Meet a Rogue Expeditions Runner: Jessica Gagne

What type of people go on Rogue Expeditions running trips? It seems that everyone worries that they'll either be too slow, or too fast. That the mileage will be too difficult, or not challenging enough. That they'll be too old, or too young. That the other people will be super serious running geeks who talk about nothing but training, or that the other people will all be there to take it reeeeeeally easy. That they'll be the only person who doesn't know anyone else.

In truth, there is no "type." The trips attract all sorts of backgrounds, all sorts of ability levels and all sorts of motivations for being there, and the beautiful thing is that it works for just about everyone! To prove it, we are highlighting a number of our runners using their own words. Read on to find out about the running background, pre-trip hesitations, favorite trip memories and most surprising realization of a Rogue Expeditions runner.

Today we're highlighting Jessica Gagne, who we first met when she and her husband came to Tahoe in 2014. She told us that she hadn't run more than 5 miles in many years and that she had never gone trail running before, but on Day 3 she shocked us all by knocking out a 14 mile trail run at altitude!

Which trips have you done and when?
Tahoe (July 2014)
Bend (August 2015)
Morocco (Oct 2016)

Describe your running background.
I ran cross-country in high school and continued running to maintain my fitness in the military. I started running with Rogue Running in 2013 and haven't looked back. I've run two half marathons and am hoping to cross a marathon off my bucket list once recovering from an injury. 

How did you end up on your first Rogue Expeditions trip? What led you to the decision?
My husband Jason and I heard about Rogue Expeditions when Gabe and Allison did a small presentation at Rogue Running following a workout. We both enjoy running and traveling and decided to make it our next vacation. We wanted to start with the stateside trips first and Lake Tahoe sounded like a beautiful place to visit. It didn't let us down. 

Any hesitations or uncertainties going into it?
Definitely! I was only running 5 miles consistently at the time (our first trip in 2014) and felt like I would be the tortoise and slow the group down. But as soon as we went on our first run any nerves or worries went away. Allison kept checking on us and everyone else in the group was so fun and supportive that I stopped worrying about my pace and enjoyed myself.

Did you know anyone else in the group beforehand? How was it traveling with a group of strangers?
Traveling with my husband was a fun adventure because Gabe and Allison made it so easy! . It was great meeting everyone the first day and I felt like we made new friends right away. This went for all of the trips we've done but was especially true for our Morocco trip. After many hours of traveling it was so nice seeing a familiar face (Allison) to greet us and meeting our guide and driver (Hamid) who also became a new friend. It was so fun meeting everyone at the riad the first day. There were people from six different countries and it was so much fun to learn about difficult cultures and norms and tease each other about which is better: kilometers or miles?

What was your favorite run in each destination and why?
Tahoe - My favorite run was surprisingly the 14 mile long run. Even though I was nowhere near that fitness level I couldn't pass up the views and ran/walked it. It was worth the pain! I'm not sure if my husband would agree as I was sometimes a grumpy runner! 

Bend - My favorite run was actually a rest day to Smith Rock. We enjoyed a hike to the top with beautiful views, a short optional jog, and an amazing picnic. 

Morocco - My favorite run was the run in the Souss Valley. I wasn't quite up to the fitness level to do the entire long run so I rode with the crew until I felt comfortable. It was a great run with just me and the beautiful scenery and occasional local. It ended with a gorgeous palm oasis with lunch waiting. 

Food is a huge part of any travel experience. What was your favorite thing that you ate in during each trip?

Tahoe - Everything that Gabe and Allison cooked was wonderful! My favorite meal was fajitas, and we even made homemade margaritas! 

Bend - Just like Tahoe everything that Gabe and Allison cooked was delicious! My favorite meal that trip was the pasta night. 

Morocco - The food was amazing and I can't choose just one favorite meal! We did have a special birthday celebration and we sang and danced with the crew! That was a special treat!

Both travel and running have their ups and downs. What has been your most challenging moment or issue during a running trip? How did you overcome it?
One of the more challenging issues for me was the firmness of the beds in Morocco. I would gather all of the blankets from the room and sleep on them. It was quite the nighttime ritual and reminded me why I enjoy the quirks of traveling. 

