Chris Zehetleitner's Blog, page 3
September 19, 2025
Walking Beside the Giants
Right now, as I type these words, Lisa and I are sitting in Courmayeur. Our friend Juliane is still out there, two hours from the finish line of the Tor des Géants (TOR). One of the most unreal foot races on this planet, though the word “race” barely does it justice.
The TOR is 330 kilometers long, with over 24.000 meters of vertical gain. The race circumnavigates the Aosta Valley in northern Italy, crossing 25 mountain passes, many higher than 3.000 meters. For most, the TOR is n...
September 12, 2025
Let’s Say It Out Loud: I Am Injured
I’m done downplaying it: I am injured.
Yes, I can run. Yes, I can line up at races. But when my knee flares up after every single workout, and that irritation lingers for months without leaving, then it’s not just a “niggle.” It’s an injury.
(This article is difficult to illustrate. Hence, the cat photos)The First WhisperYou know the story already. It started in May. A faint irritation in my right knee. Barely noticeable, but unusual. Normally, post-run aches calm down after a night of re...
September 11, 2025
Rennbericht vom Mountopolis Vertical (#139)
Trotz Off-Season an der Startlinie? Klingt so als würde es keinen Sinn machen. Macht es auch nicht. Aber vielleicht war es genau deshalb cool.
LINKS ZUR FOLGEPassender Das Z Letter 1 und Das Z Letter 2
On Repeat: FEVER RAY - If I Had A Heart
“On Repeat” Spotify Playlist (mit allen Musik-Tipps der letzten Wochen)
Sprachnachricht cool? Dann gib mir einen Ko-Fi aus!
Die Das Z - Sprachnachricht ist kein Lauf-Podcast von Chris Z, dem Gründer der Laufsportmarke Willpower und Autor der Bücher Runhundred und...
September 9, 2025
Into the Red Zone: Racing the Mountopolis Vertical
There you go, crossing the line with full war face after 1:21 hours of pure uphill running.
(Final sprint on top of a mountain)But let’s rewind.
A Pre-Race Espresso and Five Minutes To GoI was passed by an eleven-year-old. Twice. He must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. I was surprised when he suddenly reappeared behind me. I was less surprised when he ran past me for a second time. After all, I had already noticed and accepted his boundless superiority by that point.
But back to ...
September 4, 2025
Off-Season, On-Startline
It’s off-season. By design. I’ve ticked every running box I wanted this year, and I’m content. Full. Satiated. The kind of fullness where the body and the mind agree: take a step back, breathe, recover.
The Handbrake KneeAnd yet tomorrow, I’ll stand at a startline.
Under less-than-ideal conditions.
Real talk: my knee is still not what it should be. Not broken (I'll provide a more precise update in an upcoming Das Z Letter), but not free either. Like a handbrake that...
August 29, 2025
Warum mich der UTMB nicht los lässt (#138)
Der UTMB lässt mir keine Ruhe. Schon seit Jahren nicht. Die Gründe dafür sind aber andere als ihr glaubt. Sie gehen zurück bis in das Jahr 2017.
LINKS ZUR FOLGEMehr oder weniger passender Das Z Letter
On Repeat: ORBIT CULTURE – The Tale Of War
“On Repeat” Spotify Playlist (mit allen Musik-Tipps der letzten Wochen)
Sprachnachricht cool? Dann gib mir einen Ko-Fi aus!
Die Das Z - Sprachnachricht ist kein Lauf-Podcast von Chris Z, dem Gründer der Laufsportmarke Willpower und Autor der Bücher Runhundred u...
August 28, 2025
My Complicated Affair with the UTMB
I had planned to write about UTMB all week, but now it’s almost over. Okay, that’s an exaggeration. The supreme discipline, the 100-mile loop around Mont Blanc, doesn’t even start until tonight. But the hype has been in full swing since Monday.
Like every year, I carry mixed feelings into this weekend.
The Corporate ShadowUTMB is the big elephant in the room of trail running. You can’t ignore it. You can’t escape having an opinion about it.
For the last few years, it was ...
August 25, 2025
Willpower Behind The Scenes (#137)
Ein Blick hinter die Kulissen meiner Laufmarke “Willpower”. Warum wir nicht mehr in die USA verkaufen und warum das deutsche Steuergesetz eine echte Herausforderung ist.
LINKS ZUR FOLGESprachnachricht cool? Dann gib mir einen Ko-Fi aus!
Die Das Z - Sprachnachricht ist kein Lauf-Podcast von Chris Z, dem Gründer der Laufsportmarke Willpower und Autor der Bücher Runhundred und Hundert-Meilen-Herz.
August 23, 2025
Meilen Fressen (#136)
Laufen und Essen: Die zwei schönsten Hauptsachen der Welt. Warum diese beiden Dinge unzertrennlich miteinander verheiratet sind und warum es dabei viele Stolperfallen und Missverständnisse gibt, erfahrt ihr in dieser Das Z Sprachnachricht.
LINKS ZUR FOLGEPassender Das Z Letter
On Repeat: FACED OUT - “… a Fatal Sacrilege”
“On Repeat” Spotify Playlist
Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA): Beratungstelefon Essstörungen 0221-892031 oder bzga-essstoerungen.de
Nummer gegen Kummer: www.numm...
August 21, 2025
What We Feed the Miles
Runners are a strange breed.
We brag about clean eating, load our plates with vegetables, track our macros, pop our supplements. We say stuff like “Shit in – Shit out” – the idea that what you put into your body is exactly what you get out of it. Sensible. Rational. Healthy.
(Photo by Stephan Wieser)And then comes race day.
(Photo by Stephan Wieser)Suddenly we’re slurping down neon-colored gels that taste like a chemistry lab spill, chewing bars with the texture of plywood, an...
