9 Years of Willpower
Run Like A Punk
Birthday Alert
9 years of willpower... wow. When I started this running brand in 2015, I never thought it would last this long. And even less that it would reach so many wonderful people. This still means the world to me.
I always selfishly celebrate Willpower birthdays with a special microdrop that I might end up being the only person who likes it. In 2024, it says:
"Run Like a Punk"
🩶
The Levelhead & The Punk
Anyone who follows my writing knows that I often refer to two sides of my personality, two hearts in my chest: the Levelheaded and the Punk.
I have said it many times and I will keep saying it: I don't favor the Levelheaded or the Punk. Both are who I am as a runner and as a person. Nevertheless, I dedicated today's celebration and the special design to the one and only Punk.
Running Like A Punk
The last few weeks of my running life have been filled with uncertainty. Caught in the twilight zone between injury and recovery, I often don't know if what I'm doing is right. Yes, I am running again, but...
Am I making things worse by running?
Should I have surgery after all?
Can a constantly irritated knee become a chronic problem?
What should my next running life look like?
What do I really want out of running?
Is my pain scale objective or am I just fooling myself?
Am I doing the strength exercises correctly?
Will I still be excited about cycling in the winter?
In the midst of all the doubts and insecurities, there are always runs that are just plain beautiful. Free of all thoughts and worries, just running, no matter how fast, no matter how far, feeling myself, breathing, tap tap tap tap. Running Like a Punk.
Running like a Punk also saved my ass at Western States. If I hadn't left everything I know or think I know behind at a certain point, I would have stayed in "The Chäir" and my race would have been over.
My greatest running success in 2024, maybe in my entire running life, was also a Punk Run. To this day, I can't believe how much joy and ease I felt as I ran lap after lap around an acre in Rodgau, until at some point I had covered 42.2 kilometers in 2:57h.
As important as this running milestone had always been to me, it didn't matter at that moment. The run itself was the real miracle, the real achievement.
Back to the Birthday Child
Willpower has allowed me to express my very personal view of running in mad words, pictures, and textiles. This form of expression and self-realization is not a given. That's why I'm all the more grateful that so many people share my understanding of running, or at least are interested in it. For me, this sport has always been much more than just exercise. More than the latest features of my Garmin watch and the percentage of energy returned by your super shoes. But most of all, more than what the mass market companies are trying to sell us.
Willpower was created to honor the individuality of each runner, above and beyond the pack. At the same time, Willpower allows runners of strong character to express their values and beliefs. Values and beliefs that play a key role in all aspects of their lives. Running in particular has the ability to show who we are and what we stand for. It allows us to set ourselves apart, but also to unite with like-minded people. Willpower supports both.
Everything Not Running
I always like to chat with my friend Henning. Whether there is a microphone on or not makes no difference to us. But this time it was, and we published the conversation as a podcast on Runner's World.
It's mostly about my new book, Hundert-Meilen-Herz. But it's less about what's in the book and more about the process of creating it. How do you come to write a running book? How long does it take? Who helps you with it? Does it make you rich? Or at least famous?
Henning and I discuss all these questions and more in the new Runner's World Podcast No. 155. A true long run saver.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch für 9 Jahre Willpower! Das ist wirklich erstaunlich in Zeiten, wo so viele laufmarken etc. auch in der Zeit von Corona untergegangen sind. Ich wünsche Dir und Deinem Team von Willpower viele weitere erfolgreiche Jahre!