RACINGTHEPLANET: GREECE 2025
250 KM / 155-MILE, 6-STAGE ULTRAMARATHON

28 September - 4 October 2025

DAYS TO GO

Race Coverage

RACE Coverage

RTP Home

Jen ZONAR

Finance and Controller

United States

Andrea MORGAN

Retired Commercial Director

United Kingdom

Rebecca WALKER

physician

United States

Natasha FANSHAWE

Self-employed

United Kingdom

Christopher (Chris) BREON

Soccer Coach

United States

Bev BRAMMER

CP Captain

United Kingdom

Amanda DE KOCK

Tax/HR

South Africa

Tania CHARLES

Insurance

New Zealand

Sandy KONDO

Japan

Janka DOLEZAL

Germany

Monica ROSA

Emergency Room Nurse

United States

Lena SASSE

Doctoral Student (Psychology)

Germany

Jacqueline (Jackie) LYONS

Nurse-Practice Education Practitioner

United Kingdom

John WILLIAMSON

COURSE TEAM (Self-Employed)

South Africa

Yu Ching LEUNG

Radio Frequency Engineer

Hong Kong

Anna DE GOUYON MATIGNON

France

Juliet BRUNDIGE

United States

Brenda ARMITAGE

Registered Nurse

Canada

Szilvia SZARKA

Self Employed

Hungary

Emoke IZER

Project manager

Hungary, Resident in Italy

Brittany OWEIS

Personal Support Worker

Canada

Agni (Anne) ZIOGOS

Teacher

Australia

Joanna (Jo) STOREY

Sports coach

United Kingdom

Magdalena AHUMADA

Producer

Chile

Jonas LEHMANN

Course Team (Master Carpenter)

Germany

Bogdan (Bobi) MANEVSKI

Asst.Hotel Manager

Macedonia

Jessica GREEN

Registered Dietitian

United States

Colin SUCKLING

Business MAnager

Australia

Abbey TOBIN

United Kingdom, Resident in United Arab Emirates

Ishaan JAIN

Research Associate

United States

Yumi HASEGAWA-PERKINS

Social Worker

Japan, Resident in Australia

Michael FLAHERTY

Hedge Fund Manager

Puerto Rico

Belin TANNER

Property Manager

United States

Dawn BLACKWELL

Mindset Performance Coach

United Kingdom

Gudrun SIEGLE

Project manager Fund Structuring

Germany, Resident in Luxembourg

Oleksandr (Aleks) LYEBYEDYEV

Hotel Manager

Ukraine, Resident in Croatia (Hrvatska)

Anna MALMENDIER

Recruiter

Germany

Jan MUIJS

Netherlands

Kauther YAHYA

Entrepeneur

Netherlands

Jen ZONAR

Finance and Controller

United States

Jen Zonar grew up in Virginia Beach but has considered Knoxville her home since 2002. She has always worked very hard but now she is realizing the importance of playing hard as well, and as a result she'll be taking a "sabbatical" from work starting in September to travel, relax, and enjoy time with family and friends. Prior to the break she was a finance professional and has worked in the boating industry her entire career. Before 2010 she was always healthy but not consistently active. A few friends suggested a couch to 5k program that culminated in a "color me rad" run and she has been active ever since. Her longest distance is a half marathon but she enjoys meet the folks that push themselves far beyond that and "working my butt off on vacation with really cool folks!". Jen previously been an excellent volunteer with us at the Atacama Crossing 2019, RacingThePlanet: Georgia 2021, Lapland 2022 and The Last Desert (Antarctica). We are delighted to have her back on the team this year in Jordan where she will be part of the course team.

