Summit Seeker: Kimi Schreiber’s Journey Between Tranquility and Challenge

The morning dawns, and the sky above Munich shimmers in gentle hues of pink. Kimi Schreiber settles onto her couch in Thalkirchen, Germany, a steaming cup of coffee by her side. The 29-year-old sits cross-legged, ready to embrace the day. For Kimi, these serene moments are as cherished as the peaks she climbs. A coffee from the French press and her morning stretching routine are rituals that introduce her day—a quiet celebration of routine amidst a life full of challenges and unforeseen twists.

In the portrait story film, Kimi offers us an intimate glimpse into her world. We witness the harsh realities of performance pressure and the silent grandeur of the mountains, which serve as both retreat and training ground for Kimi. The mountains, with their relentless ascents and thrilling descents, are her constant companions, her challenges, and her inspiration. As one of Germany's top trail running athletes, Kimi navigates the peaks and valleys of life with a delicate balance between training and recovery. Her journey is a riveting narrative of self-discovery and passion.

The Philosophy of Ups and Downs

For Kimi Schreiber, trail running is more than just a sport—it’s one big part of her life philosophy. “It’s should not be about others. I should focus on me, otherwise I’m just getting lost” she says. This mantra helps her stay focused, particularly when the path gets rocky and the climbs seem endless, especially as she occasionally looks outward rather than inward.

“It can’t always be uphill, but if it’s downhill for too long, you start questioning what you’re doing. But these challenges normally give me the strength to keep going,”

Kimi says 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 therapy—a chance to clear her mind and focus on what matters most: herself.

“The mountains and the trails are a welcome escape from the hectic everyday life. But it’s also a big part of my job to run these beautiful trails.”

Up here, away from the city, she finds the peace she needs to organize her thoughts and recharge. The pristine nature of the Alps provides the perfect backdrop for unwinding, reflecting, and training.

A Life on the Trails

Every step Kimi takes on the trails is filled with passion, and her deep connection to nature and running is clear. The trails at the Kellerjoch in Tirol, Austria, beautiful and endless, present new challenges around every bend. Even though Kimi is used to train daily, yet even the best athlete needs rest and recovery. After intense training sessions, Kimi takes breaks and adheres to a rigorous recovery regimen involving stretching, rolling, and physiotherapy.

“My recovery program with stretching and fascial training with the BLACKROLL is essential for my flexibility and injury prevention. It’s also a valuable moment of inner calm and concentration.”

Over the years, she has come to understand that recovery is a crucial part of running—something she never thought possible before. “These 20 to 40 minutes of stretching, rolling, and using my compression boots really do me good. This is my way of recovery: giving my body back what it gives me in training. For long-term health, it’s important to take it into your own hands.”

Her long-term goal is to maintain a healthy and capable body to continue celebrating successes and achieving goals, such as finishing Top Ten in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc at the end of August 2024.

Running for the Soul: Kimi’s Path to Success in Trail Running

Since entering the trail running scene in 2017, Kimi has carved out an impressive career. Her international breakthrough came in 2022 with a marathon win at the Madeira Island Ultratrail. Further successes followed, including a double victory at the Adidas TERREX Infinite Trails. The year 2023 was a record-setting one for Kimi, even though she struggled lots in this year: 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. Such successes are more than just medals for Kimi—they are milestones on her journey to personal bests and a fulfilling life in harmony with her passion for running.

Stories Beyond the Trail

Kimi Schreiber is a captivating personality with many facets. Born in Starnberg, she has made Munich her home. Here, she explores her creative side as a blogger, podcaster, and journalist for running magazines. “I love working in the city’s small cafés. It feels like I’m exploring Munich through the eyes of an observer—as a storyteller of the stories the city reveals to me,” Kimi says with a smile.

Munich is the perfect place for her to find the balance between anonymity and community. Often, she sits with a coffee in hand at a table surrounded by the city’s sounds, drawing inspiration from the people and moments she observes. It’s these everyday encounters that bring her stories to life.

With her own story and experiences, Kimi aims to inspire others. She firmly believes that with determination and dedication, great achievements are possible. 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 forward.”

This mindset not only gives her life a special touch but also inspires those around her to embrace their own challenges and appreciate the small steps in life.

The Essence of Being

Free in running, creative in writing. Successful in sports, powerful in words. For Kimi, this is an inseparable cycle where everything is interconnected, she explains. “The mountains are a place where I feel incredibly small and insignificant while simultaneously feeling incredibly embraced and welcome. It’s something grand that we get 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 enthuses. This profound connection to nature and awareness of her own small role in the grand scheme gives her the strength to keep moving forward.

In the short film, these majestic mountain moments are captured impressively. Ultimately, the film answers the question of who Kimi Schreiber is and what she aspires to be. A life between city and mountain, between performance and tranquility, between challenge and fulfillment—that is Kimi Schreiber. A personality driven by something much deeper than mere athletic success.