How to Use Adventure Travel to Beat Stress with Ray Zahab

Professional explorer Ray Zahab has crossed some of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. He ran across the Sahara in 111 days and traversed Baffin Island nine times, most of them at the height of winter. In conversation with Medcan CEO Shaun Francis, Zahab argues for the age-defying and stress-busting benefits of adventure travel. Like Shaun, Zahab is an advocate for the Japanese practice of “forest bathing” and argues that we can access similar perks by just getting outside and exploring nature. It’s an inspiring conversation with a 52-year-old explorer who is not letting the pandemic keep him down. In fact, he’s vowed to exit lockdown restrictions in the best shape of his life. 

INSIGHTS

It is one of Zahab’s most foundational beliefs that people underrate themselves. He argues that most anyone has the capacity to accomplish so-called impossible tasks. Zahab’s experience conforms to that edict. After all, he won the first ultramarathon he ever entered. “Many of us underestimate ourselves physically, mentally [and] emotionally at some point in our lives. And we're capable of so much more,” he says. (12:34 - 12:48) 

Someone recently messaged Zahab asking how to start running: “I’m not a runner, but I would really love to do a run someday. I don't even own running shoes. What do I do?” Zahab said, “you get off the couch on day one, and you walk to your front door, and you put on whatever shoes you have any kind of shoe, you lace them up, then you take them off and you walk back to the couch. That's the end of day one. Day two, you put the shoes on, you walk down to the end of your laneway or the end of your block, turn around, you walk home. Day three, you walk to the running shoe store — you get what I'm saying? A marathon starts with the first step.”  (14:05)

Running gets a bad rap. Everything’s all about how to avoid getting injured while running. But if you follow a proper mobility and running program — running is exceptionally good for you. “It’s a hell of a lot better for you than not doing it,” Zahab says. (18:08)

Doubt has afflicted Zahab, same as anyone. At the start of his Sahara expedition, Zahab left the west coast of Senegal and passed the first days of the 100-day-plus journey mired in low self-confidence. “I thought, all right, there's no way I'm making that,” Zahab recalls. “There's just no way. These guys will make it and I will not. But I'll go as far as I can. And that's all I can do.” But somehow, he did it. (23:03 - 23:35)

On ultramarathons, desert crossings or Arctic expeditions, Zahab does what the Fleetwood Mac song says: “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow.” In other words, take it one day at a time. “You get on day 60 [and you’ve] got 50 more days to go. 50. Like, forget it. The mind doesn't go there,” he says. “It's like, ‘okay, I'm going to get through tomorrow. And then tomorrow when we get in, we're gonna have something to eat.’ That's all I'm thinking about.” (27:03 - 27:36)

Zahab believes in the Japanese concept of forest bathing – surrounding yourself with trees to reap the wellness benefits. “I've always felt [a close connection to nature when I’m running], to everything that's around me — that we are one connection,” he says. “We're one piece … and when I'm running, that is like a meditation for me.” (27:50 - 29:12, 29:34 - 30:44)

Humans are capable of much more than they think they can achieve. Need proof? Think the COVID-19 vaccine. A shot that should have taken scientists 10 years to develop ended up getting into human arms in less than one. Ray believes in the human capacity for achievement. “I'm a big believer that you define what your goal is and work backward from there. There's always a plan. There's always a way.” Amen. (32:34 - 32:33)

LINKS

In the 2014 documentary film Running the Sahara, Zahab and two fellow ultramarathoners traversed Africa’s Sahara Desert on foot in 111 days. 

Known as one of the “Goose People”, Zahab is a frequent product tester and representative for Canada Goose. 

Testing endurance and will, the Marathon Des Sables is just one of the footraces Zahab has completed. Twice. Learn more about Zahab's adventures around the world by visiting his website. 

Zahab is the founder of the non-profit organization Impossible2Possible that aims to push people to surpass their limits, and encourage youth to use adventurous experiences as a learning tool. He also creates once-in-a-lifetime expeditions and adventures through his company Kapik 1.

Zahab recommends the book The Hidden Life of Trees, in which author Peter Wohlleben argues that the forest is a social network. It is available on Indigo and Amazon. Another one of Zahab's favourite reads is Chi Running: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running, available on Amazon and Indigo.  

Zahab documents his journey on the Trans Namibia Expedition in a compelling video. There, he and his team ran 60 kilometres a day in extreme heat.  

To learn about the Japanese practice of forest bathing, go here. 

Connect with Zahab on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @rayzahab.