About Us

Since 2012, GlobalLimits has committed to organising multi-stage races (6 stages, 200+/- km) that everyone has the opportunity to shape their own race the way they want to enjoy/endure it. 

We are here to provide the meticulously selected running trails, spectacular cultural backdrops, safety measures and the opportunity to meet like-minded people. And of course, unforgettable experiences. 

You do not need to carry your supplies. Focus on the trail and the experience. We carry your supplies from campy to camp. We organise, you run.

Our races are committed to the 3S principles: Sustainability, Social commitment and Sportsmanship exchange. 

Sustainability

GlobalLimits is a company that supports sustainability. Our small and professional team ensures the minimal carbon footprints and in setting up races aboard. We also facilitate and encourage our participants to learn about local cultures and its people. 

Social commitment

We engage with the local communities, work with the local service providers and employ locals to bring direct economic impacts to the communities. We also support various social program that bring positive impacts. 

Sportsmanship exchange

We have a program to inviting local running talents to participate in all our race locations. Through this program, local athletes could experience first hand endurance races, showcase their talents and exchange both sports and cultural experiences with our participants. 

Join our races - with our four race locations, you are going to find a challenge that you want to shape. We have no Limits! 

Please find detailed profiles of the team members at "About Us" at the individual races.

Stefan Betzelt / Founder and CEO of GlobalLimits

Stefan was born and lives in Wiesbaden/Germany. He founded GlobalLimits in 2012. Stefan has a wealth of extreme racing experience, having participated in many of the most gruelling ultra races around the world. He also participated in about 20 city-marathons (PB 2:46) and successsfully climbed the Kilimanjaro and the Mount Aconcagua.

Stefan has visited more than 98 countries and learnt a great deal about different cultures and people. He now makes use of this experience to select outstanding and unique locations for the GlobalLimits races.

Stefan has worked as a managing director for some of the leading global financial institutions before he retired in 2004 to become a self employed financial and personnel consultant.

Stefan is also a member of the Curatoship of the Institute of Sports Medicine in Frankfurt/Germany.

Ryan Paterson, MD; DTM&H; DiMM - Medical Director

Dr. Ryan Paterson attended the University of Vermont School of Medicine and completed his Emergency Medicine Residency and Fellowship in Wilderness/Altitude/Expedition Medicine at Denver Health Medical Center/University of Colorado. He also holds advanced certifications in Tropical Medicine from the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H) and in Mountain Medicine (DiMM). He is a practicing Emergency Physician for Kaiser Permanente at St Joseph’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Paterson serves as co-course director for the Wilderness Medical Society and Universities of Colorado and Utah’s Diploma in Mountain Medicine Course (DiMM). He is the current United States delegate to the International Society of Mountain Medicine (ISMM). Currently, Dr. Paterson is working, in partnership with CU South Denver to develop a Wilderness Medicine for Kids program utilizing an original curriculum. He also serves as medical director for No Barriers and another non-profit (Kolkata City Mission) working to establish sustainable development solutions in education, health, women’s empowerment, micro-enterprise and public-health for informal communities in and around Kolkata, India.

Mario Machado, Lisbon/Portugal - Course Director Sao Tomé & Albania

Mario, a physical Education teacher and international athletic coach, is the technical director of the Lisbon Half Marathon (30.000+ runners), the Portugal Half Marathon, the Lisbon Marathon and the organizer, technical director and controller of the race of various other high profile road races in Portugal and international trail races.

Since 2009 he is also the "Controller of the race" of the Marathon des Sables in Morrocco.

Mario is the publisher and director of "Spiridon-Portugal" running magazin since 1978.

He is also a very experienced runner himself. He just finished his 100th Marathon/Ultra at GlobalLimits Cambodia 2017.

Mario already served as a volunteer for the inaugural race in Albania in 2017 and in Cambodia 2018 as well as being the course director in Albania 2018, 2019  and 2021 and Sao Tome 2020-2022.

Nathan Montague/Great Britain - Course Director Bhutan & Albania and GlobalLimits training advisor

Nathan is a father of two beautiful girls, Teacher, Coach and aspiring International athlete. Having competed for his country on multiple occasions in Ultra distance he is continually pushing the boundaries of his own perceived limitations and relish the challenge of this unique sport which tests our resolve every time we dare take the start line. Having competing in some amazing places around the world he is aiming to push himself in international competition on both the trails, mountains and the roads including 24hour racing and the Multi-day stage races. He has competed and achieved success across the UK with numerous course records and wins in national competitions on the trails and roads in ultras in addition to races international, including the Mt Goaligong Ultra in China, KAEM in South Africa and GlobalLimits own Wild Elephant Trail in Sri Lanka. He relishs competing for his country and his short term targets include making the national team in 24 hour racing and the Ultra Gobi 400km in September 2017 + 2018.

Nathan is also the training advisor for GlobalLimits.

Nathan already served as a course marker in the inaugural race Albania 2017 and 2018 and was GlobalLimits course director in Bhutan 2019.

Daniel Meyes, Zürich/Switzerland - Course Director Cambodia

Daniel is a passionated multisport athletes coming from Zürich, who loves to be in nature. When traveling he tries to combine his activities with all kind of outdoor sports such as running, mountain biking, kayaking or rock climbing. Daniel is a frequent starter in international desert or mountain ultra races, triathlons and other multi-sport events.
He successfully completed the inaugural GlobalLimits events Cambodia 2012, Sri Lanka 2015, Albania 2017, Sao Tome 2020 and finished all of them in the Top 6.
In 2013 he already volunteered at GlobalLimits Bhutan and in 2016 in Cambodia.
Since 2018 Daniel makes use of his excellent knowledge of the course in Cambodia and the needs of the runners when navigating.