Agadir – Tamraght, near Agadir, brought together runners, animal lovers, and families on Sunday for an unusual sporting event where participants joined two goats in a charity trail run aimed at supporting animal rescue efforts across Morocco.
The “GOAT Eid Trail Run” invited participants to “Run with goats, for goats” in an event combining outdoor fitness, animal welfare, and community engagement during the Eid Al Adha holiday period.
The event featured a 5-kilometer trail run open to runners and walkers of all fitness levels, followed by a children’s race and a yoga session on Tamraght beach. Organizers said all proceeds from ticket sales would be dedicated to feeding rescue animals in Morocco.
At the heart of the event were Kiki and Kai, two goats from the GOAT Run Club Marrakech who have gained attention for participating in sporting events across the country. Kai, Kiki’s mother, made headlines after becoming the first goat known to complete a half-marathon, finishing the Marrakech Semi-Marathon in both 2025 and 2026.
Speaking to Morocco World News (MWN), GOAT Run Club founder Rosanna Dawes said the idea for the club emerged following a positive response she received while running with Kai at public events.
“I started running with goats a couple of years ago, and I participated in the half marathon with Kai in Marrakech twice,” Dawes said. “This year, we had such a good time and the reaction of all the people that we met, other runners, supporters, and families, was so positive and such a nice atmosphere that I decided to set up the club.”
She described the GOAT Run Club as a relaxed and welcoming community centered around outdoor activities and animal companionship.
“It’s a very relaxed, open, welcoming, animal-friendly club,” she explained. “We meet in Marrakech once a week for a free run-walk, and we go on hiking trips in the mountains as well, all with the goats, of course.”
The Eid-themed event was designed to acknowledge the important place goats and sheep hold during the religious holiday while raising funds for animal welfare initiatives.
“For this Eid, we decided to organize something special because obviously goats and sheep, and other animals, play a massively important role in this holiday,” Dawes told MWN. “We wanted to do something that kind of gives back to animals at the end of the Eid holidays.”
She added that the funds raised through participation fees would directly support rescue animals across Morocco.
“The small amount of money that we’re raising from participants today will go towards feeding rescue animals in Morocco,” she added.
Dawes also emphasized that the initiative was not intended as a criticism of Eid Al Adha traditions, but rather as a celebration of animals and an opportunity for people to express appreciation for them.
“This event, which I hope will become annual, does not seek to criticize the sacrifice of animals during Eid Al Adha,” she said in a statement shared with MWN. “Quite the opposite. It’s designed to celebrate goats, show the world what they are capable of, and to offer people a chance to share their appreciation for animals on the occasion of Eid Al Adha.”
Kiki and Kai are no strangers to competition. In addition to completing the Marrakech half marathon, the pair have participated in trail races in the Atlas Mountains, including the High Atlas Ultra Trail near Ouirgane and the Wawgant Toubkal Trail in Imlil.
The event concluded with a group yoga session overlooking the Atlantic coast, offering participants an opportunity to unwind after the run while spending time alongside the goats.
