Land of blue skies, snow-capped mountains and endless Berber trails: the Atlas Mountains. Well known for their trekking potential, people are only just beginning to discover the attraction of these mountains as a trail run destination.

Whilst running up Toubkal may be the domain of the elite, there are many beautiful running options on good paths to enable even the beginning trail runner to get out and enjoy the awe-inspiring Moroccan views.

So aside from the beautiful scenery, what health benefits can you expect to receive from running in Morocco? This list should give you some inspiration to come running here, whether on holiday in Marrakech, on business, or here for the running holiday of a lifetime! There are many health benefits to running on trails rather than on the road:

1. Sunshine. It goes without saying that Morocco has lots of sun, even in winter. So running here will ensure that you get plenty of vitamin D. It also means that you generally have good views and that route-finding is easy compared to running on European mountains (where weather conditions are much less stable)
2. Balance. Trail running is really good for increasing your balance and foot control. No two footsteps are the same, and impact on the ankles and knees is minimised. With the constant change between uphill, downhill, and balcony paths you will soon achieve a much greater sense of balance which will be noticeable when you return to the flat! The constant changing of your body position in relation to your legs as you negotiate obstacles is also part of developing better balance.
3. Avoid strain. Some of the common injuries in people who mainly run on the flat are caused by repetitive strain and impact in the ankles and knees. This happens when every footfall hits the same kind of surface at the same angle. On trails however, this simply doesn’t happen. One moment you are negotiating a hard-packed mule track, the next you are descending a gentle scree slope. Your feet adapt to a different position each time, strengthening your ankles and decreasing the tendency to overuse or injure the same places.
4. Enjoy the quiet and solitude. The Atlas Mountains can be really remote, and a half-hour of running is enough to get you far away from civilisation. Here in the wilderness the only sounds you will hear are bird-calls, the sigh of the gentle wind, and the crunch of your footfalls. Why run in Marrakesh with the busy traffic and incessant noise when you could be in the mountains enjoying the quiet and tranquility of nature?
5. Altitude training. Even running in the Atlas foothills, you will be over 1000m altitude. So the fitness gains will be exemplified by the height difference. Whether you do a one-off run or a multi-day trip, you will notice the good that this does to your body when you return to sea-level.

Finally, the slower pace of life in the mountains will have great benefits if you spend several days here. One of the growing problems in modern life is the increase in stress, resulting in health problems and even shortened life-span. Spending time in nature, away from the business of normal life, can feel like a real refresher, and give you strength and energy.

Personally I have found the health benefits of trail running to be immeasurable. There are times when life and stress gets me down and I find myself becoming downcast. This can go on for days until it dawns on me – I haven’t been out in the mountains recently. Even if the weather is terrible and nothing in me wants to get out, something as short as a half-hour run in the hills is enough to blow away those indoor blues and make me feel upbeat again. Some people say that running in the hills is crazy, but there’s a great reply to that: “It’s only a mountain, get over it!”. Nothing can compare with getting out in nature, seeing the world from a higher viewpoint and realising how small and insignificant our daily troubles really are. Combine this with the rush of adrenaline which always comes after a run and you have a winning combination. I’m sure that a lot less people would need anti-depressants these days if they just discovered this secret.

Just be warned – it’s highly addictive. Once you discover the joy and health benefits of trail running, you will never look back.

So what better way to give your body a natural detox whilst enjoying splendid views and  challenging  yourself than to go for a run in the Atlas Mountains? It’s worth it, every step of the way!