For his first go to to the 2025 Damaged Arrow Skyrace, Elhousine Elazzaoui of Morocco is selecting to give attention to the 23k occasion. On this interview, he talks about residing and coaching within the city of Zagora within the Sahara Desert, his household’s heritage as nomadic Berbers, his experiences racing within the U.S., and his targets for the Golden Path World Sequence this yr.

For extra on who’s racing, try our in-depth 23k previews and comply with our stay race protection on Sunday.

[Editor’s Note: If you are unable to see the video above, click here to access it.]

Elhousine Elazzaoui Pre-2025 Damaged Arrow Skyrace Interview Transcript

iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Elhousine Elazzaoui. It’s a few days earlier than the Damaged Arrow Skyrace 23k. Salaikum, Elhousine.

Elazzaoui: Salaikum. Good to satisfy you, Meghan. I’m very pleased I’m right here once more in America at Damaged Arrow.

iRunFar: That is your second journey to America. You had been right here final yr for Mammoth Path Fest, and now this yr for Damaged Arrow. What do you concentrate on operating and racing in America?

Elazzaoui: I like this nation, and final yr I had good outcomes and you’ve got the great mountains right here in America; Mammoth final yr and right here at Damaged Arrow is a pleasant place, and I prefer it. And, yeah, at all times return right here once more to America for me is sweet.

iRunFar: Excellent. That is iRunFar’s first interview with you. So I’d love to listen to about you as an individual and as a runner. I do know you come from Zagora Morocco, which is within the Saharan Desert of Morocco.

Elazzaoui: Sure, precisely. I’m from within the huge Sahara Desert in Morocco, Zagora. And I’m knowledgeable runner. I run for staff NNormal. And I’m right here to stay one other journey.

iRunFar: You come from a city, Zagora is legendary for producing runners who race the Marathon des Sables, the flat and quick marathon of the sands. How did you develop into a runner residing in Zagora?

Elazzaoui: Yeah, for me, I like this nation. Sure, you may have quite a lot of athletes. Yeah, I do know Marathon des Sables, at all times for lots of athletes it’s a dream to run Marathon des Sables, however for me it’s one other dream go far with huge competitors in path operating.

iRunFar: Proper.

Elazzaoui: However in the event you run Marathon de Sables, you may have expertise, and now good deserts.

iRunFar: Possibly sometime while you retire from path operating you’ll be able to run Marathon des Sables.

Elazzaoui: Possibly, sure, I’m going for the celebration for the buddies and, yeah, and luxuriate in life.

iRunFar: Now the individuals who come from Zagora are Berber and so they’re recognized for being nomadic, for shifting round to comply with your animals. Is your loved ones nomadic at dwelling or do you may have one dwelling base now?

Elazzaoui: Sure. I’m from the desert Sahara. My household is, yeah, they stay in Sahara. Yeah, I come from the group Berber Nomad in Zagora and I’m pleased at all times positive with the individual, my tradition and my custom.

iRunFar: So, let’s discuss how you bought to Europe to begin path operating. Possibly it was about 4 years in the past while you began going to Europe for racing.

Elazzaoui: Yeah, for me, coming to Europe first time was troublesome as a result of earlier than I didn’t have expertise in path operating.

However now I’m very pleased as a result of I’m with one of the best athletes on the earth and all of the individual now they know me and with NNormal I’m very pleased with this household. They assist me rather a lot, and now I’ve quite a lot of expertise.

iRunFar: Yeah. Now do you spend a part of the yr residing in Europe and a part of the yr in Morocco, or the place are you residing and the place do you prepare?

Elazzaoui: Yeah, I prepare, I run in Zagora Desert, summertime in Atlas. Now there are good locations in Morocco, some secret locations.

iRunFar: Okay.

Elazzaoui: It’s very, very good and yeah, generally I come to Europe as a result of it’s troublesome for me generally the journey, the journey and generally I keep a little bit bit in Europe however I’m going to my nation for the coaching.

iRunFar: Yeah. Sunday’s race is a Golden Path World Sequence race. You’ve got been a part of Golden Path World Sequence, I feel that is your fourth yr?

Elazzaoui: Yeah.

iRunFar: You received final yr.

Elazzaoui: Yeah.

iRunFar: I feel the years earlier than that you simply had been fourth and second within the collection. When you have been a champion of Golden Path World Sequence earlier than, what do you wish to do with the collection this yr? Win and win higher?

Elazzaoui: I feel, yeah, I give my greatest and this, yeah, my dream this yr once more, strive winner the Golden Path World Sequence as a result of final yr I used to be the primary African winner within the Golden Path Sequence. I returned this yr with one other power and I give my greatest and I really feel good.

iRunFar: Seeking to win and run sooner than final yr?

Elazzaoui: Possibly sure, perhaps not. Yeah, I’m little bit drained with the journey, however I really feel good.

iRunFar: Good. Inshallah, better of luck to you on the Golden Path World Sequence Damaged Arrow 23k on Sunday.

Elazzaoui: Thanks a lot, and inshallah. Sunday, one other day and I feel you probably have confidence, you may have good outcomes.

iRunFar: Thanks. Shukran.

Elazzaoui: Shukran. Thanks. Thanks.