Andrea MORGAN

Retired Commercial Director

United Kingdom

Andrea is the long-suffering sister of Tony Brammer, the volunteer manager at RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025. She is a retired 50-something mother of two grown-up children, with the eldest still clinging on to the nest. She tries to spend as much time as possible outside running, hiking, walking, cycling, skiing and surfing (ok, she lied about the last one)! A keen traveller, she is looking forward to expanding horizons. Having taken part in many races over the past two decades, it's time for her to pay it forward. She has marshalled the start line of a number of marathons and half marathons, and is keen to continue to support others in their goals, just as she was supported. Andrea has an ambition to go to all 4 Deserts as a volunteer; so far she has been to the Atacama Crossing, Gobi March and Namib Race, as well as RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race (Jordan). We're delighted to have her back on the volunteer team, where she'll be a checkpoint captain in Greece.

Rebecca WALKER

physician

United States

Dr. Rebecca Walker is an emergency medicine doctor at Stanford University Hospital in San Francisco, California, who also has a Master's in public health with a concentration on global health. She is a member of the 4 Deserts Club having completed the Gobi March (China) 2013, the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2014, The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2018 and the Namib Race (Namibia) 2024. She also completed RacingThePlanet: Patagonia 2017. Dr Rebecca has been on the medical team at many RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathons. This time, we are delighted to have her on the volunteer team at RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025.

Natasha FANSHAWE

Self-employed

United Kingdom

Natasha calls herself a RacingThePlanet junky, stating that participating in the races is a life addiction. She has raced twice (in Jordan and Namibia) and volunteered eight times, including taking on a management role at some races. She set up her own company, Light Style Space, as a declutterer where she helps people to get rid of unwanted stuff, and simultaneously runs a sustainability network called "And The Future" with a friend. She also works on events when help is needed. If the event involves food or an adventure, she is there, and she thinks RacingThePlanet fulfils the latter. Amongst other job projects, Natasha has worked for the Olympic Committee in preparation for the London 2012 Olympics.

Christopher (Chris) BREON

Soccer Coach

United States

Christopher (Chris) Breon served in the military for eight years before becoming an educator. He's currently a teacher and full-time soccer (football / futbol for most of the group!) coach. This is Chris's second time as a volunteer, having joined us at the Namib Race in 2024. He has also registered for, and is training to compete in, the 2026 Namib Race.

Bev BRAMMER

CP Captain

United Kingdom

Beverly (Bev) Brammer closely followed husband Tony's adventures as he aspired to become a 4 Deserts Club member back in 2005. He then persuaded her to volunteer together in Chile in 2010, and she's never looked back - the Atacama Desert is her happy place, having been there 6 times. Bev has been the volunteer manager on many races, most recently at the Gobi March in June this year, and she is a valued member of the team. Back home in Manchester, UK, she works part-time as a manager for a British retail chain. In her spare time she's been "cycling" to Greece on her indoor bike, and hopes she actually gets there before the race starts - it's just 2,143 miles! We welcome Bev back to her twentieth RacingThePlanet event, where she will be a checkpoint captain.

Amanda DE KOCK

Tax/HR

South Africa

Amanda is a proud member of the 4 Deserts Club - where she podiumed in three of the four races. However, having her knees "pack up" led Amanda to volunteer at RacingThePlanet: Lapland 2022. She loved the experience of the "other side" and is excited to be back again in Greece.

Tania CHARLES

Insurance

New Zealand

Tania Charles lives in Auckland, New Zealand, where she works in insurance with IAG NZ. Having completed a number of half-marathons and triathlons, including a half-Ironman, Tania has also been part of the support crew for the Speights Coast to Coast. Tania joins the volunteer team for the fifth time, having been a volunteer at the Gobi March 2015, the Atacama Crossing 2018, RacingThePlanet: New Zealand 2019, and the Namib Race 2024. She was also part of the Friends and Family group at The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2022. Tania's husband, Richard, is a 4 Deserts Club member and is racing in Greece.

Sandy KONDO

Japan

Sandy Kondo from Japan has volunteered at over 20 RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts races; she also raced twice. She's managed the RacingThePlanet office in Japan for more than ten years and worked for the South African Embassy in Tokyo before retiring in 2023. Sandy is a natural organiser with a flair for multitasking.

Kind and generous, Sandy is one of our best-known cheerleaders and has assisted dozens of 4 Deserts and RacingThePlanet competitors in preparing for the races. She also works and volunteers at the Comrades Marathon in South Africa, and the Tokyo Marathon in Japan.

