Trail Running Adventures: It’s More Than Just Running – It’s Life.
Cristina and I, Pablo, we share a deep passion for these trail running adventures. This isn’t just a business for us; it’s our life, our family, really. Cristina, she’s the unsung hero, the one who makes everything happen behind the scenes. Kristene Jordan, who ran with us, put it perfectly: Cristina handles all the logistics and communication to get you to your adventure. She plans the accommodations, arranges dinners, and even pops up as course support along the way. She’s simply amazing, always there, often with a fresh bottle of water or a much-needed smile when you think you can’t take another step – I couldn’t do any of this without her, to be honest.
Then there’s me. I’m equal parts historian, entertainer, storyteller, and guide. I’m often barefoot, too! Each morning, I’ll sketch out our planned run, sometimes with hand-drawn notes from a tattered notebook, sometimes just in the dirt, right there on the ground. It’s about getting real, you know? It’s about understanding the terrain, feeling it under your feet before we even start – or really, before we commit to how we’re going to tackle it. And every evening, we gather for incredible meals at local restaurants. All the day’s challenges, the exhaustion, they just melt away. What’s left are those fantastic memories you hope to hold onto forever. That’s the NomaTrails way, building bonds over shared sweat and amazing food.
Please contact us if you have any questions. We’re always happy to chat.
Presenting the NomaTrails Tribe: Your Running Adventures Club
January 1, 2018 by Pablo Rodriguez
Destination Marathons, Running Vacations
The NomaTrails Tribe is a family of adventure runners, or perhaps, better said, explorers.
To put it another way, everyone who has ever taken part in one of our trail running adventures in Costa Rica, Morocco, Sicily, or here in Catalonia (running the Costa Brava) belongs. We’re more than just a group; we’re a community of kindred spirits. We’re people who understand that running isn’t just about speed or distance, it’s about connecting with a place and its people.
Adventure Runners: More than just miles on our Trail Running Adventures
Back in 2011, when Cristina and I started this company, I began to realize something profound. Those joining us were connected, deeply connected. It was a bond I only truly started to understand after our runs in Costa Rica and Morocco. We click. We share a drive for exploration, a certain “Tarannà” as we say here in Girona – a unique way of being, of living. We use running not as a way to improve our fitness or get slim, no, but purely as a means of transportation, an exploration like our ancestors did. Our only goal is to traverse the territory, to really experience it, like only runners can.
That’s why I felt we needed a name, a name to glue us together, to keep that connection alive. The NomaTrails Tribe is the name of our family. It’s for people like you, who understand that a run isn’t just about the finish line, but about the people, the unexpected. As Pablo Rodriguez, I can tell you, these are memories and stories you’ll tell your grandkids, if you ever have them, that is. These are stories that will change you. So, be careful, because you will go back home changed. We’ve seen marriages saved, new friendships forged, and perspectives shifted. It’s powerful stuff.
Our Trail Running Adventures in Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is where it all started for us. We’ve spent 12 years running these trails, getting to know every hidden cove, the scent of pine mixed with sea salt, every local face, every sunrise over the Mediterranean. Jordan Marchewka and his wife called their Costa Brava trip “hands down the best vacation we have ever been on.” That just makes my heart swell, knowing we created that for them.
Joaquin Campos told me, humorously, that by the second day, you realize there’s always “more than ‘only 4K left’.” I remember his laugh as he said it, a mix of exhaustion and pure joy. It’s a challenge, yes, but it’s always worth it, especially when you push past what you thought were your limits, scrambling over limestone outcrops or feeling the Tramuntana wind at your back. Leah Plumridge, who ran with us back in 2012, still calls it one of their favorite trips. She loved the mix of accommodations, from a converted monastery overlooking the sea to a farmhouse nestled in rolling hills, and the Michelin-starred meals. It’s about experiencing the local flavor, not just the trails.
Dan Kearns described running from tiny Mediterranean town to tiny town, dipping into the azure sea, then climbing back into the forested hills. He said it’s an impossible experience to find on your own, and that traveling on foot reveals so much more of the culture. He was heartened to learn these places still exist, these untouched corners that we open up to you, places like the ancient fishing village of Cadaqués or the medieval streets of Begur. Nicky Eckstein shared her “incredible experience” of running 7 days through beautiful countryside and dramatic coastlines, staying in fabulous hotels. She highlighted how I adapted routes to suit everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s about making it work for everyone in the Tribe, no matter your pace, ensuring everyone feels challenged but supported.
Unforgettable Trail Running Adventures in Morocco
Morocco, oh, Morocco. It’s where our philosophy truly comes to life. We run 15-16 miles a day, but it’s really about the people, the experience. Many of my friends, like Rick Ostroff, still get tears in their eyes when we talk about the experiences we shared there. Rick called his Morocco trip epic, and gave a special shout-out to Abdu, our local guide, calling him “the king of Morocco and one of the best guides you’ll meet in the world.” Abdu truly is a force of nature, a friend, a brother – he’s like family to Cristina and me.
Imagine waking up at 3 AM in the desert, running behind Abdu for two hours in the deep, shifting sand. Your feet sink, you slide, you pull them out, inching closer to the top of a dune. Then you stop, and Abdu shows you the stars, every single one, so clear you feel like you can touch them. After two hours of running and walking, your legs burning, you’re ready to watch the most beautiful sunrise, painting the dunes in a thousand colors. We went five and a half hours in the opposite direction from where the tourist buses go, deep into the High Atlas Mountains, often past Toubkal, North Africa’s second-highest peak. That’s where we found this incredible place, where people live like they did 500 years ago. It’s like time traveling to another century. We met the most wonderful human beings, people who speak a language I’ve been trying to learn for nine years – Berber, and still I only get a few words right.
One day, we stumbled upon a family in a deep canyon. A 12-year-old girl, with a beautiful, open face, immediately ran to find wood, made a fire for us, and offered us tea. This hospitality, this connection, it’s what NomaTrails is all about.
Exploring Sicily on Foot: A NomaTrails Adventure
And then there’s Sicily, a place of dramatic contrasts. Our Sicily running adventures often begin near the sea. From there, we climb into the island’s internal rural areas, through the Sicilian countryside, past ancient olive groves and quiet villages. We don’t just ascend the mountains directly; instead, we traverse its valleys, finding the less-trodden paths. From these mountain villages, we’ll head towards the sea again, perhaps sleeping in a beautiful borgo like Isnello, where you can almost touch the Tyrrhenian Sea from your window. From Isnello, we’ll continue, running a section that takes us above the historic town of Cefalù, offering incredible views. It’s a route that truly shows you the island, from its coastal beauty to its rugged, timeless heart (a challenge, but one you won’t forget). It’s a different rhythm, a different kind of rock underfoot – but always authentic.
