I was standing on the Oelberg again. This time, though, I didn’t stop on the way up. Straight to the top from the monastery ruins. And in the distance, Löwenburg beckoned… Another 5 kilometres to go. So, effectively, double the distance from the Heisterbach monastery ruins.

On the descent from Oelberg to Margaretenhöhe, I began to doubt myself. And rightly so, as it turned out just a few metres later. By the next climb, my strength and stamina were already gone. And I still had to get back to the car, which was parked at the ruins. Two hours of pure torture! My muscles and hips were singing the song of death, and on that day I sat on a bench crying more than once. I wanted to give up. To give up on myself and my body and let the illness take its course. But only ever for a brief moment. Then I would hear the sounds of nature again, feel the sun on my skin, and let it soothe and relax me. The rays recharged my batteries a little, and nature eased the pain somewhat. So I would soon get back on my feet and carry on. Again and again. On and on.

A few days later, I was back in the car park, struggling my way up the hill. And a few days after that, I did it again. And again. And again. Over and over. At least a dozen times over the course of a few weeks.

Again: „Real success comes from trying consistency“

Eventually, after many attempts, a great deal of pain and numerous crises, this tree welcomed me at the summit of Löwenburg. And in its shade, it dawned on me that if I kept training and could somehow resolve my health issues, I would achieve more than ‘just’ this climb.

And that ‘more’ had been on my bucket list for many years…