Janka DOLEZAL

Germany

German volunteer Janka Dolezal is a life coach who helps people to heal their childhood trauma and live a prosperous life. RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025 is her twelfth time at a RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon having been on the volunteer team at the Namib Race 2022 and 2024; RacingThePlanet: Lapland 2022; the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2022, 2023 and 2025; the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2023, 2024 and 2025; RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year-Race (Jordan); and The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2024. Her partner, Ivan, completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus 2025. Janka is full of energy, funny, positive, strong, supportive, and not afraid of really hard work.

Monica ROSA

Emergency Room Nurse

United States

As an emergency room nurse, Monica is used to a hectic environment. Monica likes to fill her life with travel, backpacking, climbing and endless exploration. She has volunteered on a few other RacingThePlanet events and is looking forward to many more.

Lena SASSE

Doctoral Student (Psychology)

Germany

Lena Sasse of Germany is a young doctoral student in psychology who is joining her fourth RacingThePlanet event. She loves to travel and see different landscapes and cultures. During her time at university, she has met people from all over the world, an experience she has really enjoyed. She enjoys volunteering at the races as it allows her to combine her passion for travel with giving something back to others.

Jacqueline (Jackie) LYONS

Nurse-Practice Education Practitioner

United Kingdom

Jackie is a nurse-practice education practitioner, supporting and educating student nurses, midwives and allied healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom. Jackie has supported many competitors, management and other volunteers at RaceThePlanet events, including the Atacama Crossing 2015, Namibia Race 2017, Gobi March 2018 and RacingThePlanet: The 20-year Race (Jordan 2024). Jackie has completed several triathlons and races in the past and, more importantly, supported her husband and friends at Ironman races. Jackie's husband, Steve, is taking part in his second RacingThePlanet event in Greece. "The joy of supporting others, meeting new people, and travelling to some amazing places is an enriching and unforgettable journey," she says.

John WILLIAMSON

COURSE TEAM (Self-Employed)

South Africa

John Williamson is an experienced endurance athlete who finished the demanding Bull of Africa, a six-day non-stop adventure race in South Africa. He has also competed at a national level in the Landrover G4 Challenge and Southern Storm stage race. He describes himself as never turning down a challenge. This might explain how he is able to manage and own seven quick-service restaurants in South Africa. John volunteered at the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2011 and RacingThePlanet: Nepal 2011 before completing races as a competitor at RacingThePlanet: Jordan 2012, RacingThePlanet: Iceland 2013, RacingThePlanet: Sri Lanka 2016, Gobi March (China) 2017 and RacingThePlanet: New Zealand 2019. He also volunteered at the Sahara Race (Namibia) 2016, Namib Race (Namibia) 2018, the Special Edition of RacingThePlanet (Georgia) 2022 and Gobi March (Mongolia) 2023. John is now returning for his seventh time on the volunteer team at the RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025.

Yu Ching LEUNG

Radio Frequency Engineer

Hong Kong

Philip Leung first discovered the RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series when he was hired as a radio frequency engineer for the Gobi March in 2013. Since then, he has lost more than 10 kg and joined ten RacingThePlanet ultras as a volunteer, and he also completed the Gobi March (China) 2017 as a competitor. When it comes to communication systems, Philip is unquestionably your man! He ensures that communications run smoothly, as well as undertaking normal volunteer duties and keeping us entertained with his amazing Rubik's Cube skills. A native of Hong Kong, Philip earned his Bachelor of Science in electronic engineering and is an experienced problem solver. He is also now an endurance athlete, having begun running and ultra-racing since his exposure to the sport at the Gobi March. He has since completed numerous events in Hong Kong, Korea and China.

