What is Running Abroad
Running Abroad was born from the combined passion of Running, Traveling and strong values such as Sharing, Learning, and Friendship.
Willing to share their passion of running and exploring the world, the founders designed a 2-week long summer camp for student-athletes. The camp is based in Font-Romeu, a place that Julien & Martin know extremely well from running there every summer.
The camps are also a great opportunity to explore in the South of France and practice the local language: French! Yes, running is our passion, so is learning and exploring.
We have always wanted to combine an altitude running camp with a study abroad/explore program, and that is what Running Abroad is... a great way to explore a new culture and learn while running everyday with the pros.
“We are very proud and excited to host student-athletes in the South of France. The location of our camps is one of the best in the world for altitude training. Everyone who goes to this place is amazed by the beauty of the Pyrenees and by the fact that there are pro-runners everywhere in Font-Romeu" Martin, Co-founder of Running Abroad.
Meet The Team
Julien Bousquet,
Co-founder/Head Recruitor
Julien has strong experience both as an athlete and as a coach. Among the best French 800m runners of his generation, he was offered a full scholarship in NCAA Division I. After receiving his Bachelor's degree, Julien coached high school track and cross-country, first at Spain Park High School in Birmingham, AL and then at the University School of Nashville in Nashville, TN. His athletes have made it all the way to the National Indoor Championships and have earned a total of 6 State Championships across events. During his time as a coach, he helped manage and coordinate numerous track meets, including "away" meets that involved traveling with and chaperoning the athletes. Julien has also led 2 youth running camps for the CA Balma Track Club in Toulouse, France where he served as head coach and main counselor. He will be your main point of contact in the U.S.
More about Julien…
Julien graduated with an MBA from Vanderbilt University. He now lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife Haley and 13 month old daughter Sophie.
Personal best: 800m: 1:49.64
1500m: Too slow to be disclosed
Martin Casse,
Co-founder/Camp Head Coach
Martin is a professional runner who will be the head coach/main counselor for both camps. He has a great deal of experience, having led and organized more than 4 camps for the Balma Track Club in Toulouse, France during the past 3 yrs, the latest in Bordeaux this past March. Martin has experience working with campers of all age groups (7 - 23 yrs) and has always been praised by parents for the dedication and attention he gives each and every child. During his running career, he has had the opportunity to experience training camps all over the world (Kenya, France, USA), both as a runner and as a coach, and one of his favorite places to train remains Font-Romeu where he meets world-class athletes every time he visits (Mo Farah, Mahiedine Mekhissi, Paula Radcliff, and many others).
More about Martin…
Martin is a French miler. He spent four years in the U.S. and won 8 conference titles in NCAA Division I on the mile, 1500m and 800m combined.
Martin received his Masters of International Business from the well-known EM Lyon School and is currently training as a professional runner while helping coach a group of 10 athletes in Toulouse, France.
Personal bests: 800m: 1:49.54
1500m: 3:39.27 (Mile: 3:56.75)
Haley Bousquet,
Event Coordinator
Haley will serve as a point of contact in the U.S. She was born and raised in Alabama (Roll Tide!) and has years of experience organizing and coordinating events. As a new mom, she understands any concerns you may have about sending your child on an adventure of this size and will happily answer any of the questions you may have.
More about Haley...
Haley is a world traveler that is recently enjoying her newest and greatest adventure - motherhood!
Sébastien Gamel
Professional Coach/ Counselor
Sebastien is a professional coach and former elite athlete. He will be your Camp Director. He has led more than 20 middle distance runners to the national French Championships and several runners to the International Championships, including Djilali Bedrani (8:28 on the 3K Steeplechase) who is now on the French National team. Sebastien has extensive experience in leading running camps, having organized more than 15 camps for athletes ages 12-24 where he served as the Camp Director. He has directed camps both in Toulouse and abroad (Portugal, Kenya, Spain, Canary Islands). Notably, he helped manage a running camp for the National Youth French Team and served as the Head Coach of a middle school Women's Track team team, which he led to two individual national title in 2014. He was recently recognized by SPE15, on online national news outlet as “one of the most promising middle distance coaches in France”.
More about Sebastien...
Sebastien lives in Toulouse and enjoys anything and everything related to running. He is the founder of the Toulouse Running Connexion, a non-profit organization that promotes the benefits of running and offers running classes and tutorials.
Personal bests: 800m: 1:48.13
1500m: 3:42
Khadija Boudjellouli
Coaching Staff/Counselor
Khadija is a very dynamic person who loves working with kids and young athletes. She is strongly involved with the Track Club of Toulouse and always brings a smile to everyone around her! She has experience in being a counselor for various summer camps across France and holds the BAFA certificate, an extensive diploma/license that, through comprehensive training, certifies a full mastery of working with children. Khadija specializes in cross country running, but also runs 5k and 10k.
More about Khadija...
Khadija is a back-pack traveler who loves to explore the world. In 2017 she traveled to Thailand and will love to share stories of her journey with you.
Personal bests: 3k 9:48
5k: 17:12 10k: 36:18
Ewen Sabatier
Camp Director
Ewen is an elementary school teacher who volunteers much of his free time helping with and organizing extracurricular activities for his school. He has gotten all certifications/diplomas to be a camp director (The French law requires a series of tests and extensive experience to be able to have this status). For the past 8 summers, he has worked as a counselor/camp director for various children's camps across Europe and North America. He has also helped manage numerous running camps for the Albi Track Club in Font-Romeu. Ewen is also a former elite track runner. He qualified for World youth Track & Field championships on the 800m and is still active in the sport.
More about Ewen...
Ewen lives in Toulouse and loves backpacking around the world when he is not leading summer camps.
Personal bests: 800m: 1:49.63
400m: 49.62
Note that all staff members have been background checked, have a valid drivers license, and are CPR and First Aid certified.
References
"Running Abroad is great opportunity for student-athletes to both train during the summer with a motivated group of peers, under the guidance of a qualified coaching staff, but also an opportunity to experience a beautiful new area and exciting foreign culture. Martin has a wide range of experience training and competing nationally and internationally, and the experience for your student-athletes will be invaluable.
Rob Hansen, Track Assistant Coach - Distance & XC, Riverside University
"Julien was a fantastic coach who truly cared about his athletes and knew a great deal about middle distance running. He was very responsible and always on top of his game, which made him gain a lot of trust from coaches, athletes and parents. Many athletes made huge progress under his coaching and I have no doubt runners going on a Running Abroad camp will improve and have a great time. "
Zaf Ahmed, Head Coach - Track and Field/X-Country, The University School of Nashville
Spotted in Font-Romeu
Martin and Mo Farah in 2010
Julien and Martin with Medhi Baala in 2008. Baala is the French record holder on the 1500m (PR: 3:28)
Julien and Martin with Mahiedine Mekhissi in 2008. Mekhissi holds 3 olympic medals on 3k steeple
Martin and Mo Farah in 2010
