The question isn't if we will run out of water. It's when.
Unless we change.

 
 
 

Through my work with the World Bank and the World Economic Forum, I came to learn about the planet's unfolding water crisis: by 2030, we face a 40% shortfall in the global supply of accessible, reliable water. 

I have since dedicated my life to educating leaders and young people alike about this crisis and how we can solve it.

All photography provided by Kelvin Trautman

 
 
 
Mina Guli Running in Death Valley
 
 

Ultra runner

I run expeditions to draw global media attention to the water crisis and tell the amazing stories of people around the world living with water scarcity. 

Water Advocate

In 2012, I founded Thirst, an organization that has educated hundreds of thousands of young people in China about their water footprints.

 
“I run for every person that uses water.”
 
Mina Guli Running in the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa
 
 
“I want every single person on the planet to be able to realize their aspirations.
Without a reliable water supply, that is not possible.”
Mina Guli among the students of Thirst Water Program
 
 

Mina's Instagram 

NOW HIRING! ✨✨ - Thirst is hiring a Campaign Director and a Media Manager for #RunningDry. We’re looking for creative and strategic thinkers, self-starters and team players who want to help change the way we think about water. - Check out www.minaguli.com/careers for more information.
Happy #EarthDay! Wishing luck to all the amazing people who are celebrating by running the #LondonMarathon today. Fearfully counting the days until my own start. Time goes way too fast! Luckily not all change needs to involve Running - this #EarthDay please commit to saving up to four gallons of water a day just by turning off the faucet when brushing. It’s a small change with the potential for big impact. #Everydropcounts #Timeflies #ColgatePartner
#behindthescenes at @CNN! @merrelldalybeauty getting me camera-ready for a chat with @donriddell about my 100 marathons|100 days #100% #commitment #everydropcounts #cleanwaterforall #ultramarathon #endurance #sdg6
@reebok will be shielding the world from my battered ultra-marathoners feet, as I embark on my next global expedition: 100 marathons 100 days 100% commitment to Water 💕👟💦🌍 #sneakers #running #ultramarathon #ultramarathoner #worldwaterday #everydropcounts #SDG6 #commitment #watersecurity #runnersfeet #waterfitness #waterscarcity
I'm excited to announce on #WorldWaterDay that I'm joining @Colgate to raise awareness of this important water saving tip: Turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth can save up to 4 gallons of water every time you brush! Please share because #EveryDropCounts. #ColgatePartner
“Blessings and burdens are not mutually exclusive” - R.H. I was in my early 20s when we were horsing around the pool one afternoon. One of my friends picked me up, tried to throw me in, and dropped me on the edge. I hurt my back so badly - the doctors told me that I would never be able to run again. Given my lifelong antipathy towards exercise and athletics in particular, not-running wasn’t such a big deal. So, I could’ve shrugged my shoulders and used it as an excuse to sit on the couch and eat pizza. But, what was a big deal was the doctor saying I couldn’t do something. I realised this was an opportunity – one that would allow me to define my own limits. I started swimming. At first, I could barely manage two laps (which felt like crossing an ocean). Swimming led to biking, and eventually running as I strived to prove to myself that I could defy the odds. Nine months after breaking my back, I did my first full Ironman. I sometimes wonder how things would have turned out if I had not treated my accident as a challenge? There's a quote from Ryan Holiday which I really like: “In life, it doesn’t matter what happens to you or where you came from. It matters what you do with what happens and what you’ve been given.” Remember this when you next find yourself facing an obstacle or a challenge. . 📸: @kelvintrautman
You are an incredible role model for independence, intelligence and humility. Thank you for being you, mom! 💙 #mothersday 📸: @kelvintrautman
Behind every crazy ultra-running expedition is a team of equally crazy, but incredible, people. This post is dedicated to that group of people. . Thank you for taking 6 weeks out of your lives, away from loved ones, to join this expedition. Thank you for all the laughs, silly jokes, tissues for my many tears, great running company, and for always having a packet of salty Lays chips nearby. Thank you for helping me cross the finish line of an expedition which at times seemed almost impossible to complete. Thank you for helping me raise awareness of the UN’s Global Goal 6, and telling the world about our water crisis. No one changes the world alone. 🙏 #Run4Water
“The world needs new leadership, but the new leadership is about working together.” -Jack Ma. . I’m in New York today where I'm visiting the United Nations’ Head Quarters to meet with the President of the General Assembly, to hand over the big Global Goal 6 flag we carried during the expedition. This is a flag that I had printed prior to the start of the expedition. And along all the rivers I ran, I asked people to sign the flag as a demonstration of their commitment towards achieving the UN's Global Goal 6. . I only saw the flag for the first time when I arrived in Vegas to start the expedition along the banks of the Colorado River. The flag arrived in what I thought was an unnecessarily large box. But as I took it out, I saw how big it was. It was enormous! . Jack, a 6-year old boy, was the first person to sign the flag. It was just before the 6 River Run kicked off. Amidst my excitement of getting the first signature, I was quietly concerned. The signature (read drawing), albeit quite large, was dwarfed by flag’s size. I remember thinking how on earth will we be able to get enough signatures to cover this massive flag. . Today, after 6 weeks of running, the flag is covered in signatures. What struck me of everyone who signed, was their hope and willingness to seek solutions for our complex water issues. It fills me with hope - knowing that if we work together and take action, we can make a difference. #Run4Water . 📸: @kelvintrautman

Mina on Twitter

 
 

"Blessings & burdens are not mutually exclusive"- Ryan Holiday, the obstacle is the way

Mina Guli running on Bad Water Flats in USA