Ali AlhudaifTeam Saudi Arabia

About me

I'm Ali Al-hudaif, a 31-year-old from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Sports have been a consistent part of my life since I was a child. It all began with football, but when I reached college, I felt the need to explore and try out other sports. I dabbled in martial
arts for awhile and then ventured into bodybuilding and weightlifting. I must admit, I was initially hesitant to engage in sports that demanded more discipline and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I never truly felt fulfilled or accomplished in my sporting endeavors. There was always a lingering feeling that I had more to offer and achieve. Running, in particular, was a sport I actively avoided due to the discomfort and intensity it brought. However, when the Covid pandemic struck, I made a conscious decision to challenge myself and engage in activities I despised. During this time, I came across an inspiring story about an athlete who ran ultra- marathons, something I never thought was humanly possible. Intrigued, I decided to give it a shot and train myself to run any distance, no matter how challenging.

My first initial attempt at running was more of a walk, covering a total of 2 km. However, I used this time to practice patience and train my mindset. I then joined the R7 Run Club to learn from experienced runners and train alongside them. After a few weeks, I managed to run 12 km without stopping, which felt like a major achievement. Towards the end of 2020, on a whim, I decided to participate in my first ultra-marathon in a park. With no prior planning, I ran for a total of 14 hours, covering a distance of 70 km. This experience marked the beginning of my running journey.

Three years and three months later, I have successfully completed over 10 ultra-marathons, several marathons, and even participated in half marathons just for fun. Running has completely transformed my mindset and my life, shaping me into the person I've always aspired to become. It continues to reveal more about myself every time I challenge myself or step out of my comfort zone. Through running, I have also ventured into other extreme sports like calisthenics and cross-fit, which have further strengthened my mental resilience and determination to always strive for excellence. To deepen my knowledge and skills in the sports I love, I recently obtained my CrossFit Level 1 Trainer certification and I am currently working towards achieving the Ultra Running Coach certificate from the United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy.