What does the Legends Trail means to me (highs/lows, meaning stories, lessons learned) – just your words you want to say about the LT:
The Highlights: The Power of the Group
· Camaraderie: The first 100 km with Kristof went smoothly and with confidence. Later in the race, the strength of the group proved to be my rescue. Whether it was Mitch, Werner, Bernhard, or the „mysterious“ Frank: trekking through the darkness together gave a sense of safety when my own world became very small.
· The Unexpected Rescue: The phone call at 4:30 a.m. While I was physically and mentally broken after a heavy fall, Bram talked me back into the race. „You are doing too well to stop now.“
· Humanity Along the Way: The owner of Chalet du Pont de Belleheid who made a chicken sandwich especially for me, or the volunteers who were baking croque-monsieurs non-stop. Those small gestures of compassion were the fuel that propelled me forward.
The Low Points: The Battle Against the Elements
· Hellish Conditions: The Hautes Fagnes turned into a „shit day“ of mud, melting snow, and ice-cold water. Hypothermia near the Baraque Michel was a moment when my body screamed to stop.
· The Ninglinspo Hell: On the fourth night, this beautiful area turned into a psychological battlefield. Broken poles, malfunctioning headlamps, and navigation chaos created a surreal experience in which I even tied a lamp to my walking stick because I no longer knew how to put it on my head.
The Lessons Learned
· The „Tank“ mentality: Good preparation is essential, but flexibility is even more important. For example, when the zipper on my trail vest ripped the day before the start and my familiar routines fell apart, I had to learn to deal with it.
· Mental vs. Physical: The physiotherapist at the Legends was right when he looked at my knee: „You can’t damage anything, but it’s going to hurt like hell.“ Pain is often a signal, but not always a blockage.
· The logic of fatigue: Sleep deprivation does strange things to you. I developed conspiracy theories about fellow runners and ran two kilometers barefoot through the mud because it felt „blissful“ at that moment. Absurd in hindsight, but at the time, pure survival.
The Meaning
The Legends Trail taught me that there is always a reserve energy source, even when you think you are completely drained. It is not about speed, but about the refusal to give up.
„Legends“ are not forged on the easy paths, but in the mud of the fourth night, fighting over felled trees, with a broken lamp and an untiring will to reach the finish.
How would you define ultra running/what does it mean to you to run ultra/when does ultra starts for you (certain moments/feeling/distances): For me, ultrarunning is the purest form of life. Running is much more than just racking up kilometers. It has become a way of life, a way of being. While running, I feel completely in the present moment, with no worries about yesterday or tomorrow.
I love pushing my limits, both mentally and physically. There are moments when I think: „I can’t do this anymore.“ And then, somewhere deep inside, I find the strength to keep going. That gives an indescribable sense of freedom and pride.
I am also reminded of a quote by my coach, Frank Gielen. Running in the great outdoors feels like playing. Like a child running around carefree through forests, over hills, along rivers. No rules, no expectations, just being, moving, enjoying. I can really relate to this.
And then there are the other runners, each with their own story, their own motivation. I enjoy listening to what drives them, what brought them here. A bond forms along the way, a sense of togetherness that is unique in this sport.
The atmosphere at the checkpoints is warm and genuine: volunteers encouraging you, fellow runners giving each other a pat on the back. The volunteers at these “aid stations” make you feel as if they are there especially for you. And then the finish… Something magical happens there. Tired, empty, but at the same time completely fulfilled. That is where everything comes together.
Running is about suffering, but also about intense enjoyment. It is my way of living, of feeling, of connecting with myself, with others, and with the world around me.
What are your thoughts/worries/hopes on/for AOBTD? Nothing beats the atmosphere at the start of an event like this. Those familiar faces, the shared glances of understanding. We all know what to expect, and that creates a bond you find almost nowhere else.
Yet, there are a few things running through my mind. Whereas on the Legends Trail we were battling the elements in the cold, the heat is now something I will have to watch out for.
In addition, there is my knee. It is my weak spot. Will the knee hold up with every step, or will it throw a spanner in the works?
The idea that something could still go wrong despite all the preparations worries me a bit.
But if there is one thing I have taken away from my previous adventures, it is this: willpower is a muscle you can train. I hope that, when I can’t cope physically anymore, I can summon that same indestructible mentality that carried me through the Legends Trail.