Crafting your own running project is a fun way to improve your skills, varying form running techniques, logistics, terrain skills, team building, mental strength etc.

Because YOU’re the one in charge; YOU decide where you’ll be running, for how long, how fast, solo or with a team, one day or multiple days with or without luggage… and for which reason… it’s ALL up to YOU!

In case you missed the previous post about the reasons why runners create their own homemade adventure project—and the benefits they gain from it, you can look it up here.

Today let’s dive into some inspiring examples of homemade running adventure projects:

1. One of the first self initiated running projects that has been documented is Running the Sahara in 2006:
   “When I decided to run across the Sahara Desert with Ray Zahab and Kevin Lin, I knew it would be a life changing expedition. But I could never have known that, in many ways, my life would be defined by this run and the film about the journey,” says expedition leader Charlie Engle.

   While running more than 4,500 miles across Africa, the three men learned about the people and culture of the Sahara, and raised more than 6 million dollars for clean water projects in the region.
   “This is the true legacy of our historic expedition,” Charlie says.
   
   Find out more about the adventure, the runners, the trail route, and their stories.

    

2. Running for Water
   Australian Mina Guli was not sporty. But when she became aware of the problem of invisible water, through her job as a lawyer, she decided to make it her life ambition to solve the water crisis.

   A stunt would be needed to capture the world’s media attention. That’s how she started running for water awareness. The campaign of #Run4Water and her foundation Thirst have reached and activated thousands of people since 2012.

   In November 2018 Mina started her journey of running 100 marathons in 100 days. When she broke her leg after 62 days, the global community of water-conscious people all over the world took over by running or walking Mina’s miles to help her complete the 100-day challenge!

   Every year she initiates a new challenge on World Water Day.
   Check out all her incredible initiatives.

    

3. Make the Most of It
   On the 6th November 2014 Kevin Webber, age 49, was told that he had what is called “effectively terminal” (T4 advanced) prostate cancer and may only live 2 years, 3 or 4 if he was lucky.

   He’s now run over 16,000 miles in places like the Sahara, the Arctic, Cambodia, Jordan, Iceland etc etc, always fundraising and inspiring.

   “After my diagnosis, I was looking for a way to prove, to myself and others, that I could still do things.
   I ran a few marathons, did some longer races, and then my wife encouraged me to pursue my dream of the Marathon De Sables. The week-long 156-mile race across the Sahara is like Everest to a climber, it’s the best thing you can do as a runner.
   It became something to look forward to at the end of a year of pretty much hell for me.

   “Every day I now see as a gift and if you have a gift it would be rude to not use it,
to leave it unwrapped, in a dark corner of a cupboard.”


   Kevin is continuously raising funds to battle the biggest cancer affecting men – prostate cancer.

   To celebrate his 10 year ‘cancerversarie’ he ran/walked from his home in Epsom, Surrey, UK, to the Royal Marsden Hospital and back 10 times in under 24 hours totaling about 80 miles, one lap for every year. Each lap was dedicated to a year of his life plus a different department of the Marsden Hospital from cleaners to oncologists.

   About his latest win in Feb 2025 he says: “Finishing the beyond the ultimate Ice Ultra after 230k of cold icy windy Northern Sweden, so emotional. If a 60 year old bloke with T4 cancer can do this stuff whets your excuse eh? Never stop trying!” Find out more about Kevin and his book.