Transalpin Run: Defeated Over-Ambition

Created: 09/15/2022, 02:00 p.m

By: Nick Scheder

Fighter heart and a mental challenge: Marcus Meinecke (front) with Christoph Angermeier.

© private

MOUNTAIN RUN Marcus Meinecke brings the Transalpin Run to the finish – finding phase with a team partner

Vals/Lenggries - It was a bit of a struggle with the inner attitude.

Trail runner Marcus Meinecke starts to find the sporting challenge of running at the front.

At the Transalpin Run he had to say goodbye to it.

Not because he was injured, ill or unfit.

The Lenggrieser ran alongside team partner Christoph Angermeier, for whom the focus was more on the adventure, the experience, getting through the Alpine crossing as a team.

During the eight stages from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Vals/South Tyrol, the two had to pull themselves together over 254 kilometers and adjust to each other - and they both crossed the finish line satisfied.

30th place in the internationally strong men's class and 108th out of 300 participating teams.

Defeated over-ambition

It was a new experience for the competitive Meinecke.

He had to slow down.

"In retrospect, Christoph was exactly the right team partner, it was good for me not to go completely to the limit." For Meinecke, who recently had to give up the Zugspitz Ultralauf after 60 of 100 kilometers, it was definitely a sense of achievement , to finish a long race.

"And after a finding phase in the first two stages, we got involved with each other," says Meinecke.

"It was spot on.

And we were super happy that we made it.”

Too slow for one, too fast for the other

At first the two didn't get on well with each other.

One was too slow, the other wanted to enjoy and have fun.

But little by little, the unequal companions adjusted to each other: Angermeier from Isen near Erding avoided long breaks at the aid stations and selfies in front of the beautiful Alpine panorama.

And Meinecke slowed down and stopped looking at the placement.

"At the beginning I still said I'd get out if we fell back to the end.

That kind of aroused Christoph’s ambition.”

In the end they both had fun

And in the end both had fun, even the competition pig in Angermeier was awakened: "On the last stage we really let it rip and made up two places." Meinecke was impressed by the fighting heart of his teammate anyway.

“He was on the gums every day and still fought the next day.

Respect."

The crossing of the Alps began in full force.

From Garmisch it was more than 40 kilometers to Nassereith, the next day to Imst and on day three even more than 50 kilometers to Mandarfen.

"I wasn't at the limit in terms of sport, but the high alpine sections really challenged me," says Meinecke.

Sometimes you have to go up the walls or along a ridge on a steel cable with sticks.

"A brutal experience."

Caught up by bad weather

The fourth stage was the mountain sprint up to the Rifflsee, then the bad weather caught up with the runners: the fifth stage to Gurgl in the Ötztal was canceled halfway through, and section six was also shortened.

Was replaced in the afternoon by a race on the World Championship course in the Stubaital.

The last two days could take place again as planned: 38 kilometers to Gossensass in Italy and then another 34 kilometers to Vals.

In the end, the meters in altitude added up to 15,350. Placement didn't play a very important role.

"We were absolutely satisfied," says Meinecke.

"In the end it was a mental struggle for me to get through as a team."

also read

With Iggy Pop to the end of the world: Sara Hallbauer rides Corona Blues away by bike

"Almost too good to be true"

One of his greatest adventures

And one of his greatest adventures.

"And also a sense of achievement after leaving the Zugspitz-Ultra," admits the 40-year-old.

"I had my doubts as to whether I would even be able to finish a race like this," says Meinecke.

"Now I've seen: It's doable." That's probably the end of the Lenggrieser's running season.

And only gets back into the winter season with the first ski touring race in Schwaz.

Then again without a team partner.

But maybe without a certain over-ambition.

Pulled together: Both were happy at the finish, Marcus Meinecke (left) and his teammate Christoph Angermeier.

© PRIVATE