Anna DE GOUYON MATIGNON

France

Born and raised in Paris, France, Anna studied law and passed her Bar Exam. She backpacked across South America for a year, hiking from Iguazu Falls to Patagonian glaciers, crossing Uyuni Salar, the Atacama Desert and the Amazonian Jungle, and she is now based in Hossegor, a small town in the south-west of France (known as the surf capital in Europe), where she works in SEO.
Anna volunteered at the Gobi March (China) 2007, the Sahara Race (Egypt) 2008 and the Namib Race 2022. She also volunteered in the Brazilian Amazon jungle in 2010, all while her father was running. RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025 is Anna's fourth time volunteering at RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon.

Juliet BRUNDIGE

United States

Having competed in the Namib Race 2024 and the Atacama Crossing 2025, Juliet has decided to use her excellent talents as part of the volunteer team. She has over 15 years of endurance running experience, with distances ranging from 5 to 500 kilometers; is certified in basic first aid and CPR; and is a wilderness first responder. Julie teaches foot care, trail running concepts, and etiquette annually at the Band of Runners trail camp. She loves volunteering for races and helping runners succeed.

Brenda ARMITAGE

Registered Nurse

Canada

RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025 is Brenda's second race, having volunteered at the Atacama Crossing 2023. She has worked as a registered nurse for 35 years, and when she's not doing that, she spends her time making artisan soap and generally crafting. Brenda is keen to learn how to tape feet and sweep (but not at the same time). She hopes that she doesn't bump into her husband (who is racing) doing either of those!

Szilvia SZARKA

Self Employed

Hungary

Szilvia is a marketing director in the e-commerce sector who participates in running and triathlons to release stress. She has volunteered at many events in her native Hungary and crewed on others. Szilvia and her friend Emoke are travelling to Greece together to experience the unique opportunity of this special Greek edition of the RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon.

Emoke IZER

Project manager

Hungary, Resident in Italy

Emoke has worked and managed many ultra trail races in Hungary and crewed many more. She enjoys triathlons and was a team lead for several years on Hungary's largest trail running event. Emoke likes the challenge of anything that takes her out of her comfort zone, so we think she will love RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025.

Brittany OWEIS

Personal Support Worker

Canada

Brittany has done lots of volunteering with track and field in her native Canada where she works as a personal support worker in a children's hospital. Brittany is looking forward to meeting some amazing people and just being part of the RacingThePlanet community. RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025 is her first time at a race.

Agni (Anne) ZIOGOS

Teacher

Australia

Anne has been running for 40 years, competing in various distances ranging between 5 and 160 kilometers. She has also competed in a range of self-supported stage races, including the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2023 and Antarctica Ultramarathon in 2024. Anne is keen to sweep during RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025.

Joanna (Jo) STOREY

Sports coach

United Kingdom

Recently returned from volunteering at the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2025 and have caught the bug, Joanna (Jo) Storey is now committed to supporting RacingThePlanet and competitors to have the best time. Jo is a netball coach from Manchester, UK, and a great all-round volunteer.

Magdalena AHUMADA

Producer

Chile

Not content with working as a driver on three Atacama Crossing races, Magdalena (Magda) Ahumada wants to travel across the world to work on the volunteer team in Greece and cheer on the competitors. She has worked in film and advertising production whilst also having a sports career. Her life partner, Enrique, is part of the Camp team in Greece. Between them there is a huge amount of RacingThePlanet knowledge. We now welcome Magda to the volunteer team for the first time.

Jonas LEHMANN

Course Team (Master Carpenter)

Germany

Bogdan (Bobi) MANEVSKI

Asst.Hotel Manager

Macedonia

Bogdan (Bobi) Manevski enjoys the outdoors, loves hiking and working with the scouts, and so life in a tent for a week with RacingThePlanet should be right up his street. Bobi's day job sees him cruising around Antarctica as an assistant hotel manager.

Jessica GREEN

Registered Dietitian

United States

Jessica is an adventurer through and through. She joins RacingThePlanet for the second time having volunteered at the Atacama Crossing 2023. As a registered dietician, Jessica has had the opportunity to help athletes of all levels meet their goals from a nutrition standpoint. She can't wait to use her passion for adventure to do her part in helping runners be successful! Jessica is looking forward to sweeping again as, apparently, "it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be." Jessica's husband, Chris, is a competitor.

