Welcome to Running Ibiza!

Your Guide: Donna (from London)

Running

Why running?  Well, since I started running more than 20 years ago, it has shaped the person I am – physically and mentally.  Running has given me friends, confidence, energy, the opportunity to help my community and workmates, a sense of accomplishment, different experiences & views when I’m travelling, time to think & work through problems, time to listen to podcasts, the ability to eat & enjoy really quite a lot of food whilst maintaining a normal weight, and of course a good level of fitness.  The fitness part sounds like a no-brainer, but the older I get the more I have come to appreciate the positive impact running has had on my health.

For reasons of balance, I should tell you that running has also, at times, frustrated me, hurt me (I fall over a lot!) and made me find a dozen little jobs that simply must be done before I can go out on that run I’ve been putting off all day!  It has also meant that at 52 years old, I was told I no longer have any cartilige in my left knee, so I´ve really had to reduce the amount I run in the last year…..

I took up regular running by accident.  I was going through a marriage break up and wanted to get out of the house in the evening, so I started going to a local gym.  When the instructor wrote my free gym programme, I told him he could include anything in the gym except the treadmill, as I didn’t run.  So of course, the first thing he did was put me on the treadmill!  I started with a 20 minute programme of walking and running.  I gradually increased the amount of running until I could run for the whole 20 minutes.  Bit by bit I increased the amount of time I ran for, then joined a running club, ran my first race, ran a lot more races, and before I knew it, running was an intrinsic part of my life, one I have never given up. 

Ibiza

Why Ibiza?  I first visited  in 1989, when I was 18.  It was the year after the ‘summer of love’, the nightclubs were playing Balearic Beats and didn’t have roofs.  I danced to ‘Lullaby’ by The Cure under the stars at Es Paradis, and my love affair with the island started.  I returned 10 years later when I was pregnant with my daughter, and then 3 years after I came for my first child-free weekend away after my divorce.  From then on I came every year, several times a year.  I brought many friends and all my family, and in the end would come on my own, making new friends when I got here.  As soon as I stood in the Plaça del Parc in Ibiza Town, I would feel I was at home.  Of course, I love the weather and the beaches, the music (but these days mostly in the beach chiringuitos and not the clubs) and the food, but mostly I love the people here, wherever they are from.

Running Ibiza

As my daughter started to approach university-going age, I started to think about my future and what I wanted to do – living in Ibiza was top of the list.  It was on a solo visit in 2016, encouraged by people I was hiking with to find a way to bring my dream to life, that I had the idea to set up a running company.

As well as the Ibiza Town Running Tours, Trail Runs and ‘Couch to 5k’ running training plan, I lead a free weekly running group on a 7k route from Ibiza Town every Saturday morning.  Anyone who can run/walk 5k without stopping is welcome to join our running community here in Ibiza (note that there is no Park Run in Spain or Ibiza).  Check out the Running Group page for full details.

I hope to see you soon!
Donna Warren, founder of Running Ibiza

Your Guide: Vicent (from Ibiza)

Hi, I´m Vicent!  I was born in Ibiza 40+ years ago and I have lived here all of my life…. so I promise to never get you lost!!!   I have participated in many races (mostly trail races) including ultra marathons, and I´m currently trying to build up enough points to take part in the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc.

I don’t remember when I started running – my whole life has been linked to sport.  That is why I studied Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, I have been a Physical Education teacher for 19 years, and I have also worked as a physical trainer for soccer teams for many years.  Now I´m very happy to add ´running guide´ to the list, and have absolutely loved sharing the hidden trails of this beautiful island with visitors from all over the world. 

Note from Donna:  If during a run Vicent says you ´´ re killing him, don ´´ t worry, so far he has survived every run he ´´ s been on!