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!

Stefan Betzelt/Germany - 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 101 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 2006 to become a self employed financial and personnel consultant but now is full time focused on GlobalLimits.

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

Mario Machado, Lisbon/Portugal - Course Director

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 and 2019 and Sao Tome 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023

Dr Alana Hawley,Canada - Race Doctor

Dr. Alana Hawley, MD, FRCPC-EM, FAWM, DiMM, is an Emergency Medicine physician based in British Columbia, Canada. She completed a Wilderness Medicine Fellowship at the University of Utah and holds both the Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine and the Diploma in Mountain Medicine.

Alana is an active wilderness medicine educator and researcher. She teaches with multiple international course providers and is an instructor for the Canadian Diploma in Mountain Medicine. A former President of the Canadian Association of Wilderness Medicine, she continues to contribute through several national committees. Her peer-reviewed publications address topics including hypothermia, rock-climber self-rescue, avalanche safety, and acute mountain sickness.

Alana's clinical and volunteer experience includes high-altitude medicine in Nepal, mountain rescue, ultramarathon events, ski patrol medical roles, and remote expedition support. She also serves as Medical Advisor for Penticton Search and Rescue.

Personal interests include rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, skiing, and SCUBA diving.

Dr Shiv Patel - Race Doctor

Dr Shiv is an Emergency Medicine physician based in Denver, CO.

He loves traveling and being outdoors. He is an amateur runner, have completed a 1/2 marathon and other shorter runs.

Harri Washington, Great Britain - Volunteer

Harri is originally from the UK and has lived and worked in Madagascar, Gabon, and Cambodia, Gabon and Ruanda.

Working in wildlife conservation means that she has had the privilege to see some beautiful parts of the world, which she explores through another passion, running. She has been living in Cambodia for ten months now, where she enjoys running cross-country out in the remote province of Mondulkiri, as well as joining group runs in Phnom Penh and the surrounding area. She enters organised races in every place she lives. Harri is a multiple podium winner in GlobaLimits races.

She is looking forward to being inspired to take her running to the next level by experiencing firsthand the challenges and rewards of a GlobalLimits race.

Harri already served as a volunteer at GlobalLimits Cambodia 2016 + 2017, Bhutan 2017 and the inaugural race in Albania. She also is a multiple podium winner in various GlobalLimits races.

Matt Miguelena, USA - Volunteer

Matt is an Exercise physiologist and physical therapist for 32 years

He completed 7 GlobalLimits races and earned the prestigious “GlobalLimits Heritage Site Runner” series award.

In addition to Ultra stage races, he has completed 77 Triathlons and an avid Mountaineer with 25 years' experience

He is the CEO of Allied Healthcare Professionals, Inc. a full-service home health medical corporation

Geert Meese, Tielt/Belgium - Volunteer

Geert is a Belgian medic who decided to work a little bit less and spending more time doing his passions: multi stage racing ( 100 km del Sahara, Marathon des Sables , Grand to Grand ….) , marathon racing , or volunteering in multi stage races ( Spain, Portugal, Oman …). a passion he sheares with his wife.
If not working or racing , his time is spend abroad with a high preference for unbeaten tracks in Asia or South America. Always enthusiastic to help participants to make their dreams come true.

Geert already served as a volunteer for GlobalLimits in multiple races in Cambodia, Bhutan, Albania, Sao Tomé and Uzbekistan.

Teresa Lam, Hongkong/Germany - Volunteer

Teresa is from Hong Kong and now based in Germany. She counts her first ultramarathon experience back in 2008. Since then she has been a runner in 22 GlobalLimits races including Albania, Bhutan, Cambodia, Sao Tomé, Uzbekistan and Balkans and finished 13 times on the podium.

She hopes everyone enjoys long distance running as much as she does!

Teresa already served as a volunteer in Bhutan , Albania and Sao Tomé in the past. She is also the Director of Marketing & Communication of GlobalLimits.

Alvaro Monte Verde, Sao Tomé - Volunteer

Helielson Da Costa, Sao Tomé - Volunteer

Ola Orlikowska, Poland - Photographer

Ola is a photographer, author, host of the Projekt Cebula podcast, and a TEDx Warsaw speaker. During the pandemic, she set off on a solo journey across Europe, cycling 15,000 kilometers and visiting 12 countries. From one of them, she brought back the most precious souvenir of the trip — a black cat named Fryderyk. Today, she tells people's stories through photos and films, and in her spare time, helps others befriend solitude. Ola is known for her relentless optimism and hearty, jovial laugh.