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 »
“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 »
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 »