Week 4: With motivation and determination you can achieve any goal! 

Name: Gerhard Gulewicz

Age: 45

Location: Bad Ischl/Salzkammergut, Austria

Occupation: Ultra Cyclist

Website: www.gerhardgulewicz.net

RUNTASTIC: Hi Gerhard, we’re excited to introduce you to our Runtastics via the “FUNtastic Four” interview series. They’ll get to know you even better in the coming months when you take on the toughest bike race in the world, Race Across America, but let’s start with something a bit more simple. If you had to describe yourself with just three words or phrases… what would you choose?
I am a professional extreme athlete, consultant and motivational speaker.

RUNTASTIC: Great! We’re really looking forward to following your training this May, leading up to the Race Across America. What gave you the idea to put almost 5,000 km, without interruption, on your bike?
The entire story is beyond the scope of this interview. In short – due to a bet, I was introduced to cycling in 2000 and quickly decided that long distance was the type of racing I wanted to specialize in. I was able to establish itself quickly in this scene, and I achieved great success in 2005 with the 24-Hour Mountain Bike World Title. After winning the World Cup, I was on the lookout for more extreme cycling. And then, I found the one race that is truly interesting: Race Across America. This race is the Olympics of extreme cycling.

Before my transition to professional cycling, I worked as a consultant, speaker and motivational coach. With extreme sports, specifically Race Across America, I have found a platform where I can apply my theoretical knowledge into practice. However, even more importantly, I can transfer and test my entire coaching knowledge in real life application. It is this knowledge and these tested theories which I present in my current day lectures and coaching!

RUNTASTIC: Can you give us a glimpse of your “life” during Race Across America (RAAM)? How long do you ride? How long do you sleep? Do you have any time to eat?
At the start, I ride 40 hours non-stop, and then I take a one hour break. Then, I ride for another 24 hours, followed by another one hour break. I then increase my traveling time to 30 hours followed with a one hour break. This becomes by routine for the remainder of the race. Overall, I only sleep about 7 to 8 hours throughout the entirety of the race. I do EVERYTHING, but sleep, on the bike – eating, drinking, brushing teeth, and more! I only get off to use the restroom.

The diet is mostly in liquid form, so as not to overload the stomach. I must take in 10,000 – 18,000 calories and 15-24 liters of fluid per day, in order to compensate for my output.

RUNTASTIC: Unfortunately, the issue of doping is now closely linked with cycling. Are you able take on such a strenuous challenge without doping?
To start, doping is not a big issue in the extreme cycling world. Although I cannot speak for all riders, it makes very little sense for us. Especially with EPO to increase red blood cells. Because of the extreme endurance we undertake, any potential benefits from doping are more or less destroyed through our efforts. Our bodies operate in a totally different manner than other riders, and even tests can be misleading due to our high output, high risk of dehydration [and subsequent high fluid intake] and so on. Extreme cyclists, of course, need the same strength and tenacity used by a cyclist during a 3-hour stage of the Tour de France; however, we also need much, much more. For the remainder of the race we require very different characteristics, including: clear objectives, motivation and above all perseverance.

RUNTASTIC: So what is your secret? What makes you, at the age of 45, a contender in the toughest bike race in the world?
As already mentioned: goals, motivation and perseverance. Age is always relative. There is the famous saying: You’re only as old as you feel. Then I would probably be 17 (laughing). No, joking aside. I have filled my entire life with endurance sports, particularly these past 12 years. I’ve trained at a very high level, but I can still improve. I can see that based on my performance. And I’ve always said, “As long as I can still improve, I will continue.”

Clearly it is difficult to compete against the sometimes much younger competitors. But I have proven time and again in recent years that I can compete with anybody.

I’ve repeatedly stressed via the media: I will participate in RAAM, until I have won the race. Often, I had nearly attained my goal. Often, but then something would come up. RAAM is so extreme, not only physically, but in other respects as well. The route, the weather (heat, wind, rain) and much more! These points are, and were, often decisive when it comes to race victory. So one needs a bit of luck. And, I am fully convinced that one year I will have both the ability and the dash of required luck to win… Why not 2013??

