A former Sharjah university professor who was seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver as he ran across the US is now taking on another mammoth endurance challenge of traversing Australia in only 70 days.
From desolate, endless wastelands and an ever-distant horizon, to days of isolation in one of the most barren environments on Earth, Nick Ashill faces a formidable task as he aims to join a select band of ultra endurance athletes.
Mr Ashill – who previously lectured at the American University of Sharjah – aims to reach Bondi Beach in Sydney by June 28, to become only the fifth person to have run the 5,400km across America and the 3,949km from Perth to Sydney.
The epic trek aims to draw attention to respiratory disease and raise money to support research towards improving health outcomes for those affected.
After 14 months of gruelling training and more than 8,000km of road running, the 59-year-old New Zealander is ready and raring to go on his next adventure as he leaves Cottesloe in Western Australia on Monday morning about 6.30am.
“After completing the American run in 2022, I was not ready to hang up my running shoes,” Mr Ashill, who lives in Wellington, told The National, 24 hours before he was due to set off.
“My preparation these past 14 months has been intense.
“I plan to run 60km each day to complete the run in around 70 days and my body is in good shape.
“The most challenging part of the run will be the 1,200km stretch of the Nullarbor Plain.
“No trees grow there, so it is very isolated and bronze and there are hundreds of kilometres between towns, but I love running in tranquillity and isolation.”
Overcoming adversity
To even arrive at the start of his ambitious run is a comeback of gargantuan proportions.
In 2017, Mr Ashill was left for dead by a hit-and-run driver in Columbus, Ohio, and endured a difficult return to health after his pelvis was shattered and he required a number of blood transfusions.
Learning to walk again was his primary goal but 16 operations later he put on his running shoes once more to complete his trans-American run in 2022.
With another remarkable personal record now in his sights, Mr Ashill said the focus was on the road ahead, one step at a time.
“I want to prove to myself that I can complete another cross-country run, but more importantly, I want people to know about the course I am running for,” he said.
“What drives me is a yearning to help others with respiratory illness.
“The memory of my mum and the fight she endured every day to breathe is a constant reminder of the importance of the New Zealand Asthma and Respiratory Foundation's work.
“I will burn between 5,000 and 7,000 calories each day. So getting my nutrition right is critically important.”
Mountains of sweet potato, eggs, cheese, oat milk, chia seeds, avocado, broccoli, blueberries, bananas and bacon will make up most of his daily diet.
Support crew
He will be accompanied by an experienced support team to ensure his safety throughout the run.
He will be joined by Paul Wheeler, who ran across the US with Mr Ashill, and two other support crew members – Jamie Thomson, head of IT for New Zealand company Comfortech – and Mehmet Domez, an ultrarunner and professional chef.
Ultra-distance running is undergoing a moment in the spotlight, after the recent exploits of self-proclaimed 'Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook, who became the first man to run the western route of the length Africa, from South Africa to Tunisia.
It took the Briton 352 days to complete his challenge, running 385 marathons back-to-back – a feat well noted as an inspiration for Mr Ashill.
“What a legend he is and an amazing achievement,” said Mr Ashill.
“Running across Africa is probably not something I would do but I like the idea of running from the top of Alaska to the bottom of South America. Let's see how the body is after Australia.”
To follow his progress or support his challenge, visit www.nickrunsaustralia.org.nz
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Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Always use only regulated platforms
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Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
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Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
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Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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Stars: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, David Wenham, Omari Hardwick
Director: Minkie Spiro
Rating:2/5
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
Freezer tips
- Always make sure food is completely cool before freezing.
- If you’re cooking in large batches, divide into either family-sized or individual portions to freeze.
- Ensure the food is well wrapped in foil or cling film. Even better, store in fully sealable, labelled containers or zip-lock freezer bags.
- The easiest and safest way to defrost items such as the stews and sauces mentioned is to do so in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
