"I can think of nicer ways …"

On September 6 Red Bull Dolomitenmann is being held for the 21st time. Competing is also Austria’s current best mountain runner, Markus Kröll. In an interview the 36-year-old talks about pain and lucky moments in the world’s toughest extreme sport contest.

Former ski jumper Andreas Goldberger once said: ‘The art of mountain running is simple: Take it to your limit, but don’t exceed it.’ Would you say that, too?

The explanation in itself is great, but not so easy to out into practice. Especially with the jostling for positions at the beginning of the race, it gets pretty hectic. And it can happen that you let yourself go with it and start the race too fast. When that happens, you start feeling it on the mountain, and the path to the finish seems to get even longer. It would be ideal if you were able to concentrate on your own race and, in the last few kilometers, could speed up the pace.

Red Bull Dolomitenmann is probably the toughest extreme sport contest in the world. What makes it so fascinating?

I can think of nicer ways to put so much altitude behind you in that time. But when you see how many spectators cheer you on at the ‘Goggsteig’ you know why you pushed yourself so hard in training. No World Cup event has such an atmosphere.

On a 11.1-kilometer course there’s an altitude difference of 1950 meters for the mountain runners. Do you ever ask the question, ‘Why the hell am I doing this?’

I’ve never asked myself this question before. My gut tells me that there’s still a lot in me. When I no longer have this feeling, it’ll be time to stop.

In an earlier interview you said that you associate extreme pain with Red Bull Dolomitenmann. What has been your worst experience so far?

Last year I competed with a double torn ligament in my ankle, and during the race I talked myself into not feeling any pain. But it was the worst I’ve ever felt. But my team-mates weren’t doing any better. Our kayaker, Harald Hudetz, also had an ankle injury, and Roland Stauder, our mountain biker, had a fever. Considering that, our fourth place was a very decent performance.

After last year’s botch up it can only get better this year. What expectations do you have of this year’s race?

I’ve already won seven times, which is why my goal can only be another win. But Red Bull Dolomitenmann is a team contest, and so much can happen during the race: paraglider difficulties, a technical defect with the mountain bike or problems with the kayak’s spray cover. But in any case I’m going to concentrate on my part, and hopefully finish among the top three. After that, it’s just about waiting.