I had big dreams for 2025. Mountain ultras, technical trails, pushing my limits on vertical gain. And on top of improving as a mountain runner, I wanted to PR the 24-hour distance at German Championships. The season had other plans. My gut refused to cooperate—not at races, not in training, not ever. Digestive issues meant […]
Ultrarunning Season 2025 Recap Read More »
“Dear universe, please bring me safely to Chamonix.” I took a deep breath, trying to let go of all worries and doubts as I absorbed the atmosphere with hundreds of runners around me. Here I was, standing at the start line of CCC UTMB—underprepared, my health far from optimal, and carrying a pack that seemed
CCC UTMB Race Report Read More »
I woke up feeling defeated. This race was supposed to be the highlight of the first half of 2025, and yet again I came down with gut issues just before the race. Traveling to Gotha on Friday, I felt full and bloated. Having hardly slept, I decided not to join the team dinner and went
24 Hours Road Running Championships Germany. Race Report Read More »
I’m standing at the start line of the North Sea Ultra 111K, my stomach already distended like I’m six months pregnant. My abdomen feels like it’s filled with concrete. I’m angry that this happened again and wonder how I will make it through this race without going through multiple embarrassing situations. If I would make
The IBS Runner’s Playbook: When Conventional Wisdom Fails and Individual Testing Wins Read More »
Running with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) taught me more about endurance fueling than I ever imagined it would. IBS is a disorder of the digestive tract, commonly characterized by abdominal discomfort and altered bowel movements. Symptoms vary and can range from loose stools to constipation, bloating, and abdominal pain. When I started running in 2021,
Running with IBS – A Guide to Endurance Fueling With a Compromised Gut Read More »
I woke up on race morning looking 6 months pregnant. Trying not to panic, I prepared myself a coffee and a carb mix while I was getting ready. Then I felt anger. Why must this happen again? Why has my gut health become so bad recently? And why did none of the usual things that
North Sea Ultra 111K Race Report Read More »
I stared at the email in disbelief. My heart raced seemingly as fast as it had just a few hours ago when I did my threshold interval session. The message was simple, but its impact was profound: “We are thrilled to announce that you have been selected for the CCC.” I had secured a coveted
Complete Blueprint For a DIY Ultrarunning Training Camp Read More »
I woke up before my alarm around 03:00 am. I had hours until the start of the race. I had my nutrition ready, my race bib collected, and my brand-new running kit laid out on the small hotel room table. Everything was in place for my first race of the season. I had looked forward
5 Life Lessons From a Race I Didn’t Run: The Courage to Pause When Everything Says Go Read More »
I signed up for the race on a whim. Having missed the start of my first race of the year – the Schwerin Seen Trail 61K at the end of March- (because I was stuck in the hotel room with severe gut distress), I wanted to get at least one training race in before my
Ultralauf Cottbus Race Report Read More »
My mind felt empty as I climbed the steep hill around 2 am. It was a warm night; the bright moon and star-filled sky provided enough light to see without a headlamp. A sense of calm and peace washed over me as I moved my exhausted body around another loop on the motocross track, accompanied
Mindfulness for Runners Read More »