One afternoon in 2011, whilst Kathia Rached was driving, she heard a radio advertisement by Beirut Marathon Association (BMA). The ad was about training sessions for the upcoming Beirut Marathon. She picked up the phone and called up BMA…little did she know at the time that the call she made was going to forever change her life.
How it all started
Kathia was leading a very normal life teaching Chemistry at school, she did not include exercise in her routine. When she heard that radio ad, she figured that she could start running with a group of professionals who could train her to do so the right way. BMA introduced her to Elite Running Club where Ali Kedami was the trainer. When Kathia started running, she found 2km to be extremely rigorous and difficult. Today she runs 100km on average every week and competes in ultra marathons.
In 2011 BMA announced that they would send the fastest male and female first-time marathon runners to the Berlin Marathon. Kathia used this incentive as motivation to vigorously train. On the morning of 27 November 2011, she ran the Beirut Marathon and completed it in 3 hours and 47 minutes, an impressive time for an amateur runner taking part in their first marathon. Kathia won the ticket to fly and run the Berlin Marathon on 25 September 2011, she managed to break her previous record and registered 3 hours and 26 minutes which is her personal best time – and remains as her best time until today.
From marathons to Ultra Marathons
While training for her first marathon, Kathia learnt about ultra marathons through her trainer, Ali, who has completed 7 ultra marathons. He told her that her persistence and devotion would help enable her become an ultra marathoner. Considering that breaking a marathon record is a lot more challenging, Kathia wanted a challenge that could get her results as a Lebanese, as a woman, and in which she could break barriers and records.
According to Kathia, Ultra marathons are extremely difficult and challenging but when you complete it and look back you feel really good about the accomplishments you achieved. Partaking takes a lot from a person physically, mentally and emotionally.
While preparing for an ultra marathon one eats heaps of carbs and protein… and more carbs. Carbs are the essence of her diet. Naturally, hydration is also included. As for training, Kathia runs over 100km per week, which means she has to run 50 – 60km during the weekends. During the rest of the week she runs the remaining 40 – 50km in different methods, she would run on a sandy beach one day, or run an uphill the next, and so forth. It’s all about mixing it up.
Her biggest motivation is the support and encouragement she gets from her community, friends, family, and more. She was astonished by the amount of encouragement she kept receiving that it constantly keeps her going.
Namibia Ultra | The Story
Kathia just recently completed the Namibia Ultra Marathon. The race that took 5 days kicked off with 215 competitors, 19 quit during the race, and 196 completed the ultra marathon. Kathia finished in 2nd place in the women category and 9th overall in the impressive time of 30 hours, 3 minutes, and 38 seconds.
According to Kathia the race was an extremely difficult and challenging one but also very beautiful. What made it less difficult was that she was doing extremely well which stopped her from quitting. The first 3 days she was in first place and on the 4th day, saving her energy for the 80km run on the 5th day, she dropped to 2nd place.
On the first day of the race, Kathia crossed 37.3km with 37m of elevation in 3:38:20, the second day consisted of a 42km path with an elevation of 74m, she completed this stage in 5:22:27. On the 3rd day, she impressively completed 42km with an astonishing elevation of 1221 meters in 5:30:45. On the 4th day, Kathia completed the stage of 42km with an even steeper elevator of 2116 meters in 5:10:57!! An even much better time than the previous day (and is the stage where she has said she’s saved her energy). Day 5 was the ultimate and gruesome 80km stage that Kathia impressively completed in 9:15:19!
Her biggest motivation while racing was returning to Lebanon as a winner. After the 3rd day of the day, when she got thoughts to quit she’d think of how she’s in the top positions and how far she’s come, and how hard she’s trained – and the fact to return to Lebanon a winner – these thoughts kept her going.
Kathia absolutely loved the spirit of competition between herself and Jax Mariash Koudele. Jax finished the race in first place and the two of pushed each other to their best and maximum throughout the race. When they reached the finishing line, they ended up hugging each other and cheering for each other. Sportsmanship at it’s finest.
Kathia ran for Heartbeat, an NGO whose mission is to tread children suffering from heart disease. Kathia really feels strongly and passionately about this NGO since she feels the children who are born with heart defects were born into the world this way and neither they nor their families had a choice and are suffering.
The Choices we make, make us the people we are
Little did Kathia know when she picked up the phone to call BMA in 2011, that her life was going to change. Through running, Kathia has become a champion and a role model from everyone. Kathia’s entire lifestyle has changed to a much more healthier lifestyle in which her perspective of life has also transformed into a positive one.
A firm believer in taking action, Kathia emphasizes the importance of a person making a choice. She constantly reinforces that she chose to start running, she chose to compete in a marathon, she chose to compete in ultra marathons, she chose not to quit, and she chooses to continue competing for as long as she’s capable of competing.
For Kathia, the phrase “I can’t” does not exist. The only people who use that phrase are those who don’t want to develop. She adds that Lebanese women aren’t less than women anywhere else in the word. “We’re smart, intelligent women who are capable of finding solutions through running, we run to feel better – everything changes within a girl’s life through running.” She couldn’t run 2km and now runs 250km per week with results, rank, podium, and medals. Don’t say I can’t.
Kathia emphasizes that BMA was the essence of her motivation. May El Khalil is an inspiration and motivation for anyone. BMA has constantly provided her with emotional and sometimes financial support. BMA was one of her sponsors in Gobi alongside main sponsor Hi-Tec Fitness and supporter World runner. She added that anytime BMA feels they can support her, they do. BMA has played a big role in her running career.
What’s next for Kathia?
Kathia is now qualified to run in the Antartica ultra marathon in the South Pole which is taking place on November 18th. This ultra marathon is a lot more difficult than the previous 2 ultra marathons she competed in since the conditions will be rather gruesome. The 250km race is truly a genuine and formidable challenge with conditions comprising of snow and ice throughout, with average windchill temperatures of -25C and at an altitude of over 700m throughout – these are conditions in which the participants will have to also occasionally sleep in.
Since running in sub zero temperatures is even more challenging, Kathia is going to initiate more strenuous and vigorous training in preparation. In a couple of weeks she will start training at high altitudes in the mountains to prepare so she could train in lower oxygen levels, and she will be tying weight to her body, and carrying weights on her back in preparation for the arduous challenge. Also worth mentioning, is the fact that Kathia will be running the Beirut Marathon the day prior to her departure!!
We wish Kathia the best of luck and we will be keeping an eye out to what we expect to be major achievements!!
UPDATE: Kathia Rashed ran the Beirut Marathon on Nov 13 and completed the 250Km Ultra. She finished 3rd female overall in the last desert Antarctica Ultra marathon.
