Sunday, November 24Sports. Travel. Events

Running wild: unusual marathon trips with Untamed Borders in 2020

Adventure travel operator Untamed Borders has announced details of its most unique and unusual running trips for 2020. 

These marathon trips are designed to give guests a genuine insight into the countries they visit, while also giving something back to the communities they meet.

Having operated commercial tours to Afghanistan since 2007, marathon tourism started for Untamed Borders in 2015, when founder James Willcox joined a small group of international and Afghan people, who together set up the first ever Marathon of Afghanistan. 

Willcox said: “Untamed Borders now have five marathon departures a year. This year we will be taking around 70 international guests to participate in some of the world’s most exciting races. 

“From the deserts of Saudi Arabia to training with female runners breaking taboos in Iraq, these events are all about bringing people from around the world to share a common experience. 

“In most cases entry cost from the international runners covers the race entry for local runners, which, most importantly, makes these events accessible to all.

“Events like these promote sport, which help young women and men to stay on the right track, rather than falling into drug use or extremism.”

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Untamed Borders’s marathon trips in 2020

Somaliland Marathon: February 2020
Now in its third year, the Somaliland Marathon remains the country’s only mixed gender sporting event. Based in the capital Hargeisa, the 10km and full marathon races were first set up by a small team of people to encourage more Somalis to participate in sport, regardless of sex or national origin.

The first event in 2018 saw 200 Somali and international runners taking part across the marathon and 10km races, which increased to 300 runners in 2019. The 2019 event also saw a large rise in female participants from 13 in 2018 to nearly 50 in 2019.

This trip is an excellent opportunity to experience this self-declared Horn of Africa nation and support the work of the Darlington Foundation, the event’s charity partner, an organisation promoting and supporting the education of students in Somaliland. Guests also have the chance to visit local places of interest, including Las Geel, home to some of the world’s best-preserved ancient cave paintings.

Untamed Borders’s five-day itinerary costs $1,450. This includes race entry, accommodation, local and international guides, excursions and most meals. For more information see untamedborders.com 


Riyadh Marathon: February 2020
Until this year, the Riyadh Marathon has only been open to Saudi Arabia nationals and residents, but due to the country’s new visa system, international runners can now also take part. 

Guests will have the chance to visit places of interest in Riyadh including Dirryyah Village, a Unesco World Heritage site on the outskirts of Riyadh where the history of the Al Saud Dynasty began, before taking part in the marathon itself. The race makes its way across the desert and through farmland on the outskirts of Riyadh, an area which provides a safe environment for all participants to run.

Untamed Borders’s four-day itinerary costs $1,075. This includes race entry, accommodation, most meals, museum entry, local and international guides. See untamedborders.com 


Mogadishu Half-Marathon: March 2020
In March runners from all over the world will gather with Somali athletes to compete in the fourth edition of Somalia’s Mogadishu Half-Marathon. 

This year, the race is co-organised with global running and fitness community, Midnight Runners, with $200 from each Untamed Borders booking going towards race entry for Somali runners. After the race, guests will have the opportunity to explore Mogadishu with a security team and local guide.

Untamed Borders’s three-day itinerary costs $1,600. This includes race entry, accommodation, all meals, security detail, local and international guides. See untamedborders.com 


Marathon of Afghanistan: October 2020
Each year Untamed Borders take 20 international guests to join the Marathon of Afghanistan, which takes place at an altitude of 3,000m in the Bamian province, in the central highlands of Afghanistan. 

Starting at the famous Unesco Buddha niches, the race passes through Band-e Amir, Afghanistan’s first national park. The Bamian province is recognised as one of the safest areas in the country and remains almost completely untouched by violence. 

The event is organised in collaboration with charity organisation Free to Run which uses adventure sports, including running, to create safe spaces for women and develop female leadership in post-conflict regions of the world.

Untamed Borders’s 10-day itinerary costs $2,350. This includes race entry, accommodation, all internal flights, most meals, local and international guides. See untamedborders.com 


Erbil Marathon: October 2020
Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, is the perfect place to experience life in Northern Iraq. After visiting the ancient citadel and other famous sights in Erbil, guests will visit Lalish, the spiritual home of the Yazidi people, before training with female runners breaking taboos in Iraq. 

Iraqi Kurdistan has mostly escaped the violence that the rest of the country has experienced and is a great way to get a flavour of modern Iraq and discover famous Kurdish hospitality.

Untamed Borders’s six-day itinerary costs $1,850. This includes race entry, accommodation, all internal transport, some meals, local and international guides. See untamedborders.com

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