Locations Archive - Page 4 of 9 - Trail Runners Connection

TransContinent

The 4 Deserts endurance footrace series covers the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in China, the Sahara Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica. Each desert is unique, varying from extreme hot to ultra cold. The 7 day races of max 250 km are self-supported, apart from provided water and a tent for night rest.The ultimate challenge to test and go beyond physical and mental limits. The 5 Continents Grand Slam includes 5 100 miles (116 km) races in Sweden (TEC), Chile (Atacama Xtreme), South Africa (Washi) Australia (GNW 100)...

Antarctica

Although permanent living on Antarctica is impossible and maybe not attractive either, this ice-covered landmass can be travelled and run.Several expeditions and even races have been organized on the southernmost continent and site of the South Pole.

Oceania

There are six major indigenous groups in Oceania: Aboriginal Australians, Papuans, Austronesians, Melanesians, Micronesians, and Polynesians, based on the island cluster on which each group lives.Oceania is the smallest continent in the world in terms of land area.

Asia

The running culture in Asia is booming and it’s amazing how many races are held but also their locations.You can even run on the Great Wall in China. In Japan effort is admired and runners who seem to be trying the hardest are usually the most popular.The Hakone Ekiden that is held annually on 2 and 3 January, is broadcasted on television. Teams of 10 runners from several Tokyo universities compete for ultimate victory.

Africa

Since the 1968 Olympics, men and women from Kenya and Ethiopia have dominated the 26.2-mile marathon. Ethiopia’s iconic runner Haile Gebrselassie said “Anything is possible”. Running indeed paved the road for many African runners to a better life. A combination of a poor childhood, walking many miles to school, lack of perspective, their genes, and strong mentality made many Africans dream and put in the effort to become a champion. In many African countries basic needs such as clean water and adequate health care are hard to get. Wars and internal...

Europe

Europe has a lot to offer. Not only a wide variety of beautiful landscapes, history and cultures, but also a healthy environment: Perhaps the world’s healthiest diet, the Mediterranean diet is abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and olive oil. It features fish and poultry—lean sources of protein—over red meat. Red wine is consumed regularly but in moderate amounts. Iceland has seemingly avoided many of the diseases that have plagued other countries. They have low rates of Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, heart disease and diabetes. The world’s least polluted countries are all...

South America

The most famous running culture in South America, the Rarámuri (“the running people”) can be found in the remote depths of Mexico’s Copper Canyons. For ages they ran to deliver messages between families. Running was also important for hunting animals, chasing down deer until they were too exhausted to escape a Tarahumara arrow. They are not only renowned for their incredible long-distance running endurance but also for the absence of modern chronic diseases. Drought and famine have threatened the Tarahumara’s ability to sustain their ancient cultural traditions.

North America

Coach of 31 Olympic athletes and co-founder of Nike Bill Bowerman wrote and published his book “Jogging” in 1966 in the United States, which became a huge success. He was inspired by Arthur Lydiard, a runner and coach in New Zealand in the sixties, who is still recognized as one of the best running coaches worldwide.The many Olympic medals for New Zealand on Track and Field, in 1960 and 1964, prove how effective Lydiard’s training method was, in which he adds speed after gradually building a solid endurance base. His method...

Kenyan Rift Valley

The Great Rift Valley is a series of connected rift valleys, linear shaped lowlands between several highlands or mountain ranges created by the action of a geologic rift. Rifts are formed as a result of the pulling apart of the lithosphere due to extensional tectonics. The linear depression may subsequently be further deepened by the forces of erosion. The system of rift valleys that characterizes the African continent gives many insights in the evolution of mankind because of important paleoanthropological discoveries that have bene done in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda...

London

London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. It was founded by the Romans as Londinium on the banks of the Thames River, which flows through the city. It is famous for the Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations, and the Ferris wheel London Eye, which gives a great view of the center and far beyond. London MarathonThe distance of the very first Marathon, which was held during the Olympic Games in...