Rafael Fuchsgruber

Rafael Fuchsgruber is the most successful German extreme runner in the deserts of this world. He is an entrepreneur, ultramarathon ambassador, a cultural cosmopolitan, mental trainer, systemic coach and an extremely charismatic personality. He looks back on an impressive life and professional history and motivating sports career. His private career describes a person characterized by great mental and physical challenges.

As a DJ and concert promoter, he led an extremely unhealthy life. After that, he turned his existence upside down. Alcohol and cigarettes went into the trash, and the family man started running again in his early forties. On his first attempt, the former party king and workaholic made just three kilometers on his way to becoming an extreme athlete.

The entrepreneur (owner of a concert agency and a music publishing house) is a book author ("Running wild") and columnist for various sports magazines.

Exemplary desert races - "Ocean Floor Race", 260 km non-stop through the Sahara - "Run the Rann" (India), 101 km non-stop - "Desert Ultra (Namibia), 250 km in five stages - "Jordan Race" (Jordan), 250 km in six stages - "Ultra Africa Race" (Cameroon), 200 km in five stages - "Gobi March" (China) - "Sahara Race" (Egypt), 250 km in six stages - "Libyan Challenge" (Sahara/Akakus Mountains), 200 km non-stop - "Marathon des Sables" (Sahara/Morocco), 250 km in six stages - "Zagora Marathon" (Sahara/Morocco), 42 km - Atacama Crossing (Chile), 250 km - crossing the Namib Desert, 1000 km.

All borderline experiences for the ultra runner - equipped with food, sleeping bag, emergency equipment in the backpack (e.g. aluminum blanket, knife, compass, whistle, signal rockets, etc.) - and sometimes life-threatening, if you miss a route marker, hallucinate, fight against cramps, heat and cold. But on the other hand, filled with great nature experiences and human contacts, as well as wonderful hospitality. "Respect, humility, faith or whatever everyone calls it for themselves are enormously important. The desert is a tremendous force." All the more overwhelming then is the feeling of being a "finisher" after a competition.

The problem for Fuchsgruber is no longer the race itself, but settling into everyday life after the race. "I need a certain amount of time to get back to normal."

Fascinatingly, he describes the challenges of his incredible rides through rocky and sandy wastelands, self-hypnosis on the course, injuries, dehydration and the tremendous solidarity of the participants who take on the borderline experiences and finally, at the finish line, all won. The last one is received with a standing ovation by all the other runners and the organizer crew at the finish. He says of himself, "I am a seeker, a nomad, a free-roaming maniac."