Summit Conqueror: Kimi Schreiber’s Journey Between Tranquility and Challenge
Dawn is breaking, and the sky over Munich glows a soft pink. Kimi Schreiber settles onto her couch in Thalkirchen. A steaming cup of coffee sits beside her; the 29-year-old sits cross-legged, ready to start the day. For Kimi, these quiet moments are just as precious as the peaks she climbs. A cup of coffee from the French press and her morning stretching routine are rituals that kick off her day—a quiet celebration of routine amid a life full of challenges and unpredictable twists and turns.
In this portrait story, Kimi gives us a deep insight into her life. We experience the harsh reality of the pressure to perform and the quiet grandeur of the mountains, which serve as both a retreat and a training ground for Kimi. The mountains, with their relentless climbs and adventurous downhills, are her constant companion, her challenge, and her inspiration.
Kimi, one of Germany’s top trail runners, knows the ins and outs of her sport. She shows us how she finds her balance between training and recovery amid the peaks and valleys of life. An exciting journey that tells a story of self-discovery and passion.
The Philosophy of Ups and Downs
For Kimi Schreiber, trail running is more than just a sport—it’s her philosophy of life. “It shouldn’t be about others, but about me,” she says. This mantra helps her stay focused, especially when the path gets rocky, the climbs seem endless, and she sometimes finds herself looking outward too often instead of staying centered.
“It can’t always be uphill—that’s clear. But when it’s downhill for too long, at some point you start to question what you’re doing. Yet it’s precisely these challenges that give me the strength to keep going,”
says Kimi with a smile that radiates determination and inner peace. The mountains teach her that every setback is an opportunity for self-reflection and renewal.
The Power of Silence
Kimi’s training in the mountains is more than just physical preparation for the next competition. It’s a form of therapy, an opportunity to clear her mind and focus on what really matters: herself.
“For me, the mountains and the trails are a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But not only that—running on these beautiful trails is also a big part of my job.”
Up here, far from the city, she finds the peace she needs to gather her thoughts and recharge her energy. The unspoiled nature of the Alps offers her the perfect backdrop for unwinding, reflecting, and training.
Kimi draws strength from the mountains and enjoys the tranquility of nature.
Her job involves going up and down hills. That’s just part of the job. But a downhill stretch that lasts too long can sometimes make her doubt herself.
What a joy it is to run on these beautiful trails and call it my job.
The perfect setting to recharge.
A Life on the Trails
Every step Kimi takes on the trails is filled with passion; her deep connection to nature and to running is clearly palpable. The trails at Kellerjoch in Tyrol—beautiful and endless—offer new challenges around every bend. Kimi trains every day. But even the most experienced athlete needs rest and recovery. After intense training sessions, Kimi takes breaks and follows a consistent recovery program that includes stretching, foam rolling, and physical therapy treatments.
“My recovery program, which includes stretching and fascia training with the BLACKROLL, is essential for my flexibility and injury prevention. It’s also a valuable moment of inner peace and focus.”
Over the years, she has come to understand that recovery is an essential part of running—something she never would have thought possible before. “Those 20 to 40 minutes spent stretching, rolling, and putting my feet up—for example, with the COMPRESSION BOOTS —really do me good. For me, that’s recovery: giving back to my body what it gives me in training. For long-term health, it’s important to take matters into your own hands. Nobody can do that for you.”
Her long-term goal is to maintain her healthy and high-performing body so she can continue to celebrate successes and achieve her goals, such as a top-ten finish at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in late August 2024.
Running for the Soul: Kimi’s Path to Success in Trail Running
Since she began trail running in 2017, Kimi has had an impressive career. Her international breakthrough came in 2022 with her victory in the marathon distance at the Madeira Island Ultratrail. Further successes followed, including a one-two finish at the Adidas TERREX Infinite Trails. The year 2023 was a record-breaking year for Kimi, even though it wasn’t easy on a personal level: She set a new course record at the Ultra-Trail Cape Town, as well as at the Cappadocia Ultratrail in Turkey.
“This year, I probably ran my best race ever,” Kimi reflects on her performance at the Eiger Ultratrail in July 2024, where she finished in third place. For Kimi, such successes are more than just medals—they are milestones on her journey toward personal bests and a fulfilling life in harmony with her passion for running.
Stories Off the Trail
Kimi Schreiber is a fascinating and multifaceted personality. Born in Starnberg, she has made Munich her home. Here, she channels her creative side as a blogger, podcaster, and journalist for running magazines.
“I love working in the city’s small cafés. It’s as if I’m exploring Munich through the eyes of an observer—as a storyteller of the tales the city reveals to me.”
For her, Munich is the perfect place to find a balance between anonymity and a sense of community. She often sits at a table with a coffee in hand, surrounded by the sounds of the city, drawing inspiration from the people and moments she observes. It’s these small, everyday encounters that bring her stories to life.
Kimi wants to motivate others with her own story and experiences. She firmly believes that with determination and dedication, you can achieve great things. For Kimi, running is a metaphor for life itself.
“There are always ups and downs, but the most important thing is that we never stop looking ahead.”
This attitude not only adds a special touch to her own life but also inspires those around her to embrace their own challenges and appreciate life’s small steps.
The Essence of Being
Free when running, creative when writing. Successful in sports, powerful with words. For Kimi, this is an inseparable cycle in which everything is interconnected, she explains.
“For me, the mountains are a place where I feel incredibly small and insignificant, yet at the same time incredibly embraced and welcome. It’s simply something grand that we’re allowed to be a part of—but it’s not about us; it’s about the bigger picture. That’s what I love about the mountains,” Kimi gushes. This intense connection to nature and the awareness of her own small role in the bigger picture give her the strength to keep going tirelessly.
The short film captures these majestic mountain moments in a striking way. And ultimately, it answers the question of who Kimi Schreiber is—or rather, who she wants to be. A life between the city and the mountains, between achievement and tranquility, between challenge and fulfillment—that is Kimi Schreiber. A person for whom there is far more at stake than mere athletic success.
