Intro
My sports journey in endurance started with a wild dream back in high school: to finish a marathon someday. The problem? I couldn't even run 5k at the time without stopping to catch my breath.
Over the years, that dream evolved as I became fascinated by triathlons, especially Ironman. But doing something like that felt impossible. “I'm not one of them,” I'd tell myself. Those were different people. Elite athletes. Not me.
Until one day, I stopped playing around with this idea and simply started, small and steady. I committed to consistent training and kept on believing in myself.
From that first gasping 5k to crossing the finish line of an Ironman, and on to completing 100km+ ultra trail races through the Alps. I'm still not fast. But I keep showing up.
Some Milestones
Zürich Marathon
My challenge: “Can I even run 42km in one go?”
What I learned: The hardest part was finding the courage to register and show up. I had no idea what I was capable of, but I was curious to find out.
IRONMAN Switzerland Thun
My challenge: Confronting the perception of “I'm not one of them.”
What I learned: Showing up to train day after day, even when it felt pointless, was what got me there. The process was the point all along.
Trail Verbier St Bernard by UTMB 2025 - X-Alpine
My challenge: “Ultra distance in the mountains, through the night, alone on remote trails.”
What I learned: Breaking the distance into small sections was the only way I could manage it. One checkpoint at a time. I stopped counting, and just stayed patient.
“Not particularly fast. Just showing up and never stopping.”
A Reflection
The Myth
People sometimes call extraordinary achievements “crazy” or say you must be “elite” to do them. I am proof of the contrary. I'm just a regular person with a full-time job and a strong will, who decided to try hard things. Showing up, again and again, turned out to be the most important thing that mattered.