Marathons and Mountains: Royal Arnold Mabika's Vision for Honde Valley as a Running Destination

Honde Valley, Eastern Highlands, Zimbabwe

 

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Running Loop, where I dive deep into the world of running, exploring its many facets and the stories that inspire us runners. I’m your host, Linda Mhako, and today, we have an extraordinary guest joining us.

Royal Arnold Mabika, a passionate long-distance runner and dedicated sports advocate. Royal's remarkable journey has taken him from the breathtaking landscapes of Zimbabwe to the vibrant streets of Dubai and back again. Today, we’ll explore his inspiring return to Zimbabwe and training in Honde Valley, a hidden gem that he believes holds immense potential for both elite training and tourism.

With the highly anticipated BMW Berlin Marathon on the horizon, Royal will share how his experiences abroad have profoundly shaped his outlook on running and the unique beauty of Zimbabwe's natural environment. We'll also discuss his vision for positioning Honde Valley as a premier running destination and how local communities can thrive through this initiative.

Join me for an enriching conversation about resilience, ambition, and the transformative power of sport.

Linda Mhako: So you have had quite an exciting journey from Zimbabwe to Dubai and back again. Can you share what inspired you to return home and how your experiences abroad have shaped you as a runner?

Royal Arnold Mabika: I think for me, I have always believed, so I'm doing a BMW Berlin marathon in Germany next month, on the 29th, and what led me to come back is because of the temperatures in the Middle East. They are not very perfect for one to train. So I saw it fit for me to get back, but I didn't know where to go. But then I just had to make a decision. I realized that, of all the places, Honde Valley was the place, yeah.

Linda Mhako: So you've chosen to train in Honde Valley, the place that you find fascinating. What makes Honde Valley special for you as a runner, and how do the local landscapes support your training goals?

Royal Arnold Mabika: Honde Valley, to be honest with you, I think the first thing is, the altitude — I'm not so sure of the exact altitude — because I think I trained at different destinations, Hauna and close to Sagambe. They are different altitudes. So I'm not so sure of the exact number, but I think it’s quiet; that's the other thing. You get time to focus. And then the other thing is that you also get to reconnect with nature. There's less traffic. You hardly see someone there, even when you are running; imagine I would run from maybe from the growth point up until another 15, 20 km deep into the Eastern Highlands plantation, and I couldn't meet even a single person. So, yeah, I think it's a very good place for you to get back to nature and focus as well.

Linda Mhako: Can you describe a typical training session for you in Honde Valley? What does that look like, and how does the environment influence your performance?

Royal Arnold Mabika: Yeah, I think the environment influences my performance, especially on the mental part. I would say most of the terrain in Honde Valley is a bit steep. So, mentally, for a marathon runner, it adds a bit of mental toughness. A typical training program for me would be maybe a 35-kilometer long run, a 30 to 35-kilometer long run, because I was there to build my mileage. So that would mean running from, I think, if I would give an example, I can run from Hauna growth point up until Sagambe. There's another growth point there, Sagambe, which is about 30 kilometers from Hauna. So when I'm coming from Hauna, I pass through those Eastern Highlands plantations, etc., and I think the mental condition that it brings is different. I would never get that anywhere. I might maybe get that somewhere in Kenya. I've trained in Kenya, in Mombasa, and in Eldoret. But I feel like what I've trained, the way I was training in the Rift Valley in Kenya, and the way that I'm training here in Honde Valley is just the same thing.

Linda Mhako: That's beautiful. You mentioned wanting to promote Honde Valley as a desirable location for running tour groups from the Middle East. What unique features or experiences does Honde Valley offer that you believe will attract tourists?

