Half Marathon #24: The Lesson in Progress

The training effect is kicking in. I remember how the first half marathon last year felt—every step heavy, every kilometer a grind. Now, the same distance takes less time, and with the same effort, I can run longer.

This is the beauty of the training effect: repeating the same activities, day after day, builds a foundation. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, you become stronger.

But here’s the thing: progress comes with a warning. Enter the Dunning-Kruger effect.

The first phase of learning feels incredible. Gains are fast, and confidence soars. You start to think you’ve cracked the code, that you know it all. Congratulations—you’ve reached the summit of Mt. Stupid.

And then reality hits. Behind that summit lies a vast mountain range. Peaks higher than you imagined. Valleys deeper than you feared. You realize how little you actually know, and suddenly, progress feels slow, even hopeless. This is the Valley of Despair.

This is where many people quit. The effort required feels disproportionate to the progress made. Knowledge feels out of reach, as if no matter how hard you try, the real answers remain elusive.

But here’s the truth: progress doesn’t come in leaps. It comes in small, minor increments, so subtle you feel like you’re standing still—walking on a plateau that stretches on for weeks, months, sometimes years.

This is where trust matters. Trust in the process. Trust in the repetition.

The results are building, even if they aren’t immediately visible or measurable. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the breakthrough happens. Progress accelerates—crashing in like a wave.

So, keep going. Keep repeating the activities you know create results. Trust the process, even when the plateau feels endless. Growth is there, waiting to show itself when the time is right.

The mountain chain is long, but every step forward is still a step closer.

What about you?

What’s your “mountain” right now? Whether it’s in running, business, or life—how do you stay consistent when progress feels slow? Share your insights in the comments—I’d love to hear your strategies and learn from your journey!

This was August 2022 - Marathon Training

It is done. I made the decision to continue with my marathon project. 

Not necessarily that I aim to do a marathon every month. I am more up to enjoying a marathon once in a while.

It must also not be a full marathon distance at an official event. During the pandemic, many event organizers have set up virtual marathon runs that aspiring marathoners can do whenever and wherever they want.

Let's get things started.

In August, I completed 176 Trainingskilometer and am aiming to run the first full marathon next year in Vienna in spring.

Wrap Up July 2022

 In July 2022 I made the decision to train for marathons again. 10 years ago I ran 17 marathon in about 3 years, and afterward had other goals.

After 18 days I got a brief insight into where I stand. In simple words: I have to treat training like beginning from scratch. 

What is the first step?

Cleaning up nutrition habits. Back in the days when I ran marathons my nutrition plan consisted of:

- Porridge

- Vegetable Soup

- Salads 

- Green Tea and

- Water

The first goal in August 2022:

Buying only ingredients for the above list. Since I don‘t like throwing food away, it also means cleaning out the house of all food that isn‘t on the list. Cooking and eating garbage basically. :-)

For the running it is getting back to 10-15 k runs with a run/walk regimen. Getting in the distance first, and working on details later.

Happy August. Enjoy Summer.

Training Day #13 - Life Without Goals is Boring - Running Ultras

 It's been over 10 years since I've done my longest run in over 40 degrees celsius on a small race track in southern Styria.

The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team organized the 6 hours race in the small town. I participated twice. Sweet memories.

For somehow reason, I stopped running Marathons after Number 17. It was a run in the Styrian mountains in 2014. 44 kilometers uphill and downhill in a mesmerizing environment.

Why did I stop?

I enjoyed doing a few relays with friends in Vienna until 2017 and had amazing business opportunities that I didn't want to miss out on from 2018 to about 2021. I have traveled the world for business and have been to countries like the United States, some European Countries, Canada, China, Taiwan, and South Korea, just to name a few. You can't have everything at the same time. Although I always enjoyed running/walking through the cities and countryside of countries I visited, I didn't want to make time for a solid marathon training schedule.

In 2019 I had a ski accident that made proper running challenging. On top of that, a small thing called a pandemic happened. The official story.

The truth is that I stopped training for marathons and am out of shape. I walked over pictures from my marathon runs of the past and felt the spark again.

Now that the pandemic is ending, Marathon and Ultramarathon Runs are coming back. And I want to be part of a few. 

There is still the 100 Marathon Goal I set over a decade ago. I dreamed of doing 100 marathon runs between 40 and 55. Still some time to go and move the needle forward.

The thing with goals is that they are a Northstar to guide you. Sometimes faster, sometimes slower, sometimes with interruptions.

I felt the spark again a few days ago, wanted to know whether I can start the fire in me again, and started training 12 days ago. Today is Day #13, and a long way back to completing a marathon distance in under 4:30 hours.

Let's start with a first minor goal: Running the marathon in Vienna in April 2023. Just another marathon.

The current training regime is getting the distance in with running/walking.

Today is January 6. A quick note. I have set myself the goal of a marathon in 2020. Latest in September 2020. Training goes well so far. I started the year with a 10-15k every second day. Cross-Training the other day. Covering about 30 k in the first week.

A promising start.

Marathon #17: Bergmarathon in Kainach

August 2014 - 44k

New Years Resolution - 2020

It’s been a while since my last post. Life happens. Priority changes and shifts. The last marathon was in 2014. I remember it well. It was one of the most exciting experiences in my life. Running 44 k in the mountains with 2.000 meters ascent and descent.

Afterward, it was a few half marathons. And that’s that. I shifted my focus back to business to build some amazing companies that could potentially shape our society's future. In 2018 I actually planned to train for marathons in 2019. And life happened again. This time really happened to me.

I went skiing on the exact same day in the year when I stopped skiing 25 years ago. So one might think - ah ok - skiing after a 25-year break. No wonder accidents happen. Well, if only that would have been my reality. Unfortunately, it was not. I got run over by a sled. I had a few injuries and had to pull back from my marathon dreams for a few months. Long story short.

So as we are approaching 2020. Not the start of a new decade, as some people think. But anyhow, a nice number - two times 20. Summing it up, it’s the actual marathon distance. It is said that the famous Greek messenger ran 40 k from Marathon to Athens to report the victory of the famous Greek army against the Persian invaders. And then he died. Also, when humans decided to revive that historical moment of humanity, the first Olympic marathon race was over a distance of 40k.

Goals are my passion. So what about the goal of running a marathon in 2020. Rumor is that the first marathon was run in August or September 490 BC. So I aim for the Wachau Marathon in Austria on September 27, 2020.