Sights, Scents, and Sprints: A 10k Through Ulm

With my last 10k run in my hometown only two weeks behind me and my training routine not really having improved since then, it was time to hit the pavement once again. Originally, I had my eyes set on a half-marathon for this day, but I decided to downgrade to the 10k run a few weeks ago. The silver lining? The 10k didn’t start until the afternoon, which meant I could enjoy a relaxing morning with my friends, who were gracious enough to host me nearby.

After a leisurely morning, we made our way to Ulm, where we strolled through the old town on our way to the finish line. Standing tall in the distance was the Ulm Minster – once the tallest church in the world, now dethroned by the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. Fun fact: the cross topping the Sagrada Família was actually produced about half an hour away from Ulm, and the crane that lifted it up? Yep, it came from another neighbor to Ulm. Let’s hope there's no lingering bitterness here. The run’s official website hadn't caught up with this update yet, still advertising the finish line as being "until you discover the highest church tower on earth." Luckily, we didn't have to tack on an extra 1,300 km to verify that claim.

More pressing for me, though, was seeing that the last 200 meters would be an uphill climb. And the route had so many twists and turns, I didn’t even attempt to memorize it, but that uphill finish definitely stuck in my mind.

We arrived at the starting location with plenty of time to spare, allowing me to soak in some rays and stretch out before the race. The weather was much better than expected. With runners of all ages and abilities buzzing around, there was that familiar mix of nervousness and anticipation in the air.

As the clock ticked closer to the 2 p.m. start, we were treated to the iconic sounds of "Cotton Eye Joe" blaring over the speakers. A bit cheesy, sure, but it somehow added to the fun of the moment. When it was finally my turn to get going, I made sure to keep an eye on my pace from the get-go, especially since my knee had given me a few warnings earlier in the day to not overdo it.

Instead around the 5 km mark, my stomach started to cause more trouble than my knee. We passed by a kebab BBQ place, and the mouth-watering aroma hit me so hard that I almost turned around to get a bite. I’m not joking – it was that tempting! If I ever run this race again, I’m definitely asking if they can set up a mini döner refreshment station for us runners. Now that’s a fuel-up I’d love!

The course took us along the scenic banks of the Danube River, and I couldn’t help but admire how different it looked compared to its grander appearance in Budapest. It felt much smaller here, but it added a charming element to the run, especially as we crossed the bridges crossing the border into Bavaria and wound through various neighborhoods. Every so often, I’d catch a glimpse of the Ulm Minster towering in the distance, as if it were teasing us, getting closer one moment and then disappearing around another bend the next.

The route wasn’t all picturesque, though. There were stretches that took us through regular housing areas, which admittedly weren’t the most thrilling parts of the race. But the beauty of running in a city race is that mix of sights – from stunning landmarks to everyday streets. As we hit the last few kilometers, I could feel my knee still holding up, so I decided to pick up the pace.

As we twisted and turned through the inner city, I began expecting the final incline after every corner, but it just kept eluding me. When it finally appeared and the towering church loomed ahead, and with 200 meters to go, I got tunnel vision. Everything around me faded away – the spectators with my friends somewhere amoung them, the other runners, even the church itself. It was just me versus that final stretch.

My legs trying to refuse the final push, my heart racing, I pushed on, determined to cross that finish line. And then, finally, there it was. I crossed it and happily start taking in those deeps breaths of accomplishment and exhaustion.

As I looked at my watch, I saw that I’d improved my time by 47 seconds from two weeks ago. It wasn’t a massive leap, but it was enough to make all the effort, worth it. Maybe next time, I’ll even convince that kebab place to set up shop along the route to make this run even better.