Ray Zahab wants people to know they are extraordinary. A former sedentary “pack a day smoker”, Zahab turned his life around when he decided to get in shape and enter the world of ultra-marathons. Since then, he’s gone on to inspire millions of people around the world by completing jaw-dropping journeys, including running 7500km across the Sahara, setting a Guinness World Record, and travelling close to 20,000km on foot through some of the largest deserts and coldest regions on Earth.
Zahab is an Explorer-in-Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and the founder of the non-profit, impossible2Possible, an organization that aims to inspire and educate youth through adventure learning and inclusion and participation in expeditions. He’s ben recognized as one of Canada’s top explorers by Canadian Geographic, awarded the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for exploration, and honoured with a Meritorious Service Cross of Canada.
Zahab’s ultra-marathon journey began in 2003, when he read about the Yukon Arctic Ultra, a 160 km multi-day race through sub-zero conditions. Three months later, he won the race and was spurred on to continue competing and learning about how every one of us is capable of exceeding any mental, physical, or emotional limits we think we may have. Over the next two years, he won four multi-day races, either individually or as part of a team, surviving sandstorms, close encounters with poisonous snakes, parasites, infections, chafed legs, and dehydration along the way.
In 2007, Zahab’s gruelling 111-day journey was chronicled in the Matt Damon-produced documentary Running the Sahara. Today, he uses his adventures to raise awareness and funding for important causes, and has completed dozens of expeditions across the Arctic, Siberia, Gobi Desert, and Death Valley, to name a few. Zahab has shared and reflected on his many adventures in his two books, Running for My Life and Running to Extremes.
As a keynote speaker, Zahab takes audiences through his tremendous personal story, demonstrating how individuals and organizations can undergo incredible change to break through limits and achieve incredible success. He has spoken at events such as TED, IOC World Conference, The Economist World, World Affairs Council, and corporate events all over the globe. He has also been featured on a wide range of platforms, from his own hosted TV series to appearances on Discovery, CNN, CBC, OWN, and many others.
