The start of a new chapter

Soundtrack:

I think I knew already back in March, as I was sitting by the airport gate in Stockholm, that it was somehow the start of a new chapter in my life.

I arrived in Germany literally just before all the craziness with corona started. My boyfriend Jost had arrived from Nepal the night before. Perfect timing. I had only planned to stay for one month, but I ended up staying three. And these months have went by so fast. Truth be told, I’m actually really happy that I “got stuck” here. Jost and I don’t have to be apart, and the opportunities for good training here are just endless. The land is hilly and there are endless trails to explore. Back in April I ran half the local Hermannsweg, 80 km and around 1000 hm.

Since I arrived here in Germany, I’ve also started climbing outdoors and learned a lot about sport and trad climbing. Up until March, I had only been top rope climbing and bouldering indoors in Sweden. Jost immediately threw me out of my comfort zone, but he’s been a very good teacher and I’ve developed more than I could have imagined. I’ve gone from attempting to lead climb my first route grade 3 (French scale) to flashing one 6a+, completing another 6a+ project and and currently working on a 6b route. I’m feeling more and more confident in my climbing and excited to work harder, get better and reach new levels.

In fact, in the short time I’ve been here I’ve come to love climbing almost as much as I love running. Climbing has an aspect to it that I can’t really find in running — namely the mental challenge of facing my fears and taking on a task even if I’m scared to death. I love to challenge my fears because it helps me to grow as a person, and climbing has given me the opportunity to do that. That, and it’s the perfect chance for me to develop my mountaineering skills. One of my main goals for this summer is to combine my ultra running with climbing more, going fast and light in the mountains…

…Which is why I am so happy that Jost and I are moving to Chamonix in just one week! Our cozy little apartment in Les Bossons has been waiting for us for some time now. We had planned on moving already at the beginning of May, but then corona came along and the borders to France were closed. But now they’re opening up again on Monday June 15th.

Since the first time I visited Chamonix I’ve been in love with the place — it’s truly the central hub of European alpinism and mountain running. It feels almost too good to be true that I now actually get to spend every day there. I’ve got so many plans and projects I want to take on. I’m as excited as a little kid and I almost have to hold myself back from not doing too much…

This new chapter of my life has just begun, and I can’t wait to find out how it unfolds.