RUNTASTIC: Amongst all your successes, what has been the greatest moment in your sporting career?
Every success is “the most incredible” at the time. And, my desire for the future is obvious: a RAAM 2013 victory!

RUNTASTIC: And lastly, can you offer up your top three sports tips for our users?
You have to set clear goals and attack them with a lot of motivation and perseverance!

In other words: Set yourself a clear sports or fitness goal. Plan your way to achieving your goal properly (training content). Make sure to train with high quality rather than high quantity. And, the motivation to complete your training and reach your goal must come from within yourself. Success will come quickly if you follow the first two points of this “guide.”

But the determining factor is perseverance. Do not let yourself be swayed when something does not work or progress perfectly. Bumps in the road are quite normal. The road to success is not always a straight linear path upward. But if you have enough stamina, then you will always come back to your right path – and SUCCESS is then inevitable!

RUNTASTIC: Thanks for the great interview and good luck at RAAM 2013!

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For the eighth consecutive time, Gerhard Gulewicz will be taking on the toughest bike race in the world. The race begins June 12th, and Runtastic is proud to be supporting his efforts!

Join us, as Gerhard attacks the almost 5,000 km across the American continent as fast as he can. YOUR CHEERS and the support of all Runtastics will help him conquer the unimaginable physical and mental hardships he’s sure to encounter.

Learn more about Gerhard’s participation in Race Across America 2013 here: www.runtastic.com/raceacrossamerica

GO GO GO! Gerhard Gulewicz! We LIKE IT!

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Motivational expert and lecturer, Norman Bücher is an extreme runner with a passion. The adventurer dominates extreme sport challenges and contests, including the toughest marathons in the world.

At 22 he ran his first marathon, a year later the Biel 100 km. As a 29 year old, he successfully completed the toughest and most demanding extreme mountain race in Europe, the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, which is an astounding 166 km long with 9,400 vertical meters! He has crossed the Atacama Desert in Chile, successfully participated in a 100 mile race in the Himalayas, and completed the Jungle Marathon in Brazil. A major challenge was the successful crossing of the Australian Outback, a total of 1,120 kilometers in two weeks, in May 2012. And, in October 2012, he successfully completed the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon in South Africa.

But, Norman Bücher is more than just a runner. The author of four books has also taught at the School of Business and the Environment in Nürtingen (Germany). As a graduate in business administration and sports marketing management, Norman’s books contain sound business content. He has worked extensively abroad, and for a variety of different consulting firms over the years. Today, in addition to his athletic endeavors, he combines his years of extreme sports experience with his business know-how as rousing and motivational keynote speaker.

His life motto, “Break your limits,” certainly applies to both business and sports situations!

http://www.norman-buecher.de/

http://www.extremsport-redner.de/

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Fifty-seven year old Roger Guillaumin is passionate about running. Since getting started in 1987, this French man has run around 46,000 km, 110 marathons, a dozen 100 km races, and the same number of 24 hour races. He is the French record holder of 2012 with 30 marathons in one year! We chatted with Roger recently and he shared a bit about his passion, his motivation, and his goals for 2013.

 

How do you train?
Since the beginning of 2013, I have already run 1,000 km – just during trainings. I focus on my endurance most of the time, because it is the most important for me. I’m running for fun, but get out there no matter if the weather is too cold and too warm. It’s completely normal for me to run 30-40 km at -10° C in the winter or 30° C in the summer.

What is your motivation?
During my childhood, I lived on a farm. It was sometimes hard, because I had to help my parents, but it was really like a sport. I began to run seriously when I was 30 and it became a complete part of me. At the beginning, I ran because of the beauty and majesty of the mountains. I took part in a lot of trail races during my first 20 years of running and enjoyed the beautiful landscapes of the French Alps. But for about five years now, I’ve been running almost exclusively marathons.