Royal Arnold Mabika: First of all, most of these people, most of the Arabs in the Middle East region, are looking for a place where they can hide out — more like hideouts — so it would be very difficult to convince someone to come and visit Harare. They would tell you that they want a different experience. Even when you go to Honde Valley with them, you need to go camping. You'd need to show them the different mountains, the banana farmers, and how they are surviving, how life is there. So that’s the unique part. Of course, we've got the Eastern Highlands plantations, which will be very interesting for them to run through, and even some of the natural beauties, the rivers, and so many other things. But I think the most unique part is the natural vegetation in that place. So you realize that if you go to some other tourist destinations, you go to Victoria Falls; I would look at Victoria Falls. Mostly, the most interesting thing in Victoria Falls is probably the falls. But when it comes to Honde Valley, there are a lot of things that people coming from different countries would be really excited to explore.

Linda Mhako: Yeah, I can envisage how beautiful Honde Valley is. I can see that during your time in Riyadh, you had conversations about Honde Valley. Could you share some insights or ideas you picked up promoting this beautiful region?

Royal Arnold Mabika: So the guy who I talked to was actually a white guy, an international guy from the USA, and this guy was telling me about a group of four guys who came to visit Honde Valley from the USA. I think they came to visit Nyanga and passed through. He was telling me that one of the guys was actually saying if they had known, they would have gone to Honde Valley from the start. So basically, he then started telling me that, do you know that you can actually pay for some running tours? You can take maybe groups of 20 to 30 there. You stay with them for a week, and they explore the rich culture of the place. They even have time to do some other activities in a natural way. So I thought of this, and then when I thought of the terrain as well, I saw a very big opportunity for me to bring runners. So this guy wants me to pair up with him. But as a local from Zimbabwe, I had never been to that part of Zimbabwe. I've been to Mutare, Vumba, of course, but I've never been there. So I thought to say, okay, even if I'm going back to see these guys, I really need to explain to them what this place looks like. And then as a local, it would make much more sense because they are very interested in us starting up the running tours in the cultural village. They want us to also try and set up a cultural village here for tourists. This is something that we are going to be doing together. Probably we are also going to try to approach some media, maybe people like you, to help us market the word out there. And, yeah, that was the brief discussion that I had in Riyadh that inspired me to, you know, I now have, like a vision, as much as sports tourism is concerned, and what I'm planning to do. So, yeah, those guys then said to me, "Look, yeah, you are the local guy here, even if you want to go and start something, you're already in the running field. You're already a coach. In the Middle East, I do a lot of running, and I'm also into sports events management. Sometimes I try to manage events. So I am working in the sporting sector completely. I'm even planning to host a sports conference in Honde Valley, and I want to carry the uniqueness of the place and market it by inviting people from different countries."

Linda Mhako: That's beautiful. So how do you see local communities benefiting from your efforts to promote running tourism in Honde Valley?

Royal Arnold Mabika: I have actually paired up with some people. I mean, I've paired up with a local guy I saw there. So I've realized that in life, sometimes when you get into these communities, for things to be better, you have to get to the local people. So I've got a local guy that I'm trying to work with. He's based in Honde Valley and is going to be the man on the ground. Because even these people, when they come as tourists, they want someone who's based in the area. Because, obviously, for a person like me, if they conduct a background check, they say, "Yeah, this guy is based in the United Arab Emirates," right? So I can sell the packages. I can convince them to come. But when they get to the place, they need someone who's staying there to take them around. So I think the local community will benefit because they need to see that this is what, so what, so. Even the local community will benefit because they will have something to do depending on how big the project is going to be and how many times a year we are going to be having groups. But it's something that is going to create jobs for the youth on that side.

Linda Mhako: What role do you believe sports and tourism can play in elevating Zimbabwe's profile on the global stage?

