Trail Running Changed My Life Completely

Meet our new local hero, Hristijan Nasevski from Prilep, who at just 25 years old believes Macedonia is the perfect country for developing active tourism and outdoor sports. With its low and high mountains, forests, plains, snow, and sunshine, the landscape offers endless opportunities.

He shares that many foreign tourists and his friends who attend outdoor events in Macedonia or compete in mountain races have very positive impressions of the country’s diverse terrain.

Hristijan is a young and active athlete who practices mountain running year-round. His passion is orienteering—running in the mountains or urban environments with a map and compass, where the goal is to find control points in the field according to the map layout.

His love for outdoor sports and active tourism started early, when at just 7 years old, he struggled with excessive weight and decided to fight it by playing football.

Over time, Hristijan fell in love with mountain running. His first mountain race was in 2015 on Selečka Mountain, where he and his friend Antonio successfully completed the 17-kilometer course with over 1,000 meters of positive elevation gain.

In 2018, he met the members of the Orienteering Club Zlatovrv from Prilep, with whom he now trains regularly. Gradually, his physical condition and fitness improved, allowing him to compete at a higher level, running shoulder to shoulder with Macedonia’s top mountain runners.

He draws great motivation and encouragement from his friend and coach, Michael Van Baelen from Belgium, who currently lives in Macedonia and is a member of the “Zlatovrv” club.

For Hristijan, Selečka Mountain will always be his favorite, as he grew up there and spends the most time training on its trails. However, he believes that any natural spot outside the home or city is a great place for sports—whether it’s mountains, forests, rivers, or lakes. For him, city parks also make a good alternative.

When it comes to ideal destinations for hiking or mountain running, his list includes Solunska Glava on Jakupica, Pelister on Baba Mountain, Popova Šapka, Mavrovo, and Korab. He adds that you don’t need to be a professional runner to practice the sport. According to him, everyone can find 20 minutes a day for physical activity. Training and sports aren’t just a profession—they’re fun, socializing, and a lifestyle.