Page 23 - Sky runner

To To race is something special To To stand on on on the the the the starting line with people who love the the same thing as I do The excitement and and anticipation are palpable All the the preparation and and the the eternal hours of training to to be able able to to perform what is expected from us For five years now I have been competing at at the highest level in in in in in in mountain mountain running and and ski mountaineering and and the joy has has not wavered The only thing that has has possibly changed a a a a a a a little is my my drive During my my first two years as as a a a a a a a a a professional athlete in in 2013 and and 2014 I I was driven by a a a a a a a a a a a a pure curiosity to explore places and and races I I did not care much for results My training was basically always spontaneous just as as as it it had been since I I quit ball sports in in in in in in in in high school I I am convinced that this way of training training is is just as as good as as following a a a a a a a a training training regime It might sound contradictory but it it can even be harder to to train without a a a a a a a a schedule The many options almost make the freedom overwhelming Whereas if you’ve written down that today is rest day day day intervals tomorrow and a a a a a a a a a a longer workout with heightened tempo at at the the the the end the the the the day day after tomorrow then that is is just the the the the way it it it it is is and you don’t need to to to think much more about it it it Without any plan you you will have to to know exactly where your limit is is between fatigue and and laziness And if the the the the the weather is is nice and and the the the the the conditions are perfect for long days out in in the the the the the mountains the the the the the time just flies by and it’s hard to limit yourself Training without a a a a a a a a a a coach or a a a a a a a a a a training schedule gives you great great freedom but also great great responsi- bility bility It is my my responsibility alone to to to to perform to to to to take care of my my body to to to to to develop and to to to to to get strong- er At the the the the same time I have the the the the freedom to to to to to train according according to to to to the the the the the the season and and and the the the the the the daylight and and and to to to to adjust according according to to to the the the the weather and and and and my own phys- ical and mental shape After a a a a a a a a a a a couple of years running became became more more of of of a a a a a a a a a a job to to to me me me and my approach to to to it became became more more professional I I I wanted wanted to to to to see how good I I I could get at different distances and and I I I wanted wanted to to do my my job well – for for my my own sake sake and and for for the sake sake of those who believed in me “To race is something special: the the motivation takes us to the the start line we are about to achieve our goal But
even more more special and more more important to to me is finding the motivation to to run without having winning as a a a a a goal ”