In this Exclusive Interview We Meet Sonia Haboub — A global endurance athlete, PhD professor, CEO, cancer survivor and advocate for women in sport and education, Sonia’s story stretches far beyond finish lines. From crossing deserts in ultramarathons to shaping minds in university classrooms, she embodies resilience, purpose, and the power of living fully and authentically.
In this exclusive interview, Sonia opens up about the moments that tested her, personal pain, the mission that drives her, and the legacy she’s running toward. It’s a conversation about the movement of the body, the mind, and the soul, and what it truly means to lead from wholeness in a world that often demands women to be everything, all at once.
Who is Sonia Haboub beyond the medals, titles, and accolades — and what story does she carry that inspires both athletes and leaders around the world?
I am Sonia Haboub, and beyond the medals, titles, and accolades, I am a woman driven by purpose, resilience, and a deep belief in the power of sport and education to transform lives. My story is not just about crossing finish lines but about breaking barriers, whether in academia, athletics, or cultural expectations. As a PhD professor, global endurance athlete, and founder of Nutripathos, co-founder of Global Race Connect, and Swara,
I’ve dedicated my life to building bridges between communities, empowering women, and using my voice to inspire those who feel unseen or unheard. I’ve run through deserts, mountains, and cities not just to compete but to carry a message that through consistency, courage, and authenticity, we can all rise.
I thrive on creating opportunities for others, especially young girls and athletes in underserved regions, showing them that their dreams are valid and achievable.
“My journey is a living example that you can be strong and soft, academic and athletic, a leader and a learner, and that with purpose, the path you create becomes bigger than yourself.”
As a professor, CEO, and athlete, how do you find balance in a world that expects women to be everything, all at once?
As a professor, CEO, and athlete, finding balance in a world that constantly expects women to be everything all at once is both a challenge and a personal discipline.
The Global Runner Scholar is not just an online title; it is the life I’ve shaped by integrating my academic journey, my passion for sport, and my commitment to inspiring others. I allow each part of me to support the other; my research sharpens my mental focus, my athletic discipline fuels my resilience, and my travels as a runner enrich my understanding of people and cultures. I no longer chase perfection or try to meet every expectation. Instead, I choose intention over pressure, I rest when I need to, and I make space for joy as much as achievement.
“I’ve learned that true balance comes from deeply knowing who I am and staying rooted in my purpose.”
Can you tell us about a moment in your journey when you almost gave up, but didn’t?
There was a moment during an ultramarathon that will forever stay with me. I was running through the desert, the heat was unbearable, my body was shutting down, and every step felt heavier than the last. I had blisters, dehydration, and my vision started to blur. I remember thinking, maybe this is where I stop. But then something shifted. I thought about every woman who’s been told she’s not strong enough, every student who’s ever doubted their worth, and every version of myself that had once been afraid to take up space. I reminded myself why I started running in the first place, not for medals, but for meaning. I slowed down, breathed, and simply kept going.
Sports and running taught me that resilience is not loud, it’s quiet, steady, and deeply personal. And every time I step into a classroom, onto a stage, or at a start line, I carry that deep lesson with me.
What would you say to your younger self if she could see who you are today?
I would look my younger self in the eyes and say, “You were always enough, even when the world tried to make you believe otherwise. Every tear you shed, every time you felt out of place, every moment you doubted your strength, it was all shaping you into the woman you are today.”
I would tell her to trust her instincts more, to speak up sooner, to rest without guilt, and to never shrink to fit into spaces that weren’t meant for her. I would tell her that one day she will run across countries, teach in universities, inspire thousands, and still be soft, curious, and full of dreams. And most of all, I would tell her, “Thank you for not giving up when it would have been so easy to.”
What legacy do you hope to leave behind—not just in sport or science, but in the hearts of the people who look up to you?
I want people to remember that I showed up fully as myself, that I chose meaning over medals and impact over image. I hope they see in my journey a reflection of their own strength and the possibility to rise no matter where they come from or what they have been through. I want young girls to know they can be powerful and gentle, intellectual and athletic, ambitious and kind, all at once. If I can leave behind a spark that helps someone believe in themselves a little more or chase a dream they thought was too far, then that will be the truest victory of all.
“I hope to leave behind a legacy of courage, authenticity, and purpose, not just in sport or science but in the hearts of every person who ever felt unseen or unheard.”
How has movement across the globe shaped your sense of identity, especially as a woman in sports and leadership?
