This year, I didn’t come to prove something.
I came to execute.

From the first step, I could feel the difference from last year. I moved faster but without rushing. I wasn’t caught in the adrenaline of the start line. My breathing was steady, my cadence locked in. I had a plan, and I trusted it.

With 78 kg of muscle on 83 kg body weight and just 7% body fat, I knew my margin for error was small. I don’t have big fat reserves to pull from in the later stages. That means my fueling had to be on point from the very first kilometer — no guessing, no hoping.

The Strategy

• Fuel: Real food at aid stations, just enough sugar to keep energy up without spiking and crashing, and without pushing my gut into chaos.

• Hydration: Electrolytes in every bottle, balanced with water to avoid overloading sodium or flushing it out too fast.

• Salt: One cap every 45 minutes like clockwork.

• Mindset: Run my own pace, ignore the noise, and solve problems as they come — no heroics early.

The Reality Check

The first climbs were hot. Not “warm” — oven hot. Even with heat prep in training, the Swiss Alps heat radiates differently when you’re climbing with a loaded body, fighting gravity.

By the time I reached the highest point in the early stage, the sun was fully overhead. My cooling plan was in motion:

• Hat soaked in cold water.

• Ice under the cap when possible.

• Pouring water over my neck and chest at every stream crossing.

But the heat wasn’t backing down. I could feel my skin cooking, my core temperature creeping higher.

First Blow: Heavy Sunstroke & Cramps

Then it hit. Not mild. Heavy.
The kind of sunstroke where the headache is so sharp you feel it with every single step. It was as if my skull was tightening around my brain. Every footstrike sent a pulse through my head.

At the same time, the cramps kicked in — deep, sharp, and threatening to shut my legs down. In an ultra, that’s the first domino. If you don’t respond, you’re done.

The Immediate Response

I made the call instantly:

• Cut sugar for the next hour to reduce metabolic strain.

• Double water intake without reducing electrolytes.

• Slightly adjust pace to keep the cramps from fully locking me up.

The goal wasn’t to make it comfortable — comfort doesn’t exist here. The goal was to keep moving while buying my body time to stabilize.

Holding the Line

The cramps didn’t disappear. The headache didn’t fade. They came with me, step for step. My quads and calves were twitching like they had their own agenda. But this is where the race becomes simple:

You either stop, or you hold the line.
I chose to hold it.

And that was just the opening chapter. Check the next blog post to continue the story!