Awakening in Sport – The Beginning of the Journey 🏋️♂️✨
My name is Danijel, and I come from Vogrsko near Nova Gorica 🏡. I started getting involved in sports in 2004 🗓️. Back then, I felt that I had to make something of myself 💪, so I simply began working on myself – exercising 🏋️, running 🏃, and meditating 🧘.
This lifestyle quickly completely drew me in 🌊. I found the peace 🕊️ and freedom 🌄 I had been searching for – freedom in movement through running and training, and peace in my thoughts through meditation 🧠. That is how I still live today. Sport also gave me self-belief 🙏 and proof that you can create something great out of yourself 🌟.
Of course, I had to distance myself from old friends 👥 and stay true to myself 💎. Back then, there were no social media platforms or smartphones 📵 – when you stepped away, you truly had peace 🌿. I preferred lifting weights 🏋️ and ran less 🏃♂️. I ran twice a week, 6–10 km, consistently throughout the years 🗓️. That consistency now allows me to train and run much more 🔥.
Over time, without forcing anything, I built a strong body 💪 – thanks especially to strength training in the gym 🏋️. For the past 10 years, I have also worked as a personal trainer 👨🏫, professionally, in my own gym 🏠.
The Test and the Road to Ultra Trails ⛰️🏃♂️
I started running seriously in 2020 🗓️. It all began when I participated with a friend in the Soča Outdoor race in Tolmin 🏞️. At the time, I had no idea what awaited me 🤯. Without experience, I took on a 20 km course 🏃♂️💦 and couldn’t believe how physically and mentally destroyed I felt 😅. After the race, I told myself I would never do it again ❌.
But it didn’t take long before I began training seriously 💪. Since 2020, I’ve completed 1,229 running workouts 📈. Yes, I had run before 🏃, but this is when I truly began. When COVID frightened us 😷, running gave me real energy ⚡ and a sense of accomplishment 🏅. When you’re outside in the dark 🌑, rain 🌧️, or mud in the mountains 🏔️, you confront the outside world and discover your inner blockages 🧠.
I used to fear the summer heat 🔥, but once I started running in the coastal heat 🌞, I realized it actually suits me very well. Now I can easily run 50 km on asphalt 🛣️ or find myself alone in the middle of the forest 🌲, surrounded by the sounds of nature – it’s an incredible feeling 🌌.
For the past three years, I have been running ultra trails 🏔️🏃♂️. The longest trail race I completed was 160 km with 7,000 meters of elevation gain ⛰️, which I finished in 28 hours and 45 minutes ⏱️. During that race, I had to learn to manage my body’s needs and my mind 🧠. The mindset I had built over the years carried me to the finish line 🎯.
I see running as self-development – I always compete with myself 👊. For me, running is not just a sport, but a way to become resilient, strong, and mentally tough 💪🧘.
The Road, Challenges, and Life Lessons 🛣️💥
In the past year, I transitioned from trail running to road running 🛣️ and was shocked 😮 – an ultra marathon on the road is physically harder than a trail! Because of the repetitive movement, your legs fatigue quickly 🦵💢, and everything starts to hurt 😖. Running 100 km on the road can really bite 😅. That’s why I’m now training to be able to run 100 km on the road 🏃♂️💨 and stay strong until the very end 🌟, with a long-term goal – the Spartathlon in Greece 🇬🇷🏆.
I love tough challenges 🏔️🔥 because they are part of the self-work I mentioned at the beginning of this story. The road to my goal is still long 🛤️, but I have the willpower, and for me, training is joy ❤️ and a lifestyle 🌟 I cannot imagine living without.
To everyone starting out with running 🏃♂️, I recommend not forcing it 🛑, but gradually increasing mileage ➕ while also incorporating strength exercises 🏋️. That way, you prevent injuries and become both durable and strong 💪. I train twice a day: running in the morning 🌄, cycling 🚴 or lifting weights 🏋️ in the afternoon. I rarely do two running sessions in one day. I actually prefer running in the rain 🌧️ – the feeling of freedom is priceless 🕊️. If you don’t like rain, give it a try – after 10 minutes, you’ll be looking forward to the next shower 😄.
Running has given my body strength 💪, my heart endurance ❤️, and my mind unbreakable resilience 🧠 – everything you need to overcome life’s obstacles and challenges 🏔️🔥.