Innsbruck Podcast: How do you become an ultra trail runner?
On the Innsbruck Lebenslauf podcast, I share my path from non-athlete to international ultra trail runner, and why big goals do not require perfect starting conditions.
A guest on the Innsbruck Lebenslauf podcast
During the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Innsbruck, I was a guest on the Innsbruck Lebenslauf podcast. Episode 18 asked an intriguing question: How do you become an ultra trail runner?
My journey was anything but a straight line
The honest answer is that there is no straight path. I was not sporty at school and had no athletic background. I only started running at 30, after my workaholic lifestyle had driven me into a wall. And I failed spectacularly at first.
What followed is a story of perseverance, curiosity and a willingness to keep redefining my limits.
World Championship atmosphere in Innsbruck
The podcast was recorded in a special setting. The 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships brought more than 1,500 athletes from over 64 countries to Innsbruck and the Stubai Valley. Taking part in a home World Championships as an Austrian athlete was a special moment.
What makes an ultra trail runner?
In the podcast, I discuss the qualities you really need:
- Patience: ultras last hours or days, rather than minutes
- Mental strength: your body can do more than your mind allows it to
- Humility: the mountains are always stronger than you
- Finding joy in suffering: it sounds paradoxical, but it is true
Listen on the Innsbruck Tourism website.
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The strategies and experiences in this article are part of my talks. I show how insights from ultra trail running can be applied to business and personal development.
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