Pick one trip. What surprised you the most about the experience?
Definitely Morocco!! The guides were awesome and friendly! The food was wonderful and the hospitality at every riad we stayed at was unbelievable. I was definitely surprised by the amazing cultural changes from the mountains (Berber culture) compared to those who lived in the cities and coast. 

Runcation vs a race: what do you think are some of the key similarities and differences? Or are they even comparable?
I think a runcation and race are similar because I have that nervous, anxious excitement. I feel nervous before a race and that was the same feeling when getting on a plane for Morocco. Am I prepared? Am I in good enough shape to keep up? 

Sum up your Rogue Expeditions experience in one sentence:
Rogue Expeditions: A running vacation that is sure to change you!

Meet a Rogue Expeditions Runner: Cepee Tabibian

What type of people go on Rogue Expeditions running trips? It seems that everyone worries that they'll either be too slow, or too fast. That the mileage will be too difficult, or not challenging enough. That they'll be too old, or too young. That the other people will be super serious running geeks who talk about nothing but training, or that the other people will all be there to take it reeeeeeally easy. That they'll be the only person who doesn't know anyone else.

In truth, there is no "type." The trips attract all sorts of backgrounds, all sorts of ability levels and all sorts of motivations for being there, and the beautiful thing is that it works for just about everyone! To prove it, we are highlighting a number of our runners using their own words. Read on to find out about the running background, pre-trip hesitations, favorite trip memories and most surprising realization of a Rogue Expeditions runner.

Next up is Cepee Tabibian, who originally hails from Houston but moved to Madrid, Spain several years ago where she began Wanderlicious, a plant-based food and travel blog for Madrid and beyond.

Which trips have you done and when?
Morocco (March 2014) and Bend (August 2015)

Describe your running background.
I’m a late bloomer and didn’t start running until I moved to Austin in 2011 at the age of 31. I started off with sprint distance triathlons and then completed the Austin Half Marathon in 2013 and then the full in 2014, and also joined an all female trail running group. Running quickly went from feeling like a chore and just part of my tri-training to becoming my main physical discipline. I looked forward to it, especially trail running. I felt wild, free, and connected to everything around me.

How did you end up on your first Rogue Expeditions trip? What led you to the decision?
I’ve always been a avid traveler and came across a flyer for Rogue Expeditions late 2013, just a few months before my 1st marathon. The thought of combining travel + running was sounded equally challenging, crazy, and somehow appealing. The price was fantastic and the trip coincided with my birthday (April 7th).  On a personal note, I hoped it would be a cathartic trip. Seven is my lucky number and seven years earlier on April 7th for my 27th birthday I had made a painful decision in Marrakech. The city and country held memories that I wanted to leave behind and never revisit. However, it just finally felt right to return and create new memories there.

Any hesitations or uncertainties going into it?
Not really. I’m half Middle Eastern, I love Arab culture and had been to Morocco a few times already. I guess my only hesitation was about traveling with a group. I’ve always been a solo traveler as I enjoy discovering a new environment on my own and at my own pace. Group tours always seemed curated and isolated from the authentic culture of a country, which for me defeats the whole purpose of travel. However, given that it was such a unique experience, I figured a group of runners traveling to run around Morocco would provide a different experience from the traditional group tours out there...and that was the case!

Did you know anyone else in the group beforehand? How was it traveling with a group of strangers?
I didn’t know anyone other than from a few Rogue Expedition meet and greets before leaving to Morocco. Since I was traveling solo I ended up rooming with the 2 other girls who had also signed up on their own . I was excited to meet a new group of people, and rooming with these 2 ladies couldn’t have been a better experience. We bonded on our first night in Marrakech and  were called the "3 Marias" from then on, although no one was named Maria, lol. Since then I have been lucky enough to attend the wedding of one “Maria” and travel to France, Italy, Denmark, and Thailand with the other “Maria.”

