Back in March of 2012, when Gabe and I sat around a campfire in the Sahara and first dreamt up the idea of taking a few of my coached runners to Morocco, we never could have imagined that within a few years we’d actually be able to support ourselves with a real live business whose sole purpose was to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences all over the globe. We had no playbook – we just kept moving forward, and figured things out as we went. Fast-forward to January 2020, when we had sold out nearly every single spot for the year for the first time ever and were breathing as easy as small business owners possibly could – we never could have imagined that within a few weeks we’d be forced into cancelling two trips, and then four, and ultimately more than 18 months worth with no answers as to what the coming months would hold. There's no playbook for this either.

Leading our very first trip was scary. Leaving our “real” jobs and giving up paychecks to push forward with this idea was scary. The current situation is scary. Let’s face it - uncertainty is scary. But, uncertainty also contains opportunity. It forces creativity, expands the realm of what’s possible and ultimately leads us down a path that we never expected.
 
Despite the fact that both runners and travelers require movement at the very core of their being, both sets of people are uniquely well-equipped to deal with this strange new locked-down world. Runners understand that there are hills and there are valleys and that neither one lasts forever. They know how to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and how to keep their eyes on the prize. Travelers are resourceful. They’re quick to find solutions  and to navigate all that is foreign to them. They know that the best stories come from the toughest situations, they know how to hang on through long, bumpy rides and they’ve usually got hand sanitizer and spare toilet paper in their bag. We, like many of you, are both runners and travelers and not only will we endure this climb and continue to figure this thing out as we go, but we’ll come out stronger – and with some epic stories! - on the other side.

Here is a current (January 2022) status update:

2020:
After two wonderful trips to Patagonia in January & February, all of our remaining 2020 trips were cancelled due to COVID-19.

2021 CANCELLATIONS:
Twelve trips between Patagonia, spring Morocco, Alpe-Adria, Ireland, South Africa and BC were all cancelled due to border closures and travel restrictions.

2021 TRIPS RUN:
We carefully began operating again in late July and since then have successfully run ten incredible trips between Iceland, Kenya, Morocco, Oregon and Nicaragua! Navigating the ever-changing landscape of rules and restrictions has had its challenges, but ultimately quite doable and, by all accounts, well worth the effort. Never before has travel felt more important, or more impactful!

WHAT’S AHEAD FOR 2022
We have a full schedule planned for 2022 and are cautiously optimistic that everything will happen as planned. We are extending risk-free registration through 2022, meaning that we guarantee full refunds (or the option of a deferral) in the event that we cancel a trip due to COVID-related issues, even if it’s last minute. We will continue to do everything we can to help registered participants stay updated and navigate the entry and exit requirements for each destination.

Those who are holding credit from a previously cancelled trip will continue to receive first dibs on everything, then remaining spots will open to the public after that. Make sure that you’re on our email list so that you don’t miss out!

In many ways, we feel fortunate to be as small as we are. It allows us to be nimble and scrappy and to do whatever we need to do to ensure that as soon as the world reopens, we will be ready to hit the ground running. But, we have to acknowledge that it has been an incredibly rough ride, not only for us but also for all of the individuals and small businesses that we work with around the world. Many of you have asked how you can help support us during this strange time (and many of you have already taken action – thank you!!), so here are a few ways if you are so inclined:

1. Pick up some swag! We’ve got branded shirts, hats, brand new buffs/neck gaiters (you can’t have too many these days!) and some pretty great drinkware. Every purchase helps a ton, and we think you’ll like it too!

2. Leave a review. If you’ve travelled with us before and never quite got around to writing a review or leaving a quick star rating, do it now!  This is the first thing that potential new runners check out - they’d much rather hear from you than from us, and it doesn’t have to be a written masterpiece; just give a short, honest account of your experience, in your words. You can do this on Facebook and/or directly on our website.
 
3. Leave more reviews. If you’ve travelled with us before and there are particular hotels or restaurants or local guides that really made an impression on you, take the time to leave a TripAdvisor review. These reviews can make or break a family-run establishment, and your positive feedback will go a long way once they are able to start operating again. If you need help remembering a name, just let me know and I’ll help you out!

4. If your trip is cancelled and you are able, choose a credit for future travel rather than a refund. Not only does this go a long way in ensuring that we can continue offering these trips for many years to come, but it also gives you a BIG something to look forward to!

5. If you know that a running adventure is in your future, buy yourself a gift card. We’re offering them in a range of denominations and giving you first dibs on future trips as a thank you.
 
6. Stay connected and engaged. If you’re lucky enough to have a vault of stories in your head and piles of wanderlust-inducing photos on your phone, share them. Tell your stories. If they come from one of our trips, tag us @roguexpeditions on Instagram or Facebook and we’ll share them too. We’re all tired of looking out our own front windows – let’s open up some windows to that big beautiful world out there!

 
The uncomfortable truth is that the travel industry will be one of last things to recover from all of this and many businesses will be and already have been lost, but it will recover. And when it does, it’s going to be more vital than it’s ever been before. Never before have we been so acutely aware of the importance of human connection, freedom of movement and of getting the absolute most out of every moment you have on this planet.
 
The future may be uncertain, but we’re all going to have a hell of a story to tell someday! Personally, we plan to tell ours and listen to yours during runs, over meals and around campfires in distant lands as soon as we possibly can. In the meantime, stay home, keep running (no matter how creative you have to get!) and keep dreaming of your next big thing – we’ll be ready with bags packed on the other side!

- Allison Macsas, co-founder & guide