Movement across the globe has been the most transformative part of my journey. Every country I’ve lived in and every culture I’ve immersed myself in has added a new layer to my identity.
It has taught me how to adapt without losing myself and how to lead without needing to dominate. As a woman in sports and leadership, it has made me deeply aware of the privileges and barriers that exist in different parts of the world. It has shown me what access means and how opportunity can look so different depending on where you are born. It has also given me a global sisterhood of women who run, lead, speak, and rise in their own powerful ways. I have learned to carry my story with pride but also to listen and to make space for others.
“This movement has taught me that identity is not fixed, it is ever evolving, and it is strongest when rooted in purpose, compassion and connection.”
Was there ever a moment when you felt like giving up? What did you do instead?
Yes, there have been many moments in my life when giving up felt like the only option, not just in sport but in deeply personal chapters that tested every part of my spirit.
Going through a divorce was one of the moments where everything I thought was stable, collapsed, and I was left to rebuild myself from the ground up. Then came the heartbreak of losing a baby, a pain so deep it cannot be described, only carried in silence with a strength no one sees.
I have also walked through the fear and uncertainty of facing cancer, a word that shakes your world and forces you to confront everything you believe about life and mortality. On top of that came financial struggles, professional setbacks, betrayal, loneliness, cultural barriers, and the constant pressure of having to be strong when all you want is to feel held. But through it all, I chose not to give up. I gave myself permission to break down but never to break apart. I ran when I could not speak, I wrote when I could not explain, and I taught when I needed to remind myself that purpose was still alive.
“Today, I carry all of these scars with pride because they are proof that I am still here, still standing, still moving forward with grace, with fire, and with an unshakable belief in the light that lives even in the darkest places.”
You’ve empowered women in regions where sport and opportunities aren’t always accessible—what moment made you feel, “This is why I do what I do”?
One moment that will stay with me forever was during a small race I helped organize in a remote region where girls had never been encouraged to run, let alone dream of being athletes.
After the race, a young girl no older than ten came up to me with tears in her eyes and said, “I didn’t know girls could do this until I saw you.” In that moment, everything made sense. The struggles, the sacrifices, the long nights, the travel, the doubt, all of it became worth it.
That simple sentence from a child reminded me that visibility is powerful and that representation saves dreams. It reminded me that what I do is not just about medals or personal growth, it is about creating space for others to believe in themselves.
“Every time a woman stands on a starting line who was once told she couldn’t, every time a girl sees herself in me and feels worthy, every time a door opens in a place where it was always closed, that is when I know this is exactly why I do what I do.”
How has sport taught you to trust yourself beyond what the world expects of you?
Sport has taught me to listen to my voice even when the world is loud with expectations, doubts, and limitations. It has shown me that strength is not something you are given; it is something you build one step at a time. Through every race, every training session, every moment of exhaustion, I have learned to trust my body, my instincts, and my choices.
It has stripped away the pressure to please or perform for others and brought me back to myself. It taught me that failure is part of growth, that rest is not weakness, and that showing up for yourself is the most powerful act of trust. In a world that often tells women what we should be or how far we can go, sport gave me permission to define that for myself.
“It reminded me that I am not here to meet expectations, I am here to exceed them in my own way and on my own terms.”
What legacy are you running toward, and what is on the horizon for your future challenges?
I am running toward a legacy of possibility, a legacy where every person, regardless of where they come from, what they have faced, or what they have been told, feels they belong. I want to leave behind a trail that says you are allowed to dream and you are allowed to take up space. I run for the girls who have never been told they are strong, for the women who are rebuilding themselves, for the people who see a finish line and think that could never be me. I want them to look again and say, maybe it could.
It is about changing what leadership looks like, what an athlete looks like what a scholar looks like.
I am running to open doors to break narratives to hold space for the ones coming after me. Because if my journey helps just one person take their first step, then every finish line I cross will have been worth it.
Sonia Haboub’s journey is a testament to the strength found in purpose, resilience, and authenticity. More than an athlete or academic, she is a trailblazer who runs to inspire, to empower, and to create lasting change. Her legacy is a beacon for all who dare to rise, reminding us that true victory lies not just in crossing finish lines but in breaking barriers and lifting others along the way.
We at Sports and Gulf, would like to personally thank Sonia, for being venerable, honest and sharing her truly inspirational story.
To continue her story follow Sonia on her various platforms: Linktree
