Hi there,
I am Bernd, Bernd H. from B., and I’m addicted to running.
I like to run, to run a lot, and I tend to annoy people talking about running.
The solution: stop talking, start writing!
Blog motivation
The main thing that was holding me back for quite some time from starting my own writing, were those many great running blogs out there and by no means I wanted to make anything better / different / greater. I’m not a fan of diary writing, but turns out a blog is great for self-reflection, analysing my own training, and sorting out important information on training philosophies, nutrition, gear and so on and so forth…
So if it helps me untangle my thoughts on those topics, and even more, helping out some friends (and readers) fishing for some little advice, why not give it a try.
Also, since I became a dad in 2017, I had to juggle between my running and spending time with my kids, or both. Yet, I’m not seeing many parents going out on the course with their kids to get some kilometres in although it is great for 1. the runner (extra exercise), 2. the kid (fresh air, sleeping, early running familiarisation), 3. the partner (who can either join or relax a few hours).
Running start
During high-school days (German: Gymnasium), I was in a rescue swim team and also doing triathlon, even winning some school competitions. Both strongly declined toward the last school years and beginning of University, mostly by virtue of drinking good German brews with good German friends, studying and loosing interest in sports.
I then started University (aerospace engineering) without real hobby except German brews and German friends. Back then I wasn’t a big fan of running; swimming and biking to train for the triathlons was fine, but I got bored on runs.
Until then.
I went into the forest, 30 min, breathed the air, felt my legs, burned my lungs – still felt boring, but what a great feeling after the run! So I kept on, 40 min, maybe two or three times a week, eventually close to one hour. And there it was, I could not stop anymore, needed my runs. They started feeling good while doing them. I ran up the hills and down, feeling like a little fell runner out in the woods. I didn’t realise it back then, but it was clear I loved trail running although then (due to a change of place) I went more into road running. The first half marathon came up (Stuttgart), without any training plan or GPS, just a heart rate watch and perceived exertion, finishing in 1:35h, the year after in 1:28h; naturally, a marathon had to come, as well as shin splints and the first running injuries due to higher mileage. The first marathon (2008) was half trail, half road, without any GPS but a downloaded training plan, finished in 3:35h.
Why do I run?
More important than how I (re-)started running is the fact that I continued doing it for good 20 years now! Never having had a longer running break than ~1 month (this long pause was injury related in 2012; injury not running related, but good brew and good music related injury…).
Running always helped me to relax my head, untie my thoughts, go inside myself and meditate – those lines may shock some of my dear friends – but running was never only running as it seemed.
My studies at University, but also my post-graduate master and especially my PhD studies, evoked some stressful periods with time of worries. I seriously believe those would have not been as successful without the joy of running and beautiful endorphins reducing my stress levels. It may easily have ended in a burn out or depression.
But at the end of a hard day, and after a hard run in the evening, I went onto cloud nine, good night. Even more before demanding and worrying days, for example, a talk at a prestigious conference, space agency or industry; thinking of a good opener and catching phrase, inspiring good motivation and practicing the talk in my head during a run the day before was essential.
But it is not only your work-life balance that is affected:
Your perception and view on your surrounding world changes. I know of people taking a break from running because it is too cold in winter, or too hot in summer. While winter running can be great (think of cold air, snowy trails, and blue skies), admittedly in Belgium it not often is. Nevertheless, fully experiencing the seasonal changes is truly vitalising. Leaves turning yellow or crocuses awakening is a highlight every year.
“If you don’t have answers to your problems after a four-hour run, you ain’t getting them.”
Christopher McDougall
Personal bests
5k – 00:16:50 (2019 Valencia)
10k – 00:35:30 (2020 Brussels)
HM – 1:18:40 (2022 Valencia)
M – 2:48:29 ( 2022 Berlin)
Half-Marathons
Stuttgart (2006, 2007), Brisbane (2009), Brussels 20k (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), Brussels (2014, 2015), Windsor (2012), Brussels trail HM (2016), Valencia (2017), Oostende night run (2018), Brussels 20k (2019, with stroller), Brussels (2019, with Stroller)
Marathons
Welzheim (2008), Köln (2009), Brussels(2013), Valencia (2016), München (2018), Trail des Veneurs (2019, 3rd place), Ghent (2021), Ghent (2022, pacing 3h15), Berlin (2022).
Others
Dodentocht 100km (2014, walking)
Sot de Ferrer 16k (2018)
Zugspitz Supertrail 64km (2019)
Volta a l’ombria d’Artana 16k (2019)
Brussels Trail 25k (2019, 1st place)
Fun.Run.Dad 