Royal Arnold Mabika: Yeah, I think sports tourism, at the moment, is one of those things that we have to look at. And I think I'm very happy to say, when we had a conversation with Zimbabwe tourism minister, honorable Barbara Rwodzi there, I think that was early this year in Vic Falls, when they were having the Zimbabwe tourism amendment bill, I was part of the meetings. I would say Zimbabwe has the potential to invite more tourists to some of these sites because I think when someone is traveling, they need a bit of value added. So besides you coming to see Honde Valley as a tourist, what other things can you do there? You can do trail running. You can run around the mountains, and a lot of people. I'll tell you, the reason why you see races like the Berlin Marathon and the London Marathon attracting 50,000 people is that people already love to go to Berlin. It's a dream come true for most people, right? But then, how do you go to Berlin? How do you just go to Berlin? If you have a marathon in Berlin, it means that you're going to find more push, you know, to go and run the Berlin Marathon or the London Marathon. So I think Zimbabwe is yet to see a lot of things, especially if they are going to push this sports tourism mandate. I think you've also seen that I'm also the ambassador for the Great Zimbabwe Marathon. But I'm simply saying that the whole idea is that if you check, Honde Valley, there is a guy called Alois Bunjira, the former football star. So this guy started a marathon called the Honde Valley Marathon. So I was trying to check their numbers. Last year, they had close to 400 people that came to run this race. And I'm saying if this year there was a way that I could also help to push this particular race, then it would go a long way because already with the running tour groups that I'm trying to bring out, they can then come to do the Honde Valley Marathon, and then that will be our starting point, yes.

Linda Mhako: Looking ahead, what are your goals for your running career? Do you have any specific aspirations or events you are aiming for while you are back in Zimbabwe?

Royal Arnold Mabika: To be honest, in Zimbabwe, I'm just here for training, and most of the races that I run are mostly in the Middle East or Europe. But at the moment, I'm focusing on the Berlin Marathon, which is next month, on the 29th. Then from there, I’ll be running the Abu Dhabi Marathon. I'll also be doing the Athens Marathon and some other races that I normally do in the Middle East, like in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. So I think Zimbabwe just helps me to push up my fitness, and I think it’s good for me to train here because, at the moment, the temperatures in the UAE won't be as perfect. So that's the other reason why I come this side. But I've always believed that if I train here, I can get the fitness I need; I don't need to go and train in Kenya because Kenya is a country for Kenyans and Ethiopia for Ethiopians. You never see Ethiopians coming to train in Zimbabwe, you never see Kenyans coming to train in Zimbabwe. But I believe we local athletes have to endorse our communities, our tourism attractions, our potential training camps. I'm also a Puma global ambassador based in the Middle East, and one of my long-term goals is for Puma to come and scout in Zimbabwe. But if they are going to come and scout in Zimbabwe, we need to have a certain location where they can come and say, "Right, we are having a camp in Honde Valley and we are inviting all the distance runners to be part of this," and then that can be a big event. You see that even when you go to some other countries like Kenya, that's what they do; those officials from Nike, Puma, and Adidas come to camps in Kenya, and then that's how they scout people.

Linda Mhako: So do you have any plans to organize events or collaborations to showcase Honde Valley?

Royal Arnold Mabika: I really have an event that I'm trying to set up in December, but mine won't be like an open running event; it's going to be something that will be a running tour that I'm going to organize. I want people to visit Nyanga and Honde Valley, but we'll be having some training there. I'm planning to have groups from Qatar, Riyadh, and Dubai in December, so I'm already trying to push that at the moment.

Linda Mhako: Reflecting on your journey, how has your perspective on home changed now that you have experienced life abroad? What do you appreciate most about Zimbabwe, particularly in regards to its natural beauty and potential for tourism?

Royal Arnold Mabika: Yeah, I think locally, people that are here in Zimbabwe or those that have never stayed in the diaspora, they don't have an idea of what it looks like out there. But if I may say, having visited a number of countries that they call developed, I would say we really need to do a lot this side. Because you know, just a simple thing: when I was posting all those videos about Honde Valley and about my running, a lot of my friends in the Middle East were like, “So here is a place like this in Zimbabwe?” We wish we had. So there's a lot to be seen, and I really hope that we can do much for our country. And I think us, those that have gone into the diaspora and experienced tourism that side, we know how expensive it is, and we know that those people that are that side can appreciate our country better than us. I feel so sad that I started knowing Dubai before I knew about this place, like Honde Valley. Of course, there's this excitement that hits you when you are going for tourism, maybe to another country. But I mean, I look at one of the resorts they call Aberfoyle Lodge. I never thought in Zimbabwe there would be such a resort, which is deep in the bush, fully well-built to top standards. I never thought.

