The Nomad is tot only the title of the short film produced by NNormal, but above all a sincere portrait of Elhousine Elazzaoui, the trail runner who gave us a lesson in humility and perseverance at ORBDAYS.
From Zegama, in the Spanish Basque Country, to Riva del Garda, the transition is lightning fast. Elhousine Elazzaoui arrived at ORBDAYS still carrying the emotions of a beautiful victory — the most dreamed of, hard-fought, hoped-for, and finally conquered. In the famous alpine marathon of Zegama-Aizkorri 2025, the Moroccan runner clocked 3:43:28, registering the fourth fastest time in the history of the race. Above all, he confirmed himself as a top athlete in the discipline, having grown both technically and mentally, now truly able to aim for the top spot in the Golden Trail World Series.
When he arrived at the Riva del Garda halls, he showed great humility, answering questions from fans, giving words and smiles to anyone who stopped him for a greeting, and posing for selfies with everyone. But who is this incredible athlete who joined the NNormal team in 2024? His story is told in the short film THE NOMAD, which was screened on Monday, May 26, in the Workshop Hall of the Outdoor & Running Business Days, attracting many enthusiasts and revealing the man behind the athlete.
The story of Elhousine Elazzaoui
Elhousine Elazzaoui was only 11 years old when he first competed in a running race, with no knowledge of training, schedules, or diet. He tells the story himself:
“I was with my parents in Morocco; we had gone shopping. That day the town was buzzing because there was a running race for children. I told my parents, ‘I’m going!’ I didn’t have shoes or a race bib, so they let me start after the others. Despite that, I won the race and earned the chance to come back the next year with a bib and shoes given to me.”
Elhousine didn’t know then that this moment would be the prelude to an amazing career, but something definitely sparked inside him. In the short film, the 1992-born runner talks about his Berber origins, his incredible love for the desert, and his nomadic life in complete harmony with nature. He also shares his desire to explore the world, the 11-kilometer distance to school from his village, and his strong family ties. His brother runs a traditional desert travel agency, and the family owns a small caravan of dromedaries to help tourists move more easily among the dunes. Growing up, Elhousine himself began working as a certified tour guide in Morocco.
Trail running
Elhousine Elazzaoui’s career as a professional trail runner began in 2018 at age 27, somewhat late for an athlete, but his talent quickly brought him to the top ranks of the international scene. Life then took him to Europe, specifically Switzerland, where the trails of Canton Ticino became an opportunity and trail running a permanent part of his life.
Only in recent years has off-road running opened the doors to international competitions, allowing him to pursue something he is deeply passionate about — traveling and meeting people who have profoundly influenced him. Though far from the Moroccan deserts, the support he often receives at races makes him feel at home and moves him emotionally.
In 2024, his meeting with NNormal and Kilian Jornet further fueled his passion and dedication for the sport. Sharing the brand’s values quickly made him the perfect ambassador for the company. Today, Elhousine lives in Switzerland and continues to train to participate in the races he has dreamed of for a long time.
His recent achievements and notable placements already shine brightly in his career, but last year definitively established him as a leading figure in the Golden Trail World Series circuit, considered by many as the “world championship” of mountain running. Elhousine won the overall classification, becoming the athlete to beat in 2025.
