All Posts Tanja and her passion for ultra running
Tanja comes from the quiet town of Seevetal, south of Hamburg, and has travelled an impressive path into ultra running. What began as a hobby has become an inseparable passion for her – one that challenges her physically and inspires her mentally.
How it all began
“I have been running since my 40th birthday,” Tanja says. At first, running was a way for her to stay fit, but two years earlier she spontaneously decided to take part in the Biel Running Days, a 100-kilometre night race. “It was a crazy idea,” she laughs. “A friend said, ‘We have to do this!’ And I thought: why not?” The pandemic then brought extra time to run and the chance to really work towards that moment.
Her first ultra experience was tough. “I reached the finish shortly before the cut-off and was pretty battered,” she remembers. But it did not stop her. “Three weeks later I saw on Instagram that a place at the North Sea Ultra was being raffled. At first I was relieved not to be selected, but then the original winner withdrew and I moved up. Suddenly I was in.”
Ultra running – more than kilometres
For Tanja, ultra running is much more than merely covering distances. “It is like meditation,” she describes the feeling of entering a flow. “One step after another, time passes, and at some point you run backwards towards the finish line.” That mental element, serenity and concentration are among the main reasons why she loves ultramarathons.
But it is not only about her own run: “The sense of community at ultras is something special,” she says. “You look out for one another, ask how the other person is doing, whether they need magnesium or simply a good line. It is a community in which people are there for each other.” For Tanja, that togetherness is a valuable aspect of ultra running and makes the difference from often hectic, competitive marathons.
The first race on Sylt
She looked at the challenge of the North Sea Ultra on Sylt with a certain respect: it would be the first time she would run 111 kilometres, eleven more than her first ultra. “I thought that if it went badly, I would sit in the dunes and enjoy the sun,” she laughs. But Tanja is a fighter: “I am a Capricorn – if I decide to do something, I see it through.”
And she did. “It was incredibly beautiful. The landscape, nature, and then the feeling when you have done it. I enjoyed it immensely.” Although her first visit to Sylt in 2004 had been rather sobering, she fell in love with the island during the race. “You see Sylt with completely different eyes when you run – it is simply beautiful.”
A role model for her family
Running has now become firmly integrated into her everyday life. Balancing work, family and long runs is a challenge that she manages with organisation and a positive attitude. “Running is like eating and drinking for me – I no longer think about whether I run, I simply do it.” Her family supports her: “My children think it is cool that I run. They have grown up with it, and by now it is normal for them.”
There was some scepticism at first, particularly from her husband, who works in healthcare, but everyone has grown accustomed to her ultra-running passion. “After my first 100-kilometre race, my husband was not sure whether it was healthy,” Tanja laughs. But by now everyone knows: Tanja follows her own path – and does it enthusiastically.
Sylt – a very special place
When asked whether she will return to Sylt, she answers without hesitation: “Yes, absolutely!” Despite her initially disappointing visit, she rediscovered the island while running. “Everything is different when you run,” she enthuses. “The youth hostel, nature – I have really taken Sylt to my heart.”
Tanja is not only an experienced ultra runner, but also a wonderful example of living one’s passion and keeping the joy despite every challenge. Sylt will certainly see her again – and perhaps her story will inspire others to take on the challenge of ultra running.
