From the glories of Genghis Khan’s empire to the present day. The charm of Mongolia remains unshaken and unchanged over the centuries. Land of expanses, steppes and deserts, of wayfarers and shepherds. The world told in the Milione, the book of the long travel and experience of Marco Polo, son of a family of merchants from Venice. Mongolia is a vast expanse conditioned by a climate that is anything but mild, where landscapes, habitats and traditions are perfectly preserved and handed down from generation to generation.
With Joan Carbonel, organizer of the mongolia trail run, let’s discover this part of the world.

Hi Joan, welcome back, let’s start immediately with a dry question: what led you to tie yourself to Mongolia?
Mongolia had always been an undiscovered territory for me. Luckily, I got to know it in 2017 on a motorcycle trip. Upon returning home I felt the need to create a trail running product in these beautiful landscapes. Undoubtedly a very romantic project, made from the heart.

What are the major differences between the European world and the Mongolian civilization?
The relationship with nature and the relationship with time. The race takes place in places where time seems to stand still. It is a merit of wanting to preserve the traditions of the Mongolian nomads. Their lifestyle, their customs, their freedom in such a vast space. The relationship with the animals and the acceptance that nature is strong and capricious, always adapting. They are hospitable by necessity and it shows at all times.

What are the aspects that most fascinate you about this land and the most controversial ones?
I am fascinated by the landscape, the animals in freedom, the power of nature, the Mongolian culture and how proud they are of it, contemplating the nomadic lifestyle in which few Europeans could adapt with our frenetic day to day life. To gain time to time. Time to exist and to feel life.
It is controversial the difference between the capital and the rural areas, the need they have to want to westernize (or Americanize), the sudden changes of weather in which you can go from sun and heat to cold summer.

In addition to being a running experience, the Mongolia Trail Run is above all a travel experience: how do these two factors complement each other in your proposal?
Without a doubt, Mongolia Trail Run is more than a race. It is a trip that integrates the trail running stage race with that other part that shows you the nomadic culture, either with visits to local yurts to talk to them, see how and what they do, how is their daily life, visits to museums, temples, the explanations of the guides, the relationship with the local staff of the race … all this makes you experience a great trip, a trip more complete than the simple race. Now, the routes of the stages have been designed to show various landscapes of Mongolia, from the desert to the steppe and passing through its hills and forests; the last stage, passing by several important monuments of the Karkhorin area, ends in one of the most important preserved temples of Mongolia, so that you end up not only discovering a territory doing sport, but you become impregnated with its people and traditions.

How is it possible to participate in the Mongolia Trail Run and what are the requirements to participate?
Participating in the Mongolia Trail Run has the differential fact that it allows you to run with a small backpack of about 20 liters each day. Just enough to carry the mandatory material (raincoat, gloves and hat) plus 1 kitro of water and some food, since the stages have an average of 30 km and every 10 km there is a refreshment station. At the end of the stages, the life bag is recovered along with a complete buffet prepared to recover strength. And once in the accommodation, (campsites called Tourist camps) you will have a yurt to rest where your travel suitcase will be, a hot shower and a recovering dinner.
This race format allows you to easily recover from the wear and tear of each day, so participating in the Mongolia Trail Run does not require more than being a little fit and being a regular runner or walker. Another of the facilities offered is being able to participate in the Nomad modality, in which you can skip 2 stages, if for some reason you need to rest one day.
And how could it be otherwise, Mongolia Trail Run is open to accompanying persons with a parallel cultural program during race hours. Are you coming?

Discover Mongolia Trail Run and all fascinating RTW races      HERE

Official tag: #runtheworld
Foto credit: Mongoliatrailrun

© copyright iovedodicorsa 2023, il brand di Marco Frattini: training, abbigliamento, bandane, scarpe, accessori per il runninArgento

Runiceland is a race that we know well and that we ran back in 2012. An event but above all a location whose name alone evokes places that go beyond the imaginary: glaciers, volcanoes, a marriage and the real fusion between water, ice and fire. Living this experience was an almost supernatural and instinctive act thawe will undoubtedly carry in our hearts and in our memories forever.
With Alberto Rovera, creator together with his companion and friend of 1000 adventures Dino Bonelli of this exciting and spectacular stage race, let’s discover its origin.

Hi Alberto, let’s go back in time: can you tell us how Runiceland was born?
I was already organizing events in Italy always related to trail running. With my friend Dino we were invited as volunteers to the first edition of the Toubkal Trail in Morocco back in 2009, there the idea of organizing something similar was born, having a friend, Giorgio Codias, who in Iceland worked and works as a guide, it was almost automatic: Run Iceland!!!

Runiceland had been the first of a long cycle of running events organized by you and Dino. What has been the evolution of Runiceland and where has your great passion for travel, running and adventure led you?
In different parts of the world, immediately after Iceland in Mexico where we organized the Carrera de Baja, then in Uganda where we organized the Uganda TTT, in Benin for and at the same time in Morocco where I organize the Desert Running Camp, formerly with Marco Olmo and now with Michele Graglia as trainer (www.scuolaitalianaoutdoor.it/desert-running-camp/

Looking beyond: what will be the future of Runiceland?
We would like to continue the formula of the stage race trying to always offer something new and intriguing in a country that has always proved to be one of the most fascinating and engaging for this type of activity.

This year, it will take place in June and not between the end of August and September as per tradition: are there still places available for this edition? How is it possible to participate?
This year we propose it in June to try something new, to experience the thrill of running the stage in the midnight sun and finally running among the lupins in bloom in the presence of the magnificent Puffins, the birds that in September they see more. There are still places available, but hurry up! Rules and registrations: www.runiceland.org

And how do you see yourself in a year? Projects?
Definitely still in Iceland and Morocco, Covid unfortunately forced us to stop with other destinations, but we plan to start again as early as 2024. I will then be busy already this year with the Valle Maira Occitan Trail in October (www.mairaoccitantrail. it) as well as other minor events, then there will be a very important novelty for the month of September, very soon all the novelties in this regard.

Thank you

Thanks to you Marco and I invite all readers to follow us in our adventures sharing the passion for running! Happy racing everyone and see you soon on some trails!

Discover Runiceland and all fascinating RTW races      HERE

Official tag: #runtheworld
Foto credit: Runiceland

© copyright iovedodicorsa 2023, il brand di Marco Frattini: training, abbigliamento, bandane, scarpe, accessori per il runninArgento