Beyond the Comfort Zone (Part 1): What Wadi Rum, Jordan Taught Me About Preparation and Perseverance
- runfitfordingbridge
- Apr 9
- 5 min read
As an Endurance Running coach and founder of Run Fit Fordingbridge, I often tell my clients that endurance events aren't just physical challenges—they're powerful teachers. They are where you learn the most about yourself - the deep down stuff. They demonstrate the importance of proper preparation, and show us how community support can carry us through the toughest moments. Recently, I put all these coaching principles to the test when I participated in the Jordan Ultra Marathon Challenge: two marathons in two days through the unforgiving desert landscape of Wadi Rum, Jordan. The lessons reinforced during this adventure are the same ones I bring to every coaching session and fitness class at our boutique studio. Here's my experience and reflections of the trip there and my first day...
Ultra Challenge Jordan is two marathons in two days through the stunning desert landscape of Wadi Rum, Jordan. Each day consists of a full marathon (42km) through challenging terrain - from rocky canyons to soft sand dunes - all while dealing with desert heat and basic camp accommodations.
Arriving at Amman airport in the early hours of the morning set the tone for what was to come for the next few days. We had an unexpected detour on route to our first night hotel, courtesy of our local driver for a cup of tea at a roadside café at 1:30am, before arriving at our hotel just after 2am. Not much sleep that night as we were up at 6am for breakfast so we could fit in an early morning dip in the Dead Sea before a 5 hour bus transfer into camp.
A jeep ride into camp once we arrived took us deep into Wadi Rum before our arrival at camp. I have to say that was a LOT of fun!!
Marathon running is tough at the best of times. Then you add camp life on top of that, along with the wind, sand and heat of the desert. Sand gets everywhere - no matter how hard you try, a fine film finds its way into your tent and covers everything. You have to learn to park the things you can't do anything about. Let's just say that bathroom facilities were a challenge compared to what I am used to. If you think that camp toilets were basic - the real low point was peeing in a plastic bag at an aid station on route, then tying it up and putting it in a hole in the ground.
Sleep quality isn't great either- you can't stretch out in the same way in these small tents surrounded by all your kit. But what I've learned through endurance running and yoga is that "it is what it is." It's not worth investing focus and energy on these things. All you can do is work with what you have and make the best of things – doing whatever you can to make things easier/more doable.
The morning of marathon day one, runners started about 90 minutes behind the walkers. Wadi Rum is vast - great expanses where you can see for miles with nothing but canyons and sand – with the occasional camel. I found an amazing running buddy along the way (thank you Gemma!), and we stayed together the whole day which was fabulous. It was so lovely to share the experience with someone else - we naturally took turns supporting each other when things got difficult. The mutual support and camaraderie of doing something challenging with someone else who shares your interests makes such a difference. This mutual support and camaraderie is exactly why community is such a cornerstone of what we do at Run Fit Fordingbridge. Having someone alongside you can make all the difference.
The last 10km was especially tough. The terrain was difficult - lots of soft sand and gradually going uphill. Camp came into sight far in the distance with about 4-5km to go, and looked a long way away and was uphill. By that time you're tired, hot, and just want to get there. Just when it looked like it wasn't getting any closer, it completely disappeared at about 2km (due to the contours of the land - it wasn't a mirage). It would have been easy to get disheartened, but you just have to focus on something else - small milestones that will take you there. It can be anything like counting steps, humming a tune, talking about movies filmed in the Wadi Rum desert (there are quite a few it turns out). That's no different than when you're working towards your own goals... it can seem like a long way away, but you have to keep focused on your goal and smaller milestones.
I crossed the finish line at the end of marathon number 1 feeling fatigued, with a complaining knee and having to do it all again the next day. After a bit of a sit down and a cold drink, it would have been very easy to just sit and relax and let time ebb by, but instead it was about focusing on doing the work – or admin as I like to call it - to prepare for day two.
Preparation and planning is a milestone that helps you achieve your goals. I sort of showered (best you could), stretched, and foam rolled (yes, I took a mini foam roller with me). I needed to stretch as my right leg/hip was a bit tight and had been registering its unhappiness in the last 10km -hence the knee grumble. I had already pre-packed all my kit (including nutrition) into a bag for day two while still in the UK, as I knew I would be tired and didn't want to have to make decisions. Prepping is important for any goal you're trying to achieve in life. Just like getting out your workout gear the night before - ready for the morning or prepping your meals for a few days ahead - you're setting yourself up for success.
As I settled in for the night, I was already mentally preparing for day two. I knew I needed to learn from today's experience. Marathon number two would bring fresh challenges: more sand, more heat, and definitely not fresh legs!
In my next blog post, I'll share how day two unfolded, the lessons I learned about resilience, and how sometimes the toughest part of any journey is that final stretch before you reach the finish line. Just like with any fitness goal, it's about making adjustments, celebrating small victories, and keeping your eyes on what matters most.