utmb — NICKI LANGE | JOURNAL

Posts tagged utmb

ONE STEP BACK, TWO STEPS FORWARD

ONE STEP BACK, TWO STEPS FORWARD

Since deciding to run Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc (“UTMB”) in August 2015 and turning into my dream, I have come a long way. It feels like the journey in itself has turned into an ultra trail, filled with plenty of steep ascends and wild downhill sections, mental highs and lows. More than eight years into this journey, the most recent segment of this adventure best compares to a difficult, technical trail. Running countless races and accumulating thousands of kilometers by foot, I came to realise that it was time to hold my breath and pause. So, let’s take one step back and rewind my journey until today.

life, runNicki Lange20 October 2022the speed project, utmb, ultratrail, marathon des sablesComment

TRAIL MENORCA CAMÍ DE CAVALLS 2021

TRAIL MENORCA CAMÍ DE CAVALLS 2021

During the course of 2020, all of my planned events had been cancelled for obvious reasons. Even when I had that I had an UTMB qualifying race, a few weeks later, the prospect of running the Camí De Cavalls in Menorca had also been erased. So, after a few months of waiting, I finally found myself at the starting line in Cituadella in the middle of May 2021.

runNicki Lange27 May 2021cami de cavalls, trail menorca, utmb, ultratrailComment

LIFE LESSON: GOAL SETTING - LIVING LIFE IN TIMES OF THE UNKNOWN

LIFE LESSON: GOAL SETTING - LIVING LIFE IN TIMES OF THE UNKNOWN

One cannot deny that it has been a year filled with plenty of ups and downs, and a need to adjust, requiring patience, while facing the unknown. I began to note a number of similarities between running an ultra-marathon and living life amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It has become clear to me that having a defined goal, offers purpose and direction, while navigating towards an unknown future.

life, runNicki Lange27 September 2020life lesson, ultratrail, running, utmbComment

TRAIL MENORCA CAMÍ DE CAVALLS 2020

TRAIL MENORCA CAMÍ DE CAVALLS 2020

All of my 2020 races have been cancelled or postponed for obvious and good reasons. It started with the Paris Half Marathon back in March, followed by The Speed Project, Mozart 100 as well as my plan to run the 150 kilometer-long Jebel Shams trail in Oman. While searching the UTMB website for potential qualification races, I stumbled upon Camí de Cavalls on Menorca.

runNicki Lange30 July 2020utmb, ultra trail du mont blanc, trail menorca, cami de cavalls, ultratrailComment

LIFE LESSON: FLEXIBILITY & GRIT - RUNNING IN TIMES OF THE UNKNOWN

LIFE LESSON: FLEXIBILITY & GRIT - RUNNING IN TIMES OF THE UNKNOWN

On March 12, exactly four months ago today, I received the message that The Speed Project was canceled. On March 13, Donald Trump, closed the boarders, prohibiting any oversea flights from entering the United States, and we have moved to working from home. Since then, it has truly been an interesting journey in all areas of life.

runNicki Lange12 July 2020the speed project, life lesson, ultra trail du mont blanc, utmbComment

ULTRA-TRAIL CAPE TOWN 2019

ULTRA-TRAIL CAPE TOWN 2019

Ultra-Trail Cape Town has been one of the most breathtaking and thrilling trails I have had the privilege of running to date. The course was pure bliss and the vibe throughout the weekend was incomparable. Above all, for whatever reason, I have been put a South African flag on my big, which I like to refer to as my second motherland, filling me with additional pride to run the course.

runNicki Lange4 December 2019ultra trail cape town, cape town, ultratrail, utmb Comment

THE BEAUTY OF A DNF

THE BEAUTY OF A DNF

In 2015, I visited Chamonix for the first time and witnessed the start of Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc (“UTMB”) - an experience that has changed my life ever since. Hooked by the atmosphere and the magic of this event, I turned UTMB into my life goal. I left the French alpine resort with the ambition to complete the course, turning this endeavor into a part of my everyday life.

run, lifeNicki Lange10 November 2019life lesson, ultra trail du mont blanc, utmbComment

