Author: Harmwiegers
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Here versus there
Do you know that feeling of battling against the current, exhausted, wondering what you did wrong to end up here? I recently found myself struggling to reach progress using old methods, until a scene of local nature taught me why this never works. An exhausted Tuesday morning. A slow endurance run at three alternating paces,…
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Pressure
Sometimes we show our best when there’s a lot at stake. My qualification earlier this year for the 100k World Championships in December 2024 changed the way I look at training. If there was ever a moment to prepare, it must be now. I’m learning how pressure can be our friend. We all have this…
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Don’t wait
The two >200k races of this year taught a simple but precious lesson: when working on something valuable we must not hope we can somehow finalize it in the end, but do what’s required early on to bring the goal within reach. This insight first presented itself at Ultrabalaton, and then on a slightly different…
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What would it look like if it were fun?
In a multi-month period of trying to train while dealing with a long injury, I’m faced by all kinds of questions. Dark questions. Desperate questions.-What if I can never run fast again?-What if the most fun races will forever be off-limits?-What if it’s never gonna heal? Should I quit running altogether? Those are understandable questions.…
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Race report: Sri Chinmoy 100k in <8h
I recently ran my first 100k within 8 hours, which was the time limit to qualify for the 100k World Championships. Reports of such races and their specific details can be hard to find, so here’s my report. Written in case the details are of any help to anybody, and also to log for myself…
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Change
I’m quitting my job this month to fully focus on running. My life suddenly changes completely. Looking back though, I see that the road to this moment was paved by many small changes. Small steps joined together to prepare for one big leap. In the 4 years I’ve been running, I’ve learned a lot about…
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The dip
Last weekend provided the last long endurance training on the road to the Spartathlon, in the shape of the 100k RUN Winschoten. Like most of life’s big projects, this race was long enough to start with a high that turned into a low over time. The strange thing: I wouldn’t wish it any other way.…
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Fear
Last weekend was my first nonstop 24-hour run and I found myself being scared of it. I’d never run that long or that far before. I didn’t know what to expect in those last hours. I didn’t know how my body would react. I didn’t know what emotions would pop up and if I’d be…
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The people that surround you
The people that surround you influence the way you think. After hearing this phrase for the first time, I’ve seen it play out in my own life and I realize the immense importance. I’m grateful that my own thought patterns and even actions have changed because of others. The examples are easiest to see in…