Skip to main content

Running into the unknown


 "The unknown is where the real stories begin."

When I heard about the Hood to Coast event happening in the Dubai desert this month, I just knew I wanted to take part. It reminded me of the Wadi Bih run I did a couple of times in the Hatta mountains several years ago, and the idea of a team relay in a new environment sounded so exciting! Of course, I needed to find some teammates. For this event though, I really put myself out there and joined a team where I didn’t know anyone. I’ve been making an effort to meet new people through run clubs and fitness events, and this sounded like a great opportunity. So, when the founder of Original Culprit (a fitness wear brand) decided to put some teams together, I went for it.
I had a busy work week and a terrible night’s sleep prior to the event, but I’d committed, and there was no way I was backing out. I arrived at the venue (in the middle of the desert) around 4:30am, and it was dark and cold outside. I met my four teammates for the very first time (we’d only communicated via WhatsApp before), and the nerves definitely set in quickly. But the ‘chicas’ (our team name) were nice, positive and excited, and that set the tone for a good day ahead.
Out of the 100km, I was set to run 9.8km (leg 6) and 10km (leg 11). I hadn’t done much running in the month prior, due to my holiday travels and a niggling hip, so I wasn’t planning to go too fast or chase any PBs, but I still had a time and pace in mind that I wanted to maintain as best I could. The heat, the terrain, and running mostly alone made it all quite challenging. It wasn’t easy, but I stuck to my plan, running the first 9.8km in approximately 50 minutes and the last 10km in just under an hour. These times aren’t great, but many factors contributed to them, and simply getting through those runs was an accomplishment I’m quite proud of. To add to that, a few of us decided to join our teammate and run a few extra kilometers with her at the end on the very last leg, so in total, I ran 23 of the 100km. 
It took us approximately nine hours to complete the journey. It was a really long day, but also such a fun and new experience, catching up with lots of ’old friends’ and making new connections along the way.

Some of my goals for the year ahead are to branch out, meet new people and try new things, and so we’re off to a pretty good start just 2 weeks in to 2026. What’s the next challenge of the year? Stay tuned!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Living Outside The Box

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I believe I’m on the path I’m meant to be." As we get older, it’s easy to get trapped in society’s idea of what life "should" look like. By the time we hit 40, there’s a well-defined picture of success: owning a home, starting a family, climbing the career ladder. But as I approach this milestone, I’m choosing to remind myself that true happiness isn’t found in checking off someone else’s list. It’s found in stepping outside the box, embracing the unexpected, and allowing life to unfold in its own unique way. Sure, my path hasn’t always been conventional, and I’ve often found myself comparing my journey to others, wondering why I’m not where they are. But when I take a step back and reflect, I see how much I’ve gained by stepping off the well-worn road. Life may not have gone according to plan, but I’m proud of the unexpected milestones I’ve reached along the way. I’ve traveled to over 40 countries, lived in three (ye...
Post a Comment
Read more

Locked in.

“ The successful warrior is the average (wo)man , with laser-like focus. ” Life’s been feeling a little dull lately, but there’s one thing keeping me fired up; the experience of a lifetime is just around the corner. In just four weeks, I’ll be heading to Chicago to compete in the Hyrox World Championships, and I’m locked in. For many competitive and athletic kids, the dream is to make it to the Olympics or stand on a world championship stage in their sport. While Hyrox may not be the Olympics, for me, this is kind of that moment. This is my ‘world stage’; I can’t wait to soak it all in and add it to the list of things I’m proud of. This idea sort of started on my 40th birthday this year. While most people celebrate with a party and cake or a getaway, I made a wild choice: I booked my place in the Hyrox World Championships with my doubles partner. Bold? Definitely. Crazy? Probably. Worth it? Without a doubt. The last time I pushed myself this hard was back in 2019 when I trained for a C...
Post a Comment
Read more

Momentum Reset

"Momentum doesn’t just return; you rebuild it, one choice at a time." Before summer began, I was feeling a little low. The tipping point came when I found out my HYROX competition partner’s visa had been denied, meaning we wouldn’t be able to compete at the HYROX World Championships in Chicago. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t the end of the world, but I was still pretty bummed. I thrive when I have a goal, something to work toward, and for nearly two months, I’d been all-in. That training gave me momentum, purpose and energy. When that goal disappeared, so did my drive. Suddenly, my energy shifted in the wrong direction. I slipped into autopilot, stuck in the routine of daily life, work, and thought patterns that were becoming more and more negative. Social media didn’t help. It felt like everyone else was out there doing so much, and I had nothing exciting happening. I would catch myself comparing and as my thoughts spiraled, my body started responding, and not in a good way. Th...
Post a Comment
Read more