With a strong downhill and late race kick, Elhousine Elazzaoui of Morocco is the 2025 Broken Arrow Skyrace 23k winner. In this interview, he talks about running with the Kenyans Philemon Kiriago and Patrick Kipngeno, how he used the final downhill to his advantage, and how he enjoyed the unique features of the course, including the snow.
To see more about how the race unfolded, be sure to check out our 2025 Broken Arrow 23k results article.
[Editor’s Note: If you are unable to see the video above, click here to access it.]
Elhousine Elazzaoui, 2025 Broken Arrow 23k Champion, Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Elhousine Elazzaoui. It’s after the Broken Arrow Skyrace 23k and you are the men’s champion. Congratulations.
Elhousine Elazzaoui: Thank you, Meghan. And thank you always for the good interview for iRunFar.
iRunFar: Amazing.
Elazzaoui: Thank you.
iRunFar: How was your race today?
Elazzaoui: Well, reality, I am always happy in America. I am lucky. I don’t know why. The race is very hard and very fast. But yeah, I have confidence in the downhill and I’m happier and always with these two guys from Kenya. They are very, very fast athletes.
iRunFar: And so, you spent all of the race basically with Philemon Kiriago and Patrick Kipngeno, the second and third place men.
Elazzaoui: Yeah.
iRunFar: You were working together, making moves, covering each other’s moves. What was it like?
Elazzaoui: Yeah. Always Patrick and Philemon. I am happy, always challenged by them.
iRunFar: It came down to the final finish on who became the winner. Can you walk us through how that race finished? You were just four seconds in front of Philemon.
Elazzaoui: Yeah. I think I had a lot of confidence today in the last downhill.
iRunFar: You did.
Elazzaoui: Yeah. And yeah, I am happy because I have all my team here, the NNormal team, Kilian [Jornet] and yeah, for me it’s nice.
iRunFar: This course is unique in that up near the summit, there’s a rope.
Elazzaoui: Yeah.
iRunFar: There’s a ladder.
Elazzaoui: Yeah.
iRunFar: There’s some steps cut into the snow. What was this course like for you?
Elazzaoui: Yeah. This race is different. I like the most technical trails, but I like it.
iRunFar: What was your favorite part today?
Elazzaoui: The last downhill.
iRunFar: Like just flying down.
Elazzaoui: Yeah. If you have technique, I like it.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Elazzaoui: Yeah.
iRunFar: I think there was a little bit of snow out there today?
Elazzaoui: Yeah. You have snow, but I am very happy because in the desert, Sahara, I don’t have snow for a long time. For me, I am very happy, to look at this different place.
iRunFar: And maybe the snow feels a little bit like sand under your feet.
Elazzaoui: Yeah. Sometimes it’s joking, but I like it.
iRunFar: Now that the race is done and you are today’s champion, how do you feel and what’s next for you?
Elazzaoui: Now, yeah. Tomorrow, I travel in Mexico. My dream this year, I hope to be the winner again of the Golden Trail World Series, and I am always happy because I run with the best athletes in the world. For me, it’s very, very pleasurable.
iRunFar: And I think your first time to Mexico this week?
Elazzaoui: Yeah. Yes.
iRunFar: Another new place, another language, another set of food and trails.
Elazzaoui: Yeah. I will have some fun
iRunFar: Amazing. Yeah. Congratulations on your win of the Broken Arrow Skyrace 23k today.
Elazzaoui: Thank you, Meghan. Thank you.
iRunFar: Best of luck in next weekend’s Golden Trail World Series, and we look forward to seeing you down the trail.
Elazzaoui: Thank you so much. And I hope not last interview with you.
iRunFar: I hope so too.
Elazzaoui: Maybe in Morocco, desert, Sahara.
iRunFar: Inshallah.
Elazzaoui: Inshallah. Okay. Merci. Thank you.
iRunFar: Merci.
Elazzaoui: Thank you. Thank you. Ciao.
iRunFar: Ciao!
