“Come on, last one!” I mutter as I hype myself up to start the last interval. It would be only 30 seconds up that hill, but those 30 seconds seemed as impossible now as winning a 24-hour race once seemed. While I had accomplished the latter just a few months before this hill workout, I […]
The Science of Speed in Ultrarunning Read More »
“The most important thing now is to get mileage in and stay injury-free.” I kept repeating this sentence as I slogged up the tiny hill in my local park, wondering what passing runners would think of me and my snails-pace. The urge to speed up and prove to myself (and those other runners) that I
Understanding Easy Running for Ultra Distances Read More »
I stared at the screen of my laptop, hesitating for a moment. I filled out the form, added my bank details, and confirmed that all the data was correct. All that was left was to click “register.” I smiled as I pressed down on the mouse and confirmed my registration. I would finally run an
Different types of training runs for ultrarunning Read More »
So you decided to run an ultra. You (more or less carefully) selected your first race, marked the date on your calendar, and convinced yourself that spending most of your weekends running would be fun. But now that you have gotten your new pair of running shoes, a shiny GPS watch, and inordinate amounts of
“To be a great ultrarunner, you need to have 3 things. First, a high threshold for pain. Second, a short memory. And the third…I forgot.” – Unknown. I could barely move when I woke up. My body ached, and my feet were swollen. I lay in bed, mentally preparing for what I knew would be
Ultrarunning for Beginners Series: Part I Read More »
“I hate you! I hate you and your stupid ultramarathon race!” I was exhausted. Physically and mentally spent. I had just run 100 kilometers through the night along the Southern Swedish coast. Small single tracks, technical terrain, two steep climbs up the mythical mountain Kullaberg, and harsh weather had tested my limits. And now the
Kullamannen By UTMB Sprint Ultra – Race Report Read More »
I bought my first pair of kettlebells in 2015. Sidelined by injury, I hadn’t run consistently in a few months, and the lack of movement was negatively impacting my mental health. I had tried to substitute riding a bike and hiking for running, but I didn’t particularly enjoy either. Besides, winter was around the corner,
Kettlebell Training for Runners – Ultimate Beginner’s Guide Read More »
“I have never fallen in love with a new place that quickly,” I thought as I sat on my hotel bed, thinking about the small town of Suhl and its surrounding mountains I had just explored. It was Friday, the day before my 2nd mountain trail ultramarathon. After dealing with severe hip and lower leg
Südthüringentrail Race Report Read More »
“Shit”, I thought. “I possibly can’t hike these muddy trails with that heavy backpack.” Panic and anger set in as I evaluated my options. The steepness of the trail wasn’t the problem. The problem was the ankle-deep mud I had just sunk into and the trees blocking the path. It seemed impossible to move forward,
Sachsentrail 2024 Race Report Read More »
My running journey started on the trails. I discovered my love for running in 2016 while living in South Africa for 6 months. Just 3 months after I had landed on the continent, I gained around 5 kg, which I disliked. And so I did what many people do when they want to lose weight
How Do You Train for an Ultramarathon When You Live in a Big (Flat) City? Read More »