Introducing the Impact Marathon Series! The Jordan Impact Marathon is the only desert race in this series, and it’s an absolute beauty. The magic of Wadi Rum cannot be justified in words or pictures, it simply has to be experienced. We cannot wait to welcome you to this ancient desert that has already become an iconic backdrop to the Series.
The Experience
Impact Weeks are all about the untold stories, the places you would never be able to visit any other way. In your first two days, you will experience exactly that, staying in a village deep in the Dead Sea Valley, rising with the sun and learning how life can flourish despite the intense heat. Work alongside the Greening The Desert project, one of the most deeply interesting, impactful, and inspiring projects we’ve worked with.
You can’t go to Jordan and not build in a visit to Petra – one of the 7 New Wonders of the World. Expect plenty of walking and plenty of lifting your chin off the floor.
Top off the week with the most magical running experience of your life. Your race will transition from running underneath the magnificent stars that shine like no other place on earth, through the deep red sunrise until the sun is beaming down. That final stretch will test you to your limits, but it will be absolutely worth it.
The Impact
The focus will be on the biggest issue the country faces: water scarcity. Jordan is one of the world’s most water scarce countries and with a growing population, due to their open-door policy to refugees from neighboring countries, the challenge gets greater by the day. By blending the experience and knowledge of our partners with the goal of finding small changes with exponential impact, we can begin to tackle the biggest problems.
In Jordan, Impact has partnered up directly with charities and co-operatives that create an impact in the community. You’ll stay at a Jordanian-owned accommodation, eat at restaurants with powerful social stories, and be awarded hand-made medals that employ local artisans. There is so much more to creating an impact than just the fundraising and volunteering. That said, runners are encouraged to contribute to the fundraising total – you set your own target. The goal, with 30 runners, is to see 120 Home Gardens created with £32,000 of fundraising. This is a team target, that we will all reach together!
The Itinerary | 25 Nov – 1 Dec 2024
Day 1
Welcome! We’ll meet in the capital city of Amman, where you will be staying the first night of this experience. You’ll join at our partner hotel as we prepare for the week ahead. Here you’ll get to know your fellow travellers whilst enjoying an evening of amazing Jordanian food and start learning more of what you’ll be experiencing this week. A relaxed evening, as things are expected to ramp up for the next few days.
Day 2
There are three sides to Jordan you’ll experience this week, kicking off in Downtown Amman. Understanding your impact is all about context – the history of this complex region. The story of refugees in Jordan. The story of water in Jordan. And, most importantly, the empowering stories of the solutions that are already out there for the challenges faced by each community.
Day 3
Greening The Desert. The GTD project is one of the most deeply interesting, impactful, and inspiring projects we’ve worked with. It’s rare to come across projects that touch so many of the Global Goals – from Life on Land to Sustainable Cities and Communities to Gender Equality – and so many more. It’s a small idea with huge impact in such a water scarce country.
You will spend the day with an extraordinary group of people who have pioneered the concept of Permaculture to a point where their optimism for the future of our world, rooted in all they have learnt, shines forth from every single conversation. This is truly unreal, and to be experienced to be believed.
From here, we head south to Wadi Musa for the night.
Day 4
We had to. It’s not the normal Impact thing to do. But we just had to. This is the third side to Jordan – one seen by tourists and adored by all. But we are going to do it in a bit of a unique way. So, set your alarm clocks! As we pass Petra along the way to the desert, why not stop and tour one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.
Get ready for a truly remarkable experience. Once our time in Petra closes, we will be heading down to the desert, onto pickup trucks and, as the sun sets on Wadi Rum, arriving into Impact’s remote Bedouin Camp.
Day 5
You have a big day tomorrow so today it’s time to unwind. There will be a couple of workshops in the morning and there are extra activities around the desert you can add-on at an extra cost. From 4×4 tours of the best Wadi Rum sights, to climbing – you’ll be provided a list of options. Of course, putting your feet up and relaxing at the Athletes’ Village is still very much an option.
Day 6
The moment has come – race day. We’ll head to the start line together and run as a community in what will be one of the most magical experiences. Get ready for stunning trails and a remarkable finish line moment, as you take the final steps of the hardest race of your life. And at that finish line, we’ll have a huge welcome home for you. Party into the night, you deserve it…
Day 7
Homecoming. The race is over and you’ll have the usual aches and pains to remind you. To take your mind off it we have organised some incredible Bolt-On Adventures that show you the very best that Jordan has to offer. Alternatively, and reluctantly, we will let you return home and transfers to the airport are included!
Course Descriptions
42K – The Beast of Wadi Rum
Reeking with Impact tradition, one magical loop has been created for the 42km runners. You’ll start just after first light. As you find your rhythm, the colors around you will gently change as the sun rises behind the iconic desert mountains. By the time the sun has risen, you will be fully into your race and into the softer section of sand that will surely make this race one of the hardest of your life. The seclusion of the race route is unparalleled and as you skirt along the border to Saudi Arabia, you will be entirely surrounded by the tall mountains, and deep sand, of the Wadi Rum Desert.
You will be pushed to your limit, you will feel like you can’t go on. But when you dig deep, when you keep moving you will earn the right to proudly say you conquered The Beast Of Wadi Rum
21K – Half Marathon
An utterly unique opportunity to run through the magical beauty of the simply incredible Wadi Rum Protected Area. You will be jeep-ed out into the middle of the desert, to the first-ever starting arch made out of millennia old rock. You will begin as the 42km runners approach and you will all run together, with others, for others.
It’s not the classic hills that Impact Marathons are known for, but it is going to be hot and sandy as you make your way towards the horizon that rolls out in front of you for the entire distance.
10K – Starter Route
A 10km race that feels so much further! This is a serious test for any runner. You will begin as the heat is starting to build, you will begin as the 42km & 21km runners approach, you will begin in the deepest sandy section.
The routes have all collided by this point as you all make your ways to the 7 Pillars of Wisdom Mountain, to finish in its shadow! If you are not a runner, you’re invited to hike this course.
Pricing & Inclusions
There are 2 levels of packages starting from £1345. All packages include:
– Accommodation in our pop-up Athletes’ Village in the middle of the desert.
– All meals throughout your stay.
– Entry to your chosen race distance.
– Local transport to/from race activities.
– All Impact Project work.
– Full support from the Impact Marathon team.
– Race shirt & stash
– Petra Guide
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