What was your favorite run in each destination and why??
In Morocco it was without a doubt the Iriqui Lake run. The lake is actually a dry river bed and was probably the hottest run of our trip. I’m a rare one who enjoys running in the heat and I have fond memories of running on my own, out in the open, under the sun, listening to Air’s “Run” and having a euphoric moment of floating across the dehydrated ground below...looking back it may have just been the first signs of overheating.

In Bend it was our run on the MacKenzie River Trail. The lush forests that Allison likens to something out of Fern Gully was the exact opposite of what we experienced in the desert landscapes of Morocco. It was such a pleasure to run through for this trail loving gal.

Food is a huge part of any travel experience. What was your favorite thing that you ate in during each trip?
I’m a vegetarian so Morocco was a perfect destination. Their cuisine can easy accommodate a plant-based eater as it is heavily vegetable based. I loved all the food although I will say after 7 + days of spectacular tajine I was ready for some variety back home.

Both travel and running have their ups and downs. What has been your most challenging moment or issue during a running trip? How did you overcome it?
For me the most challenging aspect was feeling confident in my ability to run everyday. As I mentioned I was new-ish to running when I went on the Morocco trip and had never attempted that much mileage in my life (63 miles in 1 week)!  On the trip I went to bed exhausted every night and woke up earlier than I would have liked every morning. However every morning without fail, the excitement to run through a new terrain led to an adrenaline rush and next thing you know you’re happily running again. I found myself running more than I had planned to each day just because it was so enjoyable.

Pick one trip. What surprised you the most about the experience?
I think what surprised me most about the trip was how well everyone adapted to a foreign culture. I say that because we had a few people in the group who had never left the U.S. and had chosen a country in North Africa as their first stop. That’s pretty awesome and bold! As inviting as Moroccan culture is, it is completely different from the day to day in Texas (our group was all from Austin) and you can easily feel overwhelmed with all the stimulation. Instead of feeling uncomfortable in the “unknown” everyone seemed to be open-minded, fascinated with the country and people, respectful of the different customs and norms, and extremely open to the experience of this magical journey.

Runcation vs a race: what do you think are some of the key similarities and differences? Or are they even comparable?
They overlap in the sense that they are both a journey, but I would say that a race is more about where you go internally while a runcation is about both where you go internally and physically. You’re discovering a country over an extended period of time on your feet, with time to interact with your surroundings, and without any pressure of making it to the finish line or beating your PR.

Sum up your Rogue Expeditions experience in one sentence:
A beautiful and challenging journey abroad that provided me the opportunity to not only (re)discover a country, but also discover parts of myself along the way.

Meet a Rogue Expeditions Runner: Michael Langer

What type of people go on Rogue Expeditions running trips? It seems that everyone worries that they'll either be too slow, or too fast. That the mileage will be too difficult, or not challenging enough. That they'll be too old, or too young. That the other people will be super serious running geeks who talk about nothing but training, or that the other people will all be there to take it reeeeeeally easy. That they'll be the only person who doesn't know anyone else.

In truth, there is no "type." The trips attract all sorts of backgrounds, all sorts of ability levels and all sorts of motivations for being there, and the beautiful thing is that it works for just about everyone! To prove it, we are highlighting a number of our runners using their own words. Read on to find out about the running background, pre-trip hesitations, favorite trip memories and most surprising realization of a Rogue Expeditions runner.

It's time to feature Michael Langer, who just heard about us one year ago but who has quickly become one of our most frequent fliers. Since picking up one of our cards last April, he's already completed THREE trips with his fourth happening next month!

Which trips have you done and when?  
Run Tahoe - June 2016, Run Europe - September 2016, Run Morocco: Gorges & Sahara - March 2017

Describe your running background.
I've used up most of my knee cartilage budget by playing recreational soccer for many years. In Nov 2013, my knee decided it had enough and refused to bend any more. Two years later, after undergoing some treatment and therapy, I started my running hobby, mostly on trail. I run once or twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday night) with a local trail running group TrailZen, and run in races around Austin on most weekends, usually a 10K or a half. Recently, I have also joined Gilbert Gazelles running program, with running workouts on Monday and Wednesday at 5:30am. I now run 4-5 times a week on average, for a weekly mileage in the twenties.