LIFE LESSON: PATIENCE & PROCESS - ULTRA-TRAIL DU MONT BLANC

LIFE LESSON: PATIENCE & PROCESS - ULTRA-TRAIL DU MONT BLANC

Before arriving in Chamonix, I was digesting the words that my father had shared with me last year about making decisions and pursuing them. So, when I had decided to run Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc for a second time (Race Report: Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc 2018), I committed to the five steps and continued my journey to complete the course this year. Unfortunately, things turned out to be different than planned and for a second consecutive year I had to drop out of the UTMB (Race Report: Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc 2019). Another missed chance and shattered dream is heartbreaking. I was progressing through the mountains, but after more than 150 kilometers, my race was once again stopped by hallucinations.

life, runNicki Lange9 September 2019ultra trail du mont blanc, utmb, life lessonComment

ULTRA-TRAIL DU MONT BLANC 2019

ULTRA-TRAIL DU MONT BLANC 2019

For the second consecutive year, I had to drop out of the Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc (“UTMB”). Another missed opportunity is heartbreaking and hurts. I was progressing through all the ups and downs of the course, but eventually got caught up by hallucinations that ended my race after 150 kilometers.

runNicki Lange4 September 2019ultra trail du mont blanc, utmbComment

PLASTIC-FREE MARATHONS

PLASTIC-FREE MARATHONS

Marathons and other high-profile running events often leave behind vast trails of trash, with plastic water bottles scattered in the streets and mounds of clothing left behind at the starting line. It can be an ugly sight.

charityNicki Lange15 May 2019oceanic, plastic, marathon, utmbComment

IMPRESSIONS FROM MONT BLANC

IMPRESSIONS FROM MONT BLANC

Though Karl Lagerfeld has little to do with ultra-running, he once said: “What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” We handed out a few disposable cameras to exactly do such, capture the memories and moments that we shared around Mont Blanc.

runNicki Lange4 November 2018ultra trail du mont blanc, utmbComment

ULTRA-TRAIL DU MONT BLANC 2018

ULTRA-TRAIL DU MONT BLANC 2018

After 35:15:33 hours and 136.6 kilometres I had to call it day, dropping out of the Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc (“UTMB”), swallow my pride and DNF (“Did Not Finish”) for the first time. I had never experienced this amount of highs and lows in one race, which ended in pretty heavy hallucinations and a sprained tibia forcing me to end my journey at La Giète aid station.

runNicki Lange28 October 2018ultra trail du mont blanc, utmbComment

120 DAYS UNTIL ULTRA-TRAIL DU MONT BLANC

120 DAYS UNTIL ULTRA-TRAIL DU MONT BLANC

With four months to go, I am entering the final weeks of preparation for the highlight of my yet so young running career. Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc has been the reason for why I have relentlessly been collecting miles week over week. Now, at the end of August, three years after I had witnessed the start of the 2015 edition, I get to run this epic trail myself.

runNicki Lange30 April 2018ultra trail du mont blanc, utmb, chamonix, ultratrailComment

EVERYBODY'S EVEREST

EVERYBODY'S EVEREST

Two years ago, I had witnessed the start of the Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc. I left Chamonix with the goal to run the epic race in 2018. It became my dream and I turned the journey towards it into my personal ascend of Mount Everest. A few weeks ago, I signed up and I read about the opportunity to support a charitable organisation, as part of the admission and registration process. While running more often than not is an individual sport, I like to add a social team element to my sport. I want to use my undertakings as an outlet to mobilize people and to open their eyes for important issues.

charity, runNicki Lange7 December 2017utmb, ultra trail du mont blanc, a chacun son everestComment

A LIFE WITH RUNNING IS BETTER

A LIFE WITH RUNNING IS BETTER

It’s been a while since I last dropped some thoughts on this blog. Tel Aviv had been the last event, of what I can refer to as my rookie running season. At the end of 2015, I look back at a number of finishes, but above all mind-blowing experiences. I completed the Madrid Half Marathon, as my first-ever running event, before moving on to running two Marathons, one in Madrid and one in Munich. In the meantime, I participated in the Red Bull Wings For Life World Run, before I wrapped up the season with the Coca-Cola Zero Tel Aviv Night Run.

runNicki Lange3 February 2016marathon, istria100, utmb, wingsforlife, cappadocia ultra trail, marathon des sables, milanComment

ULTRA-TRAIL DU MONT BLANC 2015

ULTRA-TRAIL DU MONT BLANC 2015

A couple of years ago, when my Dad returned from his Mont Blanc expedition, he had bought me a T-shirt, a T-shirt of a race named 'Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc'. I am not saying that was my turning point, but it was my initial contact with this incredible race.

runNicki Lange4 September 2015utmb, chamonix Comment