{"id":67846,"date":"2023-01-13T16:36:19","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T15:36:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jazairhope.org\/?p=67846"},"modified":"2023-01-13T16:36:19","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T15:36:19","slug":"i-travelled-to-algeria-to-run-through-the-desert-heres-why-this-adventure-holiday-could-be-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jazairhope.org\/en\/i-travelled-to-algeria-to-run-through-the-desert-heres-why-this-adventure-holiday-could-be-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"I travelled to Algeria to run through the desert: Here\u2019s why this adventure holiday could be for you"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Source : https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/2023\/01\/10\/i-travelled-to-algeria-to-run-through-the-desert-heres-why-this-adventure-holiday-could-be<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
By\u00a0Hannah Brown<\/b><\/a>
The new year has many of us thinking about trying something we\u2019ve never done before. Maybe you want to\u00a0<\/span>run a marathon<\/strong><\/a> or visit a new country.<\/span><\/div>\n
Well, how about both?<\/span><\/div>\n
I love\u00a0<\/span>running<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and when I was invited to the Sahara Desert for the Treg Algeria Trail for a week of ultramarathons and sightseeing, I couldn\u2019t resist a trip to see what it was all about.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n

What is the Treg Algeria Trail?<\/h4>\n

Treg organises trail running and desert marathon holidays across the world. They are multi-day, multi-distance races where the runners must guide themselves with a GPS while\u00a0carrying everything they need<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0– including water, food and extra layers – with them.<\/p>\n

Though the terrain varies from country to country, the company prides itself on its unique and jaw-dropping locations. I took part in its latest trip which sees runners navigate the desert landscapes of Timimoun in Algeria.<\/p>\n

Runners had the choice of either a 45km, 90km or 180km route – all of which took them through dunes, oases, plateaus and mountains.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

The week-long trip included two days of sightseeing, one at the start and one at the end, a day of preparation and safety checks and three days to complete their chosen distance.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The race began early on a Tuesday morning in the heart of Timimoun. There was a great atmosphere at the start line with local singers and musicians getting everyone hyped up. It almost felt like a festival.<\/p>\n

From here, the first part of the race up to checkpoint 1 was the same route for everyone, no matter which distance they were running.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s at this point, I have to admit that I only completed this first 20km section and not the entire route. I love running but I only had seven weeks to prepare and I\u2019m nowhere near fit enough to run a marathon, never mind one in the desert.<\/p>\n

Fortunately for me, there was a nice cool breeze to combat the heat on the first day of the race.<\/p>\n

Still, this was my first time in the Sahara and I was completely blown away by the scenery as I joined the rest of the runners for the first stretch of their adventure.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\"Hannah
Overlooking an oasis at checkpoint 7 on the course<\/span>Hannah Brown \/ Euronews Travel<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

Who is a desert marathon for?<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

I spent my time running and trekking alongside all sorts of people at the start of the race. For a while, I walked with a team of Algerian female prison guards.<\/p>\n

I asked them why they had decided to come and do this race.<\/p>\n

\u201cLife is short, why not go on an adventure?\u201d one replied.<\/p>\n

During my week in Algeria, I met so many other interesting, and frankly, inspiring people too.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re tempted by an adventure holiday like this, but don\u2019t have any friends as invested in running long distances in the desert as you, fear not.<\/p>\n

Everyone was so friendly and the group felt like a big family by the end making it a great option for solo travellers.<\/p>\n

The average age for ultra-distance events tends to be a little older as it takes time to build up your endurance. Nevertheless, the ages ranged from around 30 to mid-70s and it attracts a fairly even split of men and women.<\/p>\n

I met one 71 year old man who completed the 180km distance. He was then planning to spend the next few months walking home to Nantes in western France from Algiers, the capital of Algeria.<\/p>\n

Was he mad? Maybe. Was he incredible? Absolutely.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n