How did you end up on your first Rogue Expeditions trip? What led you to the decision?
I got a Rogue Expeditions post card in my race packet for the Rogue Trail Series, and it was love at first sight. Sightseeing through running hit me as something that would be a great fit for me. There was a bit of trepidation at first, so I started small with a US-based trip (Lake Tahoe), and it completely blew me away. It was the best vacation ever!

Any hesitations or uncertainties going into it?
I was afraid someone could be mean to me on the trip, and in fact, that came within one coin flip result of coming true on the Run Europe trip - there was a cop on it. Fortunately, he turned out to be a good cop, not a bad cop, a 50% chance (Hi, Scott!).

Did you know anyone else in the group beforehand? How was it traveling with a group of strangers?
I did not know anyone else in the group beforehand on my first trip (Lake Tahoe). That turned out to be such a great group of people - I wish I had known them longer! The ice was broken, crushed, and melted the first night after dinner when Cards Against Humanity came out. We all keep in touch now. From the second trip on, I already knew Gabe and Allison and looking forward to meeting them at the airport in some far away place. They looked so confident and at ease, no matter how exotic the environment! I would be immediately whisked away to our destination. A wink and a nod to a local boy, and an open parking space magically appeared in a busy city center. I felt like I was in a James Bond movie. That confidence was contagious!

What was your favorite run in each destination and why?
Flume trail in Run Tahoe, the run down and around beautiful Lake Bohinj in Run Europe, and the long run (up and over the crest, through majestic gorge, and down to a palm valley) in Run Morocco.

Food is a huge part of any travel experience. What was your favorite thing that you ate in during each trip?
Every day the food was great in Run Tahoe and Run Morocco, but in Run Europe it was just unbelievable! One day we got to a restaurant around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. We didn't know what we were in for. Every half an hour, they will bring us a new huge dish (served with a special kind of wine that was appropriate for it, of course), and the chef will come out and carve it with a huge knife with super-sonic speed. The stand-out for me was a tongue dish, with several different garnishes and 3 different horseradish sauces. Come midnight, we were still at that place, drunk and dancing, the chef leading the way in both departments.

Both travel and running have their ups and downs. What has been your most challenging moment or issue during a running trip? How did you overcome it?
In Run Tahoe, there were some cards in that game that I didn't know the meaning of. I was about to google the terms, but my soul (and my online profile) was saved from defilement at the very last second by a fellow runner who took pity on me and whispered an explanation in private. In Run Europe when we were up in the Alps, I finished my run as the sun started setting, and the temperature was dropping rapidly. That's when I realized that I managed to send all my dry clothes down the mountain in a van earlier in the day. As I was shivering and my teeth chattering, Gabe produced not only a huge bonfire, but also a complete set of clothes of his own that he lended to me to save the day. In Morocco, on a narrow mountain path, I figured there is no way a mule could be more stubborn than me. Turned out I was wrong. The mule and I were coming in opposite directions, one of us had to give way, and it was never the mule. I took my chances of being crushed against the wall, rather than being pushed off the cliff, and escaped unscathed.

Pick one trip. What surprised you the most about the experience?
On all three trips, I was surprised about the mileage I could run on consecutive days without any significant hurts carrying over to the next run. Run Tahoe for me was 42 miles total, Run Europe - 58 miles, and Run Morocco - 76 miles. I attribute it to the encouraging atmosphere on all the trips, well thought-out run itinerary, and post run recovery. There was always a cool body of water available to soak your legs in after the run.

Runcation vs a race: what do you think are some of the key similarities and differences? Or are they even comparable?
I only run in local races. The only time I spent a night away from home for a race is when I visited someone I met on a Rogue Expedition trip. A race for me is a competitive experience on a Saturday or a Sunday - something that replaced soccer games for me. Vacation is about sight-seeing, while run-cation is sight-seeing on the run. I can care less about the pace. It's all about taking in the sites around you. Run Europe was my favorite trip because of historical sites, museums, and the variety of cultural experiences (oh yeah, there was also food and wine out of this world).

Sum up your Rogue Expeditions experience in one sentence:
Tour bus it is not.

