All Posts From a Cologne mile to a relay at the North Sea Ultra on Sylt
The Cologne team “Kölsche Meile” has already made a name for itself in the running scene. Founded around two years earlier, the running group loves the number 11.11 – a symbol of Cologne and also the length of its favourite route. This year, however, they took on a special challenge: entering the North Sea Ultra on Sylt as a relay, a 111-kilometre ultramarathon around the island.
Kölsche Meile – a running community grows
“We are Team Kölsche Meile,” explains Karsten, one of the team’s founders. “We started with a handful of runners, but by now we have more than 100 members.” The group meets regularly for crew runs and takes part in a variety of events to strengthen its community and motivate new runners. Cologne energy and running together are at the heart of it.
With events and races across Germany, the team quickly became known. The North Sea Ultra on Sylt, however, was a very special challenge. “We saw 111 kilometres and immediately thought of a relay – this is exactly our thing!” Karsten says. “It is a tough one, but we really wanted to try it as a relay.”
An individual running story – Karsten’s route to ultras
Karsten himself already has an impressive running career behind him. “I started with half marathons in 2011 and quickly moved to marathons, but in 2018 I found a new motivation. My brother challenged me, and I have steadily increased my distances ever since.” He describes how the pandemic pushed him to find new routes: “I ran 50 kilometres in an industrial estate on a 2.5-kilometre loop; that was my entry into ultramarathons.”
Since then, Karsten has focused on training for 100-kilometre races and was already planning his next run. “At the end of September I am taking part in a charity run in Altötting, where 100 kilometres are on the programme.”
Racing on Sylt – relay or solo?
For Team Kölsche Meile, the North Sea Ultra on Sylt was not only a sporting challenge, but an emotional experience. “Sylt had never really been on my radar,” says Karsten. “We did not really know the island and had no particular motivation to travel there. But then we saw the 111 kilometres and the relay and it was clear: we have to do this!”
Marcel, also part of the team, describes the start as magical: “I was the first runner in our relay, and that first section through the dunes and past the Ellenbogen was simply incredible. You feel as if you are running in a postcard.”
Matthias, the team’s second runner, adds: “My section led through Braderup Heath, a beautiful natural landscape. It was the perfect route for me, and although I briefly lost my bearings and ran a few extra kilometres, it was an unforgettable experience.”
In the end it was clear that Team Kölsche Meile wanted to return not only as a relay. “Right after the race I decided that next year I want to run the whole course alone,” Karsten says. “The feeling of experiencing the island in its full length was overwhelming. It will be tough, but I am ready.”
Team Kölsche Meile – running connects
Team Kölsche Meile is more than a running community; it is a family. “Our team is constantly growing, and we are not the fastest runners, but that is not our goal. It is about running together, support and solidarity,” Karsten explains. The team also showed this philosophy at the North Sea Ultra.
“It was not just the run itself, but the feeling of being part of a larger community,” Marcel says. “The solidarity between the ultra runners and us relay participants was incredible.”
Matthias, who actually prefers shorter distances, was equally enthusiastic: “For me, the half marathon had always been the perfect distance, but being part of a relay in an ultra showed me how special team spirit can be. Maybe I will run an ultra one day after all – who knows?”
Future plans: what comes next for Kölsche Meile?
The team has big plans for the future. “We meet regularly for shared runs and also plan special events,” says Karsten. One highlight was a run with Anthony Herina, who ran across Germany in 2019 to raise awareness of depression and suicide. “Running is not only good for physical health, but also for mental strength. We want to carry that message forward and grow as a team.”
Taking part in the North Sea Ultra 2025 was, of course, already confirmed. Karsten wanted to run the full distance, and the team planned to continue as a relay – this time with a particular challenge: “We thought we would run the relay for the next three years in succession and switch sections, so that everyone has run completely around the island once.”
Conclusion: the North Sea Ultra on Sylt – an experience for body and mind
For Team Kölsche Meile, taking part in the North Sea Ultra on Sylt was an incomparable experience. The breathtaking landscape, the community among runners and the personal challenge made the race unforgettable. “I cannot wait to return next year – and this time run the full distance,” says Karsten eagerly.
