The 17h Curfew Run was born out of the hardship of the Corona pandemic. Like many athletes, I was confronted with the situation that one run after the other was canceled. But still, how do you come up with the idea of running around Lake Echternach for just 17 hours?

 The year 2020 basically started well. Full of verve, I started my training for my first 100 mile run, which was to take place in Tuscany. I already started in 2018 for my first 100 kilometer run at the Tuscany Crossing and I was so excited about the Val d'Orcia, that I wanted to tackle this new distance there again. The run was scheduled for mid-April and was cancelled due to the situation. And so it went on... In October, however, the situation seemed to be a bit more relaxed again, and indeed, the Traildorado 24h trail run could take place under strict conditions!  BUT : Luxembourg was declared a risk zone three days before and I couldn't travel to Germany. I needed an alternative plan again. I decided to run the Way of St. James in Luxembourg (176km) non-stop on my own. Of course, this requires proper planning regarding the route and food. For this, I needed some volunteers for the aid stations that I could rely on 100%. And there it was, the second "but", and the third: The restaurants and cafes were closed in November and a curfew was introduced - at that time from 6 am to 10 pm. Walking the Camino de Santiago in 16 hours.... not feasible for me. Moreover, without the possibility to have a drink or a meal in a café or restaurant, as well as with the uncertainty if the volunteer person at the aid station was not in isolation or quarantine. But I didn't give up, I just needed an alternative plan again, namely I had to be able to adapt my plan to the latest rules at any time and be completely on my own. And so I came up with the idea of running around Lake Echternach the weekend before Christmas (December 19th). At the time, there was also discussion about possibly lifting the curfew again, so I assumed that I would run for 24 hours. But the curfew remained, with a one hour difference. This meant I could run around Echternach Lake from 6am to 11pm, with no outside help, alone with my food truck in the parking lot. So there it was, the 17h Curfew Run around Lake Echternach.

 I wanted to take the opportunity to combine this run with a fundraiser. I decided to support the organization Sportunity with my run. Since I got a lot of feedback and requests from family, friends, acquaintances as well as strangers who wanted to accompany me for a few laps, and at the time only 4 people were allowed to run together, I had to divide the people. Some just wanted to stop by and cheer me on, others wanted to walk or run some laps with me.

So on December 19 at 6am I started running at Echternach Lake, accompanied by my best friend on a bike. When we started it was still dark and we experienced a wonderful sunrise. For December, the temperatures were still quite mild and it should remain dry at least during the day. And so I ran round after round... the whole time in company with very different, very dear and positive people. I actually didn't even notice that I was running around the lake the whole time. I also didn't even notice that there were supposedly a lot of people at the lake that day, and I had to keep meandering through. I was somehow able to block out everything around me, whereas all the people who accompanied and visited me were very present to me and I can also still remember all the conversations and details. I was so happy every time, especially when I saw friends and acquaintances. I actually tend to run alone, whether in training or on a run. But the 17h Curfew run stood out in particular because all the people who accompanied and supported me that day actually helped shape the run and made it the positive memory I have now. I don't know how I would have experienced the run had I been alone. I actually only ran alone for two hours, and about 15 people accompanied me or were just there.

As it slowly dawned and became dark, it then also began to rain. The last hours an ultrarunner, who already has some challenges behind him, accompanied me. And at 21:30 my partner Mike was suddenly there to run with me until the end. Because of the curfew, my companion had to leave, so I was happy that I didn't have to run the last hour alone in the rain and in the dark. Running was a bit difficult for me at that point, because I was running on asphalt the whole time, which I'm not used to at all as a trail runner and which made my body pretty tired. Already in training I ran mostly on flat, eternally long bike paths, which was a completely different load for me. And so it slowly came to an end.... around 22:40 I finished my last lap. In total, I ran 38 laps, which equals 115 kilometers. When I finished the last lap and saw the car in the parking lot, my right leg went on strike. I suddenly couldn't move anymore, so I had to literally drag myself to the car with Mike's help and could barely get in. Getting out and taking off my shoes was even more difficult. But after 2 days everything was forgotten, my legs felt good again. I actually didn't realize until today that I actually walked around the lake for so long. Maybe the "where" didn't even matter here. After all the lockdowns, the restrictions and being alone, I guess the "it is" was more important, which means the fact of being able to implement my plan at all without any further new restriction, just to run, to move freely, and even with other people, for 17 hours. "It is", it is taking place - not cancelled because of Covid. And who knows, maybe I will make up for the missing 7 hours and then run the 24h... TBC ;-)