Meet a Rogue Expeditions Runner: Deirdre McAuliffe

What type of people go on Rogue Expeditions running trips? It seems that everyone worries that they'll either be too slow, or too fast. That the mileage will be too difficult, or not challenging enough. That they'll be too old, or too young. That the other people will be super serious running geeks who talk about nothing but training, or that the other people will all be there to take it reeeeeeally easy. That they'll be the only person who doesn't know anyone else.

In truth, there is no "type." The trips attract all sorts of backgrounds, all sorts of ability levels and all sorts of motivations for being there, and the beautiful thing is that it works for just about everyone! To prove it, we are highlighting a number of our runners using their own words. Read on to find out about the running background, pre-trip hesitations, favorite trip memories and most surprising realization of a Rogue Expeditions runner.

Deirdre McAuliffe is up next! Deirdre, who is Irish but currently living in Hampshire, UK, is one of the younger participants that we've had. Despite the fact that she is very new to running and to international travel, it turns out that she's a natural at both activities.

Which trip did you do and when?
Run Morocco: Mountains & Coast, March 2017

Describe your running background.
I ran a little in school at sports days and such. However, I fell out of the routine in teenage years and decided on a whim to enter a half marathon in 2014 - having done little to no training! On that very, very, very long and slow run, I decided that I quite liked the idea of running! I have since done a few half marathons in Ireland and UK and completed my first marathon in Dublin in 2016. 

How did you end up on that trip? What led you to the decision?
After that first half marathon in Dingle, I saw an advertisement for Rogue Expeditions on the race's Facebook page. I promised myself that if I kept this running madness up, I would treat myself once I'd finished university!

Any hesitations or uncertainties going into it?
Lots! Until this trip, I had never traveled outside of Europe. I had also never traveled on my own. Like many others, I was worried about the mileage and also the terrain as I had never run on trails. I knew this was going to be a whole new experience but Allison was very informative from the initial stages so I felt as comfortable as possible about the trip.

Did you know anyone else in the group beforehand? How was it traveling with a group of strangers?
I didn't know anyone in the group beforehand but I was blown away by the kindness of everyone I met. From the airport welcome with a bottle of water to the parting hugs, I couldn't have met a nicer bunch of people. The cooks and drivers were fantastic! Always prepared with water and snacks, and the most elaborate picnics you could imagine.

What was your favorite run and why?
My favourite run has to be the run and hike up to the base camp of Mount Toubkal. It was my first experience of many things - trails, running in the snow and higher altitudes. It was also the most challenging but I always felt that I could plod along at my own pace and enjoy it.

Food is a huge part of any travel experience. What was your favorite thing that you ate?
It's got to be the Beef Kefta tagine served up hot by our wonderful team of cooks after that very long hike up Mount Toubkal. The food across the entire trip was outstanding - always fresh, always varied and catered for a very diverse group of very hungry runners without an issue.

Both travel and running have their ups and downs. What was your most challenging moment or issue during the trip? How did you overcome it?
Apart from my highest mileage week to date, there wasn't one!

What surprised you the most about the experience?
The hospitality for sure. From the drivers and cooks who knew us by name by the second day. To the staff in the places we stayed who met us with warm handshakes. To the remote villages where people's livelihoods are their goats, crops and the occasional cow. Everyone I met on this trip had a warm smile. They call out "Bonjour!" as you pass and the children wave and giggle. I even had a group of children follow me for 1.5 miles through a tiny village and onto our picnic.

"Runcation" vs a race: what do you think are some of the key similarities and differences? Or are they even comparable?
The races I've been to have the same sense of excitement beforehand. However, there's so much pressure to perform "on the day", worrying about baggage, food and organising where to meet family and friends afterwards. Those pressures are removed during this trip. You just need to get yourself to the airport and you're looked after by a fantastic crew from the moment you land, to the farewell at the airport. They are so good at what they do - Allison, James and Hamid really do a wonderful job and make it look effortless. 

Sum up your Rogue Expeditions experience in one sentence:
Several times during the trip, I found myself standing somewhere utterly beautiful with my mouth half open in amazement, coming to terms with how lucky I am to have had a place on this trip.