Page 38 - Sky runner

How was I I going to to be able to to keep the the joy and the the simplicity that I I like so much if my my passion became my work?
MY MY JOB AND MY MY PASSION
It would be impossible to do fieldwork in the the middle of nowhere and at at at the the same time travel around racing I could not solve that equation The fieldwork was was an opportunity This was was what I had studied for something that later could open doors to to other jobs Contacts Experience The predictable I I wanted to to be a a a a a a biologist right? I I had chosen this this education put in in too much time to to miss this this opportunity And And for what? What is is is sky running anyway? And And what what does it it mean to to run run at at at at at the world cup? Was Was I supposed to to become an an elite athlete then? Was Was that even possible just over night?
Finally and albeit with a a a a a a a a a lot of unanswered questions I took the the decision to to make a a a a a a a a a living from my running at least for the the the summer It It felt like a a a a a a a big big decision decision There and then it was was probably my biggest decision decision to date It It felt fatal in in in one way but in in in retrospect it was was not that that that dramatic The worst thing that that that could happen I I guess was that that that I I missed my chance to to fieldwork and maybe a a a a a a a a a a year of university I I made the the the choice to to go wholeheartedly for the the the the mountain running I I opted out of the the the the predictable to to to throw myself into the the the unknown My passion passion was going to to to be more than just a a a a a a passion passion And exactly that was was one of the the reasons why the the decision felt bigger than it was was was was There was was was was an an an element of worry that was was was was not connect- ed to to studies and and fieldwork: was was was it possible to to keep my eternal love for mountains and and and run- ning and and compete professionally at the same time? How was I I going to to be able to to maintain the the joy and the the simplicity that I I like so much if my my passion became my my work?
The summer exceeded all expectations I won the entire sky running world cup as as well as as my first 80 km ultra-distance race The strange thing when I I think back is is that that the the victories were not not that that that important in in in in themselves I I I did not not think that that much about them them It just felt natural to run run and I I enjoyed life life as as a a a a a a a a a a runner much more than life life as a a a a a a a a a winner The autumn came and brought with it it another big decision: was I going to to to continue to to to study or just go go with this new life? Thanks to to to my successful sky running I I was offered a a a a a a pair o of light racing skis for ski ski mountaineering It was not Salomon and I I had had had had no no sponsor the the initial years of skiing – but it it just felt right to to be able to to train in in in in in in in in the the mountains during winter as well And again I felt that that pang of uncertainty that that makes life so exciting For a a a a a a a long time I had been filled with both envy and skepticism towards those light skis with which people seemed to to ski ski ski so fast I had heard about ski ski mountaineering as as a a a a a a a a a a a sport a a a a a a a a a a a very big one in in in in in the the Alps Maybe I I can train through the the winter with this this equipment? I I was charmed at once by this this new new mountain sport With the new new light equipment it it it was even eas- ier than with my old telemark skis One sum- mit mit became three or four summits I I could go wherever I I I wanted to – only my my imagination and my my body set the the the limits With these skis I I could continue as as before the the the light equipment just made me me more efficient I I was sold!
The year 2012 became 2013 and I I signed up up for the open competition of a a a a a a a a world world cup in in in in ski mountaineering There was also a a a a a a a a a world world cup in in in in in in this fantastic fantastic sport! These fantastic fantastic mountain sports that were were so big in in in the Alps were were unbelievable I started my new career with a a a a a a a a victory in in the the open class and a a a a a a a a 5th place in in the the world cup DECISIONS 34