www.philipp-reiter.de/
BIO
My parents have always taken my two siblings and me away from the TV and computer games into the mountains to show us the beauty of nature. Hiking, climbing, biking, ski touring – but it was not competitive at all only “outdoor adventures”. At the age of 15 I saw an advertisement for a ski mountaineering race close to my home and decided to take part there.
I really liked to challenge myself, to overtake older guys with obviously better equipment and to “give it all”. So infected with the “virus”, I started to train more seriously and did some mountain runs in summer. At the age of 18, a local shop dealer asked me if I wanted to be his team partner for the Transalpine Run, an 8-days-alps-crossing by foot, and this was when I found my passion for trail- and Sky running…
INTERVIEW
To find the perfect trail. I know that this will probably never happen but I think it’s the goal of all trail-runners to run THE PATH – to feel the speed, the gravity in the turns, the grip of the shoes that cut through the terrain, to breathe the fresh, energetic air and to ride as light as a feather.
I am a mountain lover and like to enjoy the brilliant views on the top. My motivation is to feel the energy of nature, just to hear the bench cracking under my feet, the birds singing and my heartbeat pulsing. The mix of physical exhaustion and absorbing from the beautiful surrounding makes me feel happy. If you can share this with friends it’s even more great…
During the week I usually train alone in the mountains around my hometown Bad Reichenhall but at the weekends I try to make longer runs or cycling loops with friends.
I think that I don’t have a real recipe (and I would not share my top-top secret ;-). No, honestly, it’s discipline and hard work day by day. Spending a lot of hours on the mountains makes you better and increases your endurance…
That I will reach the finish at all. In long ultra races in alpine terrain it’s so easy to twist your ankle, to have a bad fall or to collapse that my main goal is always to cross the finish line. But of course on the start line I hope I have chosen the right clothing, packed all the mandatory gear and took some toilet paper (for emergency ;-))
It’s my parents. Without their support I would not have received what I already have and couldn’t continue as I do. It’s not only their help of organizing things, motivate me if I don’t feel good or cheer along the race course. It’s that I do know that they would do everything for me if I am in deep trouble.
Listen to your body! As an athlete it’s important to work together with your “engine”, to take care of it and not overuse it. Your body is your friend and not your enemy!
I want to explore more trails around the world and run some of the most iconic races on the globe. On my to-do-list are e.g. UTMB, Diagonale des Fous, Hardrock and a few more. And as I am a student at the moment, I want to finish that too to get my university degree in teaching (mathematics and biology).