This is my journey! These past few years have been incredibly rewarding in both learning about myself, and in learning that we can truly exceed any limits we think we might have!

Challenge. Distance. Discovery

On November 1, 2006 former "pack a day smoker" Ray Zahab and two other runners set out on an epic expedition to cross the Sahara Desert by foot. One hundred and eleven days and 7500 kms after leaving the coast of Senegal they completed their journey stepping into the Red Sea. The epic expedition had the trio running an average of 70km's a day, without a single day of rest. National Geographic tracked this epic expedition by web, and the documentary film 'Running The Sahara' - produced by Matt Damon, directed by Academy Award winner James Moll - was filmed in an effort raise awareness for the drinking water crisis in Northern Africa. After witnessing and experiencing the water crisis in northern Africa, Ray decided to leverage his future adventures to raising awareness and funding for causes that he supports and believes in. Running The Sahara would begin a journey of discovery- of learning that some of the largest barriers to success are the ones we put upon ourselves. Breaking these down, we can truly achieve extraordinary things.

In 2007, Ray ran the three coastal trails of Canada, back to back and non-stop. The Akshayuk Pass on Baffin Island, East Coast Trail Newfoundland and West Coast Trail in British Columbia.

Motivated by the Sahara run- Ray conceptualized the CanadaONExONE Run in May 2008. Along with a team of runners, Ray ran an average 80 kms per day in each of Canada's 13 Provinces and Territories in so many days. Schools were visited, students participated, and communities became engaged in many of the child based issues ONExONE is addressing. In Saskatoon alone, several thousand students and 27 schools were involved in school rallies and a city wide relay with Ray and the team.

Two years after touching the Red Sea, Ray, and two other Canadians, broke the world speed record for an unsupported expedition by a team to the South Pole, In the process, Ray trekked this traditional route from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole solely on foot and snowshoes- without the use of skis. Students and classrooms from all over North America joined the team as they trekked to the South Pole on a daily basis- communicating and actively taking part in an educational resource- becoming "team mates" of the expedition. This expedition was completed as part of Ray's organization, impossible2Possible.

In 2008, Ray founded impossible2Possible (i2P), an organization that aims to inspire and educate youth through adventure learning, and inclusion and participation in expeditions. Ray continues as a volunteer in this organization.

Ray is a proud member of the board of Directors of the Ryan's Well Foundation, is the official Athletic Ambassador and a board member of the ONExONE organization, and is a representative of SpreadTheNet. Ray was the recipient of the ONExONE Difference Award in 2007, and the Torchbearers Award in 2010. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Canadian Geographical Society.

Throughout 2009 to 2011, expeditions have included: an unsupported 13 day run the length of frozen Lake Baikal, and 4 i2P Youth based expeditions to Baffin Island, Tunisia the Amazon and Bolivia. In these expeditions Youth Ambassadors are selected and complete a grueling adventure. All of these expeditions included various challenge based initiatives through an Experiential Learning program in which thousands of students participated as active team members during the expeditions, from classrooms all over the world.

Ray has appeared multiple times in the media, including CNNi, The Hour, CBC, CTV, BBC, Jay Leno, Discovery, etc.

In addition to his running adventures, Ray speaks around the world at events such as TED, IOC World Conference, Idea City, The Economist World in 2010 and 2011, World Affairs Council and countless other events- spreading the message that we are all capable of the extraordinary in our lives and that in fact, the impossible is possible.

In early 2011, Ray ran across the "driest desert on Earth", the Atacama Desert in Chile. He ran 1200 kms in 20 days- with minimal daily re-supply and with his camping gear on his back. Thousands of students joined the journey via live web and video conferencing. In summer 2011, Ray and his teammate ran from the North park boundary to the South park boundary of Death Valley National Park totally off-road.

He continues to volunteer with the organization he founded, impossible2Possible. Click here for more details.

For more info on Ray's races and expeditions, visit my Adventures & Expeditions section.

Running and Expedition Highlights

• August 2011 ran close to 250km from North park boundary to South park boundary of Death Valley, totally off road.
• May 2011 i2P Expedition Bolivia Youth project.
• January 2011 ran length of Atacama Desert, 1191km from Peruvian border to Copiapo, Chile in 20 days.
• October 2010 i2P Expedition Amazon Youth project.
• May 2010 i2P Running Tunisia Youth Expedition.
• February 2010 ran 650km in 13 days unsupported across Lake Baikal in Siberian winter.
• September 2009 i2P Expedition Baffin Youth project.
• January 2009 trekked 1200km unsupported as member of 3 man team to Geographic South Pole from Hercules Inlet, 33 days, 23 hrs., 55 min.
• May 2008 ran average 80km per day in each of Canada's 13 Provinces and Territories, in 13 days.
• August 2007 ran 3 coastal trails of Canada (Akshayuk Pass, Baffin/East Coast Trail/West Coast Trail) back to back, in 8 days.
• November 2006 ran 7500km from Senegal to Red Sea, crossing the Sahara Desert in 111 days.
• May 2006 Gobi March, Racing the Planet, 250km 1st Place Team
• February 2006 Libyan Challenge, 190km non-stop 1st Place
• October 2005 Sahara Race, Racing the Planet, 250km 1st Place
• April 2004 and 2005 Marathon Des Sables, 243km
• November 2004 Trans 333 Niger, 333km non-stop 3rd Place
• October 2004 Jungle Marathon Amazon, 200km 8th Place Solo, 1st Place Team
• February 2004 Yukon Arctic Ultra, 160km non-stop 1st Place