every Body Out There”

FLANCI Activewear was built on the mantra of “Every Body Out There”. They’ve created a huge range of high-quality activewear, designed specifically to inspire boldness and confidence in anyone. Any size, any style, any age. Founders Nicky and Alf are both dedicated and accomplished endurance athletes – Nicky in particular, having crossed the line at over 100 marathons and ultra-distance events! Read more here...