Challenge Accepted!

After closing the chapter with SWISSMAN, I thought I’d settle into a quieter rhythm. Let recovery do its thing. Let life breathe a bit. But 2025 had other plans — a blend of hyperdrive at work, a restless endurance brain, and a quiet itch that said, “You’re not done yet.”

The Ad‑Interim‑Vaganza

Professionally, the summer was an exercise in bandwidth. Too many meetings, too many hats, too much caffeine. From the outside, it looks like momentum – from the inside, it often felt like running a marathon with a laptop on my back. Don’t get me wrong, I am good at that. Still, somewhere between leading change, holding things together, and trying not to forget to breathe, I need to acknowledge (again) that taking care of systems also means taking care of myself.

Life in Motion

There was no real training plan — just motion. Donkey trekking with the kids. Surfing in Biarritz. The Allgäu bike weekend that turned into 300‑plus kilometres of therapy. A handful of short runs when curiosity won over fatigue. Mostly, I just moved enough to stay sane.

The “Accidental” Marathon PB

Then came Lucerne Marathon. No pressure, no expectations — just a test of what was left in the tank. Somehow, 3:28:10 later, I crossed the line with a new PB. Call it residual fitness, call it stubbornness, call it curiosity rewarded. Either way, it was proof that deep endurance doesn’t vanish — it just waits quietly for an invitation.

Looking Ahead

Of course, I couldn’t leave it there. The SaintExpress is next, followed by Engadin Skimarathon, Zurich Marathon, and Ironman Portugal 2026. Maybe it’s a coping strategy — filling the calendar to make the chaos feel structured. Or maybe it’s simply how my brain balances pressure with purpose. Writing this helps me see both sides: the drive that keeps me moving, and the fine line between being driven and running on fumes.

What Sticks

• Recovery is training. It takes courage to pause.
• Curiosity beats pressure. Show up, see what happens.
• Energy management > time management. The real race is learning when to refuel.

Challenge accepted — again. Just hopefully with a bit more balance this time.