Colin SUCKLING

Business MAnager

Australia

A member of the 4 Deserts Club, Australian Colin Suckling works as a business manager with the education department, “but I am secretly just an adventure seeker.” Colin and his wife raced and completed the Sahara Race (Egypt) 2010. He says, ""It was so tough, but it set us up for many more adventures and helped define a part of me."" He was inspired to keep racing and became a member of the 4 Deserts Club in 2012. It has also widened his eyes to travel and the big world out there, and he has taken on his fair share of independent multi-day hikes.
As well as completing four RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts ultramarathons, Colin has also volunteered at seven races. He also turned up at the finish line of RacingThePlanet: Jordan 2014 as a surprise for his wife who was racing (and won the race!). Colin says he loves working with like-minded people and giving back, and we can't wait to see him back on the volunteer team.

Abbey TOBIN

United Kingdom, Resident in United Arab Emirates

Abbey, from the United Kingdom, is a lawyer who lived in Singapore for ten years but has recently moved to the UAE. She ran her first ultra (and marathon!) in February 2020 at Tarawera in New Zealand, and she promised herself she would run a multistage race. She completed the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2023 as part of the unofficial Team Breaking 250, and volunteered in Jordan at RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race.

Ishaan JAIN

Research Associate

United States

Ishaan graduated with a degree in neuroscience and now works as a research associate with the ambition of applying to medical school. The competitive nature of the races will be his happy place; Ishaan loves being in nature and travelling, and he hopes to run more and compete in the Boston Marathon. RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025 is his first taste of a RacingThePlanet event.

Yumi HASEGAWA-PERKINS

Social Worker

Japan, Resident in Australia

Yumi is a multiple-time RacingThePlanet volunteer having supported her husband's obvious obsession with trail racing around the globe. This time, Yumi is supporting both her husband, Andrew, and son, Ben, as well as all the other competitors at RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025.

Michael FLAHERTY

Hedge Fund Manager

Puerto Rico

Michael Flaherty was a volunteer at the Namib Race 2024. His fiancé, Elizabeth Brown, and sister, Heather Flaherty, are both competing at RacingThePlanet: Greece. Born and raised in Boston, Michael now lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he co-owns and operates a commodity trading hedge fund. When he is not working, Michael enjoys spending time with his fiancé and two grown children scuba diving, fly fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and collecting sea glass. His other interests include music and travel.

Belin TANNER

Property Manager

United States

Belin has been married to her husband, Gary, for 38 years and is a proud mother of two sons, one of whom is racing in Greece. Her professional journey encompasses careers in teaching, property management, and coaching. She is an active member of the United States Dragon Boat Federation's 2025 Team USA, and she competed at the 17th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, in July this year. Beyond dragon boating, Belin engages in competitive women's tennis, outrigger paddling, hiking, and fishing, and she cherishes time with family and friends. Belin is excited to volunteer at RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025, aiming to provide a seamless experience for the athletes so that they can focus on successfully completing the course and staying healthy.

Dawn BLACKWELL

Mindset Performance Coach

United Kingdom

Dawn is from the UK and was hoping to race in Greece. Sadly an injury has prevented her from taking part as a runner, so she is putting all of her energy into supporting and encouraging the competitors. She enjoys the great outdoors and being on the trails. Greece 2025 is Dawn's first time at a RacingThePlanet event, and we hope not her last.

Gudrun SIEGLE

Project manager Fund Structuring

Germany, Resident in Luxembourg

Having participated as a competitor at the Namib Race, Atacama Crossing and RacingThePlanet: Georgia, Gudrun wants to experience volunteering at RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025. She is looking forward to a rewarding experience and being able to return some of the support and kindness that she experienced from the support staff previously. She is hoping to meet some familiar faces and help competitors reach the finish line.

