Memories came back. Great memories.

Football that is being played indoors makes me kind of dreamy. In 1996 I watched my team winning the German indoor football champs.

The only title I probably witness for a good while. Since then I just love indoor football.

Out now and available worldwide – the new issue of the Running Times Magazine.

I scripted a piece about training in Cachi, Argentina and it can be found in the August Issue on page 14.

Very honored about a release in my favorite running magazine!

It was about time.

I gathered numerous decent shots in the last few weeks and haven’t found the time to work with them. 

Click on the image above to have a glance at the first bunch of pictures taken in Ecuador and on the mystical Galapagos Islands.

More stuff to follow in the next days. Promised.

It’s no secret that I like the Endurance Planet podcasts with Frank Castle Lucho. 

This week Lucho answered one of my questions.

Check the show HERE. Skip to 25:15 to get Luchos answer on the ‘Max King’ Approach.

If you have some interesting question submit them on the Endurance Planet Facebook page.

Shoes in US12 are difficult to get down here in South America.

Gladly I found the exceptionally helpful Soledad Darquea Cabezas who owns the well-stocked Podium Running Store in the center of Quito. With the help of Brooks Germany and Soledad I managed to snatch fresh shoes for the upcoming races.

Thanks a million!

I’m rolling along this nice single trail as I hear some sounds from the left. I turn my head and the only thing I can identify in this millisecond is this yellow North Face vest flying at me. It’s Jordan who came off course in the 80k and just tries to end a cross country downhill back on the course. As I’m the only feasible halt for him he plots right at me.

I was just delighted getting back on the correct track myself and there is Jordan with a similar problem. We stride on and meet Steph and Helen just a couple of minutes later. Similar problematic there. Missing in action on the correct route!

When I checked my watch at the exceptionally stunning located finish line at San Pablo Del Lago I had to grin. Smiling was undoubtedly the only suitable reaction to what had happened during this 50k in the Imbabura Province in the north of Ecuador. Instead of matching the official distance I clocked almost 56k during that day. Nearly 56k in beautiful but seedy topography in the Northern Andes Region.

Everybody I talked to after the finish had comparable troubles. Alejandro from Venezuela, who was in the lead, got a turn wrong and went to the finish having clocked 45k and accidently ignored a checkpoint. Steph in the 80k went of course 10 times and so on.

It would be too easy to blame the organization that did a great job setting up a race in such a remote and picturesque area. I was running most parts on my own and that also meant that in my tiredness I ignored some signs here and there.

Nevertheless it was a tough day out, as I couldn’t find any gels in Quito. I tried to replenish with Panela and salt, which did not really work. I also couldn’t reproduce the good training runs I had in previous weeks. Was it the altitude (Start at 2.600m going up to 3.160m)? Was it mental? Who knows?

At the end the positive experience needs to be on the forefront. It was a great time with tons of great people in a great country. Thanks to each and everybody from The North Face Team and to the Caracas Crew.

Gear used:
Shoes: Brooks PureGrit
Shirt: Brooks Versatile Sleeveless
Short: Brooks Speed Short
Jacket: Brooks LSD Light Jacket
Handheld: 2 X Ultraspire Isometric Pocket

„Tell me. Where are you guys from?“ This old Ecuadorian fella was gazing at Iazaldir as we entered the mirador in Quito’s beautiful Parque Metropolitano.

“Well.” Iazaldir points on the certain citizens and tells the old Ecuadorian fella “USA, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile and Germany!”

 The old Ecuadorian fella glances over and asks with a full-size smile in his face “So what is wrong with the food in your countries? You are all so skinny!”