You know when a 10k isn’t quite a 10K, and you just keep running, and running, waiting for the finish line? When you’ve started to pick up the pace a little too early and aren’t sure if you can hold it? 

Hoping for the finish line to come, and yet it still isn’t there. 

Yep, that was the Navarino Challenge ’10K’.

The Navarino Challenge is a multi-distance event on the coast of Greece, hosting a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and new for 2023, a full marathon race. The route is a combo of undulating dirt roads and tarmac, taking you from the Westin Costa Navarino to the stunning Voidokilia Beach. 

The long course is forgiven for a race with such character and heart. In it’s 11th year, the core messaging for the Navarino Challenge is that sport unites people. Alongside the races, the weekend is a celebration of sport, with activities hosted for kids and adults, including rock climbing, beach games, golf (the resort has been voted as one of the best golf destinations in the world). I can’t wait to bring Bertie back when he’s older to take full advantage of the family friendly resort and kids activities.

I’d been dealing with some back issues in the days leading up to the race, so I knew it was going to be a run/walk to finish rather than running a hard effort. It was a bit of a test run for my back, after struggling with it while in Greece when picking up Bertie and lifting things, but I wasn’t sure how it would feel on the run, 

I ran a 9:1 (run/walk) ratio and just enjoyed the course. It was an out and back for the 10K along the coastline and through the olive groves. There were people out walking the 5K, racing the 10K and even ultraman and Navarino Challenge co-founder, Dean Karnazas, taking on the marathon. 

Unfortunately my back didn’t feel great on the run, not an acute, sharp pain but more of an ache – and that got worse later in the day post-race. I went to see the physio when I got back, and didn’t run for 2 weeks but am now allowed to run again (starting with easy 5ks!) alongside mobility and strength work. 

I was invited to take part by That Gorilla Brand, the grand sponsor of the Navarino Challenge. 

That Gorilla Brand is a unique clothing brand. Set up by husband and wife duo Leo and Casey Gripari, TGB is described as being a ‘lifestyle conservation brand creating premium apparel that puts making a difference before making a profit’. 

I love their Gorilla pocket t-shirts – this one is the Kids age 12-13 t-shirt! They don’t make this style in womens but I’m going to petition Casey and Leo to make one!! 

Devised in 2018, That Gorilla Brand was created with the goal of helping to protect the endangered mountain gorilla. They do this by donating a minimum of €2 for every piece purchased from the brand to The Gorilla Organization.  With only 1000 mountain gorillas left in the world, in Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo. 

As well as selling premium athleisure, That Gorilla Brand has launched Adventures for a Cause, a number of global challenges with the goal of raising awareness and funds for the mountain gorillas and the human communities surrounding the mountain gorilla’s habitat in Uganda. The most important of the projects they have funded so far is the Bwinidi Community Water Project, providing easily accessible, clean drinking water. Since then rates of rape has gone down, school attendance has improved and illnesses such a diarrhoea reduced. 

Funds from the Navarino Challenge will go to the Sanitation project, investing in toilet seats, toilet doors, private cubicles and solid buildings for over 5000 children and teachers in the region of the Bwinidi Impenetrable National Project. The knock on effect of not having safe and private bathrooms is that girls drop out of school in their teen years, or miss school during their period. 

Check out my reel for more on this.

How does investing in the local community help the mountain gorillas? Well, aside from being the right thing to do, by supporting the community they become less reliant on the resources found in the gorilla’s habitat. 

The Navarino Challenge was Leo’s 7th adventure. Previous adventures include; climbing Mount Olympus, a solo marathon in Iceland, rim to rim to rim in the Grand Canyon, a mountainous marathon in Nepal, a marathon in Wadi Rum and an ultra marathon in Uganda. MAJI, a film about Leo’s adventures is being shown at Kendal Mountain festival later this month!