Linda Mhako: If someone was to visit Honde Valley while you are still training there, what would you recommend they do? What would you want them to experience firsthand?

Royal Arnold Mabika: If someone wants to visit Honde Valley, I would say there is a mountain which is just close to Hauna Growth Point called Mahwemasimike. I mean, that's ideal for hiking. All they have to do is just to observe the laws of the land, talk to the locals, and then get guidance on how they can climb up for some hiking. That would be the first attraction that I want them to visit. Then, apart from that, they would also go to Aberfoyle Lodge, which is one of the most interesting places; there is a resort. So there are a lot of things that you can do. I mean, there's a dam inside, and then there are also tea estates, whereby you can have very nice views of the estates. Then, there are natural falls called, I think, Mapokana Falls. But just for I mean, there’s trekking also; there's a like a trekking path close to Sagambe growth point. I'm talking about what I've done, but there are a lot of other things. I think those would be my first recommendations. But you'll realize that if someone gets into the place, they can actually see some other things that I did not manage to see and explore.

Linda Mhako: Yeah, I think Honde Valley is going to be very exciting. Maybe it's going to be like one of those marathons, like the Paris 2024 Marathon. I think people will be so motivated to come.

Royal Arnold Mabika: No, they will be. We are trying to create different articles, etc., but I'm sure it will work out. A lot of people will come.

Linda Mhako: Do you think the Zimbabwean running community is competitive enough? Are we ready to conquer the world stage?

Royal Arnold Mabika: We have the talent, but we lack support. I will tell you, I mean, I have people that I know that are talented, very talented in this place. Some of them, I could see that this guy can run better than me. But the only problem is that I went to a place whereby I met people who wanted to invest in me, who saw the potential in me, and then that obviously differentiates us. So if someone is going to have a look at my lifestyle and probably take another Zimbabwean runner, then it's going to be very difficult for us to conquer the world stage. Because, to be honest, running is not just about putting on shoes and going out. You need sponsorship, you need help, you need a proper diet, you need proper running shoes. You need to be stable mentally before you start training. Because when you're not mentally stable, when you're thinking about where you will get your next meal, you won't be stable. So it's difficult for us to say that we are going to conquer the world because here there are no sponsors, as the honest truth. All these runners that you see here wear secondhand shoes, and you realize that someone has to buy secondhand shoes in those bales, and that shoe has been used, maybe for 1200 kilometers more mileage, you see. And for a professional runner, it might not have an impact because he or she thinks it's just a shoe. But definitely when you catch injuries and all other things; they come from that side of things. So I think the only way for us to conquer the world is to have proper sponsorship locally. And then that way, we can then be able to pick all the talented stars that are struggling and failing to make it. Because I'll tell you, maybe, in an honest point of view, a person like me, the reason why I may be able to go and run the Berlin Marathon is because, number one, I've got people that are sponsoring me. That's the first thing. And then number two is because of the place where I am, I'm exposed. I managed to hear about races. I can even try to work on the next stage and see, okay, if I want to go and run Georgia from the UAE. If I may, as a UAE resident, for me to go to Georgia, I don't need a visa, you know. All those things matter. So I think the first thing that we need to do as Zimbabweans is to make sure that these runners that are here are valued as well. It's a career.

Linda Mhako: So we saw Isaac Mpofu finishing in 19th position in the men's marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Rutendo Nyahora did not finish. What are your comments on that?