For me, a marathon is not an insurmountable obstacle. I have run a lot of 100 km races and a marathon is not a long distance run for me. It requires only three hours and few minutes of my weekend! After that, I can enjoy my time and discover a new city, including: restaurants, museums, and the parks. In this way, I can satisfy my natural curiosity.

Obviously, my primary motivation is to stay young, fit, and healthy as long as possible. My resting heart rate is 42. Moreover, being the record holder in France with 30 marathons (in 2012) is an honor. I am also proud that my times are pretty solid: an average time of 3 hours and 08 minutes (3:08:00) for my 10 best marathons! In the fall season of 2012, I ran 16 marathons in 16 weekends and one time I ran also two marathons in one weekend (3 hours 45 minutes on Saturday and 3 hours 22 minutes on Sunday). It was amazing!

Why is running important to you?
Running makes me feel great and extremely free, because I have the chance to discover new locations and meet new people. It is also a good excuse to travel abroad, for example, when I ran in Geneva, Lisbon, and Pisa (Italy) last year. Moreover, I’m really satisfied when I’m able to set and subsequently achieve my goals.

What is your best marathon memory?
Being 53 years old and being able to run a marathon in under three hours during the Nice-Cannes Marathon (second-largest marathon in France, after Paris) in 2009: 2 hours 59 minutes 07 seconds (2:59:07).

What are your goals for 2013?
I would like to run 21 marathons, so that at the end of 2013 I can say I have completed 130 marathons. I would also like to improve my average time for my 10 and 20 best marathons.

Some advice for Runtastics?
Drink a lot of water. It is really essential.

Don’t confuse training and racing. During a race, you have to moderate your adrenaline to have enough energy for the last kilometers. Don’t look at your watch too much. Rather, look around you, look at the people who are there to support you, and enjoy the beautiful landscape or city right in front of your nose!

***

Hi,

My name is Daniel Oberkofler and I’m a forward for the Linz Black Wings and the Austrian National Ice Hockey Team.

I had my first experience on ice with the EC Graz team when I was just three years old. After my first step on the ice, I fell down and cried. But I got up, carried on, and since that time I have not strayed from hockey.

For me, hockey was – and still is – an amazing teacher and ‘school of life’. The experience of training and playing every day with other aces, the toughness and speed of the game, the fun in the locker room, and the chance to play in front of packed arenas make hockey unbelievably fascinating to me.

Fortunately, I’ve had the chance to make a profession out of my hobby. At 24 years old, I’m in my seventh season with the Linz Black Wings and for three years I’ve worn an “A” on my jersey as Assistant Captain. As I was selected to be Asst. Captain by my coach and my team, it is a huge honor for me. I am also part of the Austrian National Team, which qualified for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games this year. I was thrilled to be the top scorer of the qualifying tournament with three goals and two assists. And, this means if I am selected by the coach, I will get to partake in the 2013 World Championships in Finland and Sweden and the 2014 Olympic Games in Russia. Two major international events!

There are clearly plenty of targets in the near future which motivate me to continue training hard. But, I try to keep my expectations for the future in check, as circumstances can change very quickly in hockey and plans can be altered in an instant. For me, it’s about working hard everyday to improve myself and to have fun along the way. Time will tell what comes next!

I hope you’ll accompany me on my way!

Yours,
DO74

***

Week 1: “The longest race in the World!”

Name: Christophe Vissant
Location: France
Profession: Ultra-Runner
Website: www.christophevissant.fr

Runtastic: Hi Christophe, great to have you here for the first interview of our new “The FUNtastic Four” blog interview series. Let’s get straight into it. Can you please tell us what unbelievable project you’re currently working on?
Christophe: A lifetime challenge! After running over 1,100 km from Aubagne (South of France) to Paris in 2008, without a day off and at a rate of 75 km per day; after running over 2,700 km from Aubagne to Athens in 2010, without a day off at the same rate; after a total of more than 56,000 km in 10 years, I have a new challenge. Running from the Vélodrome Stadium in Marseille, France to Cairns, Australia via Sydney. It’s 28,000 km, and at 75 km per day, it will take 377 days without a day off.