Oleksandr (Aleks) LYEBYEDYEV

Hotel Manager

Ukraine, Resident in Croatia (Hrvatska)

Aleks is a hotel manager working on cruise ships. He got to know about RacingThePlanet whilst working on the expedition ship for The Last Desert 2024. Now it's time for him to see a warm race up close and personal. We welcome Aleks to RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025 for his first volunteer experience.

Anna MALMENDIER

Recruiter

Germany

Anna, a recruiter from Germany, is delighted to join the volunteer team in Greece having already been to RacingThePlanet: Georgia (2022) and the Namib Race (Namibia) 2023. She loves exploring new places, hiking and running. The races allow Anna to connect with people from all over the world, and she truly values the friendships and teamwork these events create.

Jan MUIJS

Netherlands

Since he was young, Jan Mujis from the Netherlands loved to run through the mountains for hours and experience the overwhelming freedom of being out there. He started travelling the world almost fifty years ago, and he hasn't stopped since. From a kibbutz in Israel, hiking in the Alps, exploring the Inca Trail in Peru, unknown coastal paths in Greece, the mountains of Nepal and, most recently, the Laugavegur trail in Iceland, Jan's adventures have taken him from Africa to Australia and everywhere in between. (His job as a travel agent for thirteen years may have helped.) He then worked in a financial consultancy until 2019, when he retired. He is now enjoying the freedom to travel, hike and explore even more. His wife and son are both racing which inspired him to join them in Greece for his second time as a volunteer.

Kauther YAHYA

Entrepeneur

Netherlands

Kauther Yahya from the Netherlands is passionate about combatting climate change and is currently taking a break from work in order to travel through South America and immerse herself in its culture and natural beauty before it’s too late. She previously worked for the European Union to fight for women's rights, and the climate NGO Milieudefensie (the Dutch branch of Friends of the Earth). RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025 is Kauther's second race volunteering having previously joined the team at the Atacama Crossing 2023.

RACINGTHEPLANET: GREECE 2025 250 KM / 155-MILE, 6-STAGE ULTRAMARATHON

DAYS TO GO

Race Coverage

RACE Coverage

Jen ZONAR

Finance and Controller

Andrea MORGAN

Retired Commercial Director

Rebecca WALKER

physician

Natasha FANSHAWE

Self-employed

Christopher (Chris) BREON

Soccer Coach

Bev BRAMMER

CP Captain

Amanda DE KOCK

Tax/HR

Tania CHARLES

Insurance

Sandy KONDO

Janka DOLEZAL

Monica ROSA

Emergency Room Nurse

Lena SASSE

Doctoral Student (Psychology)

Jacqueline (Jackie) LYONS

Nurse-Practice Education Practitioner

John WILLIAMSON

COURSE TEAM (Self-Employed)

Yu Ching LEUNG

Radio Frequency Engineer

Anna DE GOUYON MATIGNON

Juliet BRUNDIGE

Brenda ARMITAGE

Registered Nurse

Szilvia SZARKA

Self Employed

Emoke IZER

Project manager

Brittany OWEIS

Personal Support Worker

Agni (Anne) ZIOGOS

Teacher

Joanna (Jo) STOREY

Sports coach

Magdalena AHUMADA

Producer

Jonas LEHMANN

Course Team (Master Carpenter)

Bogdan (Bobi) MANEVSKI

Asst.Hotel Manager

Jessica GREEN

Registered Dietitian

Colin SUCKLING

Business MAnager

Abbey TOBIN

Ishaan JAIN

Research Associate

Yumi HASEGAWA-PERKINS

Social Worker

Michael FLAHERTY

Hedge Fund Manager

Belin TANNER

Property Manager

Dawn BLACKWELL

Mindset Performance Coach

Gudrun SIEGLE

Project manager Fund Structuring

Oleksandr (Aleks) LYEBYEDYEV

Hotel Manager

Anna MALMENDIER

Recruiter

Jan MUIJS

Kauther YAHYA

Entrepeneur

Jen ZONAR

Finance and Controller

Andrea MORGAN

Retired Commercial Director

RACINGTHEPLANET: GREECE 2025
250 KM / 155-MILE, 6-STAGE ULTRAMARATHON