Tears welled up in my eyes as I slowly walked out of the runner’s tent and towards the toilets. “I failed,” I thought. The reality of the sudden end to what should have been one of my big races this year set in. I’d completed 19 laps of the O-See Backyard Ultra. And then my […]
O-See Backyard Ultra Race Report Read More »
“If you’re ever in Quebec City I would be happy to have you. We could go on a few runs together.” I had met Veronique just days earlier at a parking lot in Trieste, Italy — two strangers scanning the same spot for a bus that would take us to Umag, Croatia. I chatted her
Istria 110K Race Report Read More »
“This could be your last chance to run this race”, I say to myself as I take a long look at my memento mori necklace. Thoughts of not starting crossed my head more than once this morning and I could feel the disappointment and anger rising within me. Like the year prior, my gut was
Schwerin Lake Trail 2026 Race Report Read More »
Tears streamed down my face as I ran the final meters to the finish line of my first mountain trail ultramarathon. Overwhelmed by a mix of anger, gratitude and relief, I could barely breathe. My left knee was swollen and bleeding heavily. My hip ached. My right arm and hand were scraped raw. “I fell
From Broken To Unbreakable Read More »
“I don’t feel like running at all”, I say to my new acquaintance as we’re sipping our coffees outside a small cafe in Sparta around 4 pm. I felt strangely relaxed, fully aware that I wasn’t in shape to run a good 24-hour race. The winter in Berlin was unexpectedly cold and long. The city
Sparta City Ultra 24 Hours Race Report Read More »
I felt the tension in my body increasing as I typed. “This is the right thing to do,” I assured myself, as I continued to list the arguments. But then doubts started to creep in again. “Was I being too emotional? Should I wait a few more weeks or even months? Did I give her
Do You Need a Running Coach? A Complete Guide to Making the Right Decision Read More »
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 »