All Posts From investment banking to 111 kilometres on Sylt
Christoph is an impressive example of how running can change a life from the ground up. Originally from Bavaria, he has lived in Berlin since 2004 and now considers himself a “city kid”. His story leads from a career in investment banking, with an intense and unhealthy lifestyle, to being a passionate ultra runner who has completed a personal and physical transformation.
From crisis to running
His journey into endurance sport did not begin with a simple decision to run, but with a dramatic experience in 2014. “I thought I was having a heart attack when I was on the 38th floor of a hotel in Austin, Texas,” Christoph recalls. That pivotal experience led to a radical change in his lifestyle. “My doctor strongly advised me to change my life, and I accepted the challenge. Since then I have not drunk alcohol and have eaten largely vegetarian.”
Step by step, Christoph returned to sport. “I used to play competitive tennis, but when I started running again I felt like a beginner. My first ten minutes on the treadmill were a great success for me,” he says. Soon his passion for running grew, and he began taking part in half marathons and eventually marathons.
Entering ultramarathon running
As is often the case with runners, the step from marathons to ultras was a natural progression. “I really wanted to run a marathon, and my first was the Berlin Marathon,” Christoph says. “The experience was so great that I immediately registered for the next marathon in Frankfurt.” But that soon was not enough either. After many successful marathons, including qualifying for Boston, he started looking for new challenges.
Christoph ran his first ultramarathon during the pandemic in 2021, when many road races were cancelled. “The trails continued, and that is how I found ultra distances. My first ultra was the Sachsen Trail, an incredible experience. I got the taste for it and developed from there.” Since then he has covered distances of up to 105 kilometres with 5,000 metres of elevation gain, including the legendary Mozart 100.
The fascination of ultra running
For Christoph, ultra running is a special kind of running that goes far beyond physical effort. “There is a big difference between road races and trail ultras,” he explains. “On ultratrails you often run alone and enjoy the peace of nature, which I really like. Running these long distances also requires a different kind of mental strength.” That mental element is an essential part of the experience for him. “At some point you are no longer running with your body, but only with your mind. The body can endure much more than we think – it is the head that must be persuaded in the end.”
Christoph speaks openly about the challenges that ultra running brings. “I once had a mental breakdown at kilometre 53 of a 160-kilometre race. It feels as if somebody has pressed the emergency button and suddenly you sink into a deep, black hole. The next day I felt nothing from the previous day’s 53 kilometres – my body could have continued without difficulty, but my mind simply switched off. Those are the moments when you learn that mental strength is the key to success at ultra distances.”
The North Sea Ultra on Sylt
In 2023, Christoph decided to run the North Sea Ultra, the 111-kilometre ultramarathon on Sylt, and it became a formative experience. “I had never been to Sylt before. I had always given the island a wide berth because it seemed too crowded to me. But the North Sea Ultra fitted perfectly into my season plan, and I love the sea and islands, so I signed up,” he says.
The course on Sylt presented a particular challenge. “It was not like the 100 km of Biel, where you run 100 flat kilometres, but it was not a real trail either. The combination of flat and varied sections along the water and through the villages was fascinating,” he says. He especially remembers the stretch at the Ellenbogen as the sun rose. “That was a magical moment.”
The most demanding part began at kilometre 86, on the return to Rantum towards kilometre 98. The wind picked up and hit him in the face with fierce gusts. Those 12 kilometres seemed endless: a straight road that rose slightly, and he felt he was not gaining a single metre. At some point he concentrated only on reaching one roadside marker after another, so as not to give in to frustration and quit. But that was not an option – he was far too close to the finish.
Ultra running and life
For Christoph, ultra running is more than sporting success; it has changed his life in many ways. “Since I started running, I have lost 35 kilograms and feel stronger both physically and mentally,” he says. But the change went deeper. “Running taught me that mental barriers can be overcome, and that realisation has affected my whole life. It has also changed how I work and make decisions.”
Christoph has even written the book Leben beginnt, wo unsere Angst endet about his journey, describing how running transformed him physically and mentally. “It is a journey far beyond sport. You learn that you can only succeed when body and mind are in harmony.” The book can be ordered on Amazon or directly from the author: https://copecart.com/products/62aedf6d/checkout
Conclusion: the North Sea Ultra 2025 – a challenge for everyone
Christoph would certainly return to run the North Sea Ultra’s 111 kilometres on Sylt, and he recommends the race to anyone looking for a new challenge. “It is a special run that challenges you physically and mentally, but the route and the landscape on Sylt make it a unique experience,” he says enthusiastically. Though still young, the North Sea Ultra will undoubtedly develop into an outstanding event on the ultra scene.