Royal Arnold Mabika: I think I'll start with Rutendo Nyahora. She represented us as Zimbabwe for a very long time, and she's a hard worker; she's dedicated and passionate. I know Rutendo personally, and I would really want to say that sometimes we all have plans to win these races. We all train to win these races, but the conditions of the day may not be favorable for you on race day. So I saw a lot of Zimbabweans commenting about how Rutendo participated, and some were saying she went on vacation and those other things. I would really want to say that I think we are not very well informed about how sport works, and I think it's one of those things that we have to understand that no athlete would even fly to Paris to go and do a DNF. And if we have high hopes, we all want to make it, but if it's not your day, it's not your day. So I think for Rutendo, I would really say that, besides, people said a lot of things, but she had the fastest time. She was truly the person who was supposed to represent us as a nation. What happened at the Paris Olympics had nothing to do with who was supposed to go. This person was supposed to be selected because she had the fastest time.

Linda Mhako: I think we need to do more. We need to do more to inform the people.

Royal Arnold Mabika: Yes, I think. And also, for Isaac Mpofu, a 19th position in the Olympic Games is a massive achievement. Yes, the work that the gentleman did. I, as a person who knows the game and understands the game, I think he really played a very big role for us as a nation.

Linda Mhako: Yeah, and his time was very good. All right, as a representative of Puma, what is your advice to aspiring athletes in Zimbabwe?

Royal Arnold Mabika: My advice to aspiring athletes in Zimbabwe is that running alone is not enough. Running alone is not enough because you need another skill to offer to a brand. The reason why Puma chose me to be the ambassador was not that I was the fastest runner in the Middle East, or in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. No, it's because Puma saw potential in how I put things out there. I mean, the way I take my sport; they really love the marketing part. So I think to aspiring runners, I would say, be a marketer, be a very good marketer. And then for the sponsors, you have to have something that you give back in return. Because imagine if a sponsor sponsors you to go and run Berlin, then maybe you come out in the top 50, right? Yeah, maybe number 40. But you really know that you're a good runner. What is it that you're going to do for the sponsor? You should at least uplift the brand. You should know how to market his or her brand company. Because one reason why sponsors do not help is because they look for what you can do besides running. They know that your running is more like gambling; you may win or you may not win. But apart from your running, what is it that you are able to do for them? So that's why you see some of us, a lot of my social media posts mention Puma, or even if I don't mention, I'm wearing Puma, because I want when someone looks at me, I want him to have an idea about Puma. I want him to think of Puma immediately when he sees me.

Linda Mhako: For interest's sake, which shoe are you running with these days?

Royal Arnold Mabika: I am running with Puma shoes. For the past two years, I have been running with Puma shoes. I am running with a shoe called Nitro Deviate. I have also got the fastest shoe that we released two to three days ago. The Puma brand released a shoe two days ago. I have received mine already. I wear Puma from top to bottom.

Linda Mhako: So you are the race ambassador for the Great Zimbabwe Marathon. Can you tell me more about this one?

Royal Arnold Mabika: This race is an initiative by a lady from Masvingo called Aluta Chari. She is the race founder; she founded it about four years ago, and this is the fourth edition. What I can say is that she has been climbing the ladder, and as a person from Masvingo myself, she saw that the only potential for me to be endorsed is to be the race ambassador of the Great Zimbabwe Marathon. They are also planning to come up with a bit of packages, and so, as things stand at the moment, I am promoting tourism at the Great Zimbabwe site. I am also planning to promote Masvingo tourism, and we want to do it uniquely. We have participants coming all the way from Ethiopia. We also have ten runners coming from the UAE.

Linda Mhako: What is the course like at the Great Zimbabwe Marathon? Is it as brutal as the Paris 2024 Olympics Marathon?

Royal Arnold Mabika: No, it is not so brutal; it is a bit flat.

Linda Mhako: I am so excited; thank you so much. I hope to meet you in person at the Great Zimbabwe Marathon in October.

Royal Arnold Mabika: Definitely, we will meet at the Great Zimbabwe Marathon.

Linda Mhako: And maybe at the Honde Valley Marathon in November.

Royal Arnold Mabika: I will not be there.