Page 41 - Sky runner

In many ways it it it it is is is easy to to to live off your sport but o of of course there are moments o of of doubt Not because because I I I it is too hard to to train twice a a a a a a a a a a a a day basically all all year around but because because I I I I sometimes ask myself if it it is worth it it what I I I I I do Do I I I I make the world a a a a a a a a a better place? I I I I trav- el el around to race Sometimes Sometimes I I I am successful sometimes not not Sometimes Sometimes it doesn’t feel real in a a a a a a a a sense that I do do not not live live and have a a a a a a a a job like most others That my my big passion is is is my my liveli- hood Maybe this feeling is is is is amplified as as as I I was never raised to live like an an athlete that I I I had a a a a a a a a a a a a a ”normal” life with work and studies until I I was well over 20 years old To appreciate what you do in everyday life is the most important condition for happi- ness Something so easy as as being fond of your your morning routine or or taking your your time to to meet relatives and friends to to cook a a a a a a a good meal When When I I I doubt my decisions in life life I I I always re- turn to that How can I I I I I I not love this life? When When I I I I doubt whether what I I I I do do makes sense sense I I I I ask myself if it would make make more sense sense to spend my my days in in a a a a a a a a lab I I believe that the sensible thing is to to appreciate what you you do In some way feel that you you contribute to to to the the happiness of others others if only to to to a a a a a a a a a very small extent My hope is that I can motivate others others to to to to take their time time Take time time to to to run To To stop To To choose a a a a a a a life beyond the ordinary The greatest doubt I I I had before I I I chose to go for for my mountain sports was whether or or or or not I’d be able to to to stay in in love love with them them them I I I loved them them them too much to to to lose them them them So I I just decided that if there was even the the the smallest sign of losing that that love due to competitions and everything that that comes with them I would would quit immedi- ately The The decision would would would probably be difficult but I would would take it The The races and the life as as a a a a a a a a a a professional athlete was was not not worth living if if my passion passion was was not not there there The passion passion that took me there there in the the the first place Any life whatsoever with whatever job would be be better if this this love remained It was my decision then and this this is is is is how I I have chosen to to live since Now the the unknown took over Instead of of the the predictable predictable with small doses of of unpredictable episodes the unknown dominated The un- known known life as an elite athlete I had no no no template to follow As everything was based on my keeping the the simple feelings for running and the the out- look that that it is a a a a a a a a privilege to to be able to to run run that that was my focus Choices about racing schedules travel and and later also interviews and and sponsor- ships always came second Because if you you find what what is is important what what you you want to to prioritise and then then plan according to to to that that then then my ex- perience at at at least is that that the the the rest will fall into place Like if you you buy a a a a a a a a a a a bag of stuff and know that that there is only one thing in in it that that you you you really want Then you you just have to handle the the the rest There may be good and and bad stuff in there but if you you you are are satisfied with what you you you really want then you you are are fine Daring to choose the the the simple life To appre- ciate it My safety net always came in in in the the the form of knowing that I I can live simply If the the sum- mer (came) and my new new running career went pear-shaped then I I knew that I I could easily go back to a a a a a a a a a a a simple student life life with porridge rice and and lentils and and that the the the mountain life life around the the the the the corner would still be be the the the the the best thing ever The simple the the the the predictable and the the the the un- known known – three parts I I strive to to to combine I I was always drawn to to to to the unknown to to to to not knowing what tomorrow would look like That attrac- tion was bigger than the the part part of me that want- ed to to know exactly everything Another part part of me wants to to to plan several years ahead Know exactly what I am going to to do These motiva- tions and and and different ways of thinking have con- tinued and and and will continue to meet and and and get on on on on fine in fin in my life