Possibility - The course of life. 500 kilometers through the Atacama Desert

Investment banking by day, ultra runner by night

Nicki Lange's everyday life is just as intense as the races he trains for. “My working day is just as dynamic and fluctuating as an ultra marathon race,” he says. The day starts early: he gets up between 5 and 6 a.m. The first thing he does is focus on recovery—mobility and stretching exercises on the fascia roller to release the strain from the previous day. Then it's time for the first workout: running, cycling, or a visit to the gym. By 9 a.m. at the latest, he starts his job in the high-performance environment of investment banking. Nicki has a clear routine: in the morning, he devotes himself to the most intensive, cognitively demanding topics. After lunch, he makes calls to investors and clients to analyze new investment opportunities. If time permits, another session is on the agenda in the evening. “I try to be in bed by midnight at the latest,” says Nicki – after a final regenerative session on the yoga mat or in the COMPRESSION BOOTS, depending on what the day has demanded.

Passion instead of duty

His passion for running dominates his everyday life, even if that means putting his private life on hold. The strain is enormous, especially when preparing for extreme runs such as in the Atacama Desert. But for Nicki, one thing is clear: “At the end of the day, I enjoy doing it because running is a great passion of mine and means a lot to me.”

Kilometers for the mind – long distances on the weekend

His training strategy focuses not on speed, but on endurance. “For me, it's about covering a lot of distance, a lot of kilometers at a low heart rate and slow speed.” He deliberately schedules his long runs – often four to five hours – for the weekend. Sometimes he runs straight into the night on Friday evenings. He uses these phases not only for physical exercise, but also for mental relief from everyday stress.

Recovery – the underestimated factor for success

With growing experience comes a growing awareness of the importance of breaks. “I notice that every year I need more time to recover,” admits Nicki. Regeneration is not an optional part of his training, but an essential component for staying physically and mentally strong – both at work and in sports. His life is a constant balancing act between high performance and recovery – driven by a deep passion for both.

Endless kilometers through the Atacama Desert – Nicki's source of mental strength and his anchor in extreme situations

During his run, Nicki was never completely alone – and yet he was left to his own devices. Depending on the section of the route, his support team drove a few kilometers ahead and waited for him. In more dangerous sections, such as in villages with wild street dogs, “the car drove right next to me,” he says. Always there: Johannes and Erik, the photo-video team, and Agi as all-round support. Sometimes they even accompanied him on foot – not only as a safety measure, but also as mental support: “So that I could talk a little and distract myself.”

Even when he was deep in the tunnel, this brief contact with the outside world helped. Nevertheless, he always remained focused: “You try to save every bit of energy – even thinking takes energy.”

Spanish self-talk

A very special anchor that Nicki discovered for himself during his extreme adventures is talking to himself – in Spanish. He developed this unusual technique during his runs from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and at the legendary UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc): “I actually talk to myself in Spanish, which I also learned, and then take on a kind of third-person perspective.” This inner voice, this second character that accompanies him, has become a kind of mental companion for him – a fixed ritual that carries him through the toughest kilometers.

Mental mantra: What if – Why not?

Another key element of his mental strength is a motto that has stuck with him ever since a formative encounter on the other side of the world: 
“What if – why not?”

For Nicki, this is more than just a saying – it's a philosophy of life. “We all tend to think a lot about potential problems that could arise when facing challenges. But what if you just do it?” he asks. His answer is clear: “What if I respond to ‘What if’ with ‘Why not’?” This shift in perspective—from brooding to action—has changed everything for him.

“For me, there is no ‘what if’, only ‘why not’?”

With this attitude, Nicki not only masters extreme distances, but also mental hurdles. His Atacama run is therefore not only a physical challenge, but also a profound, personal adventure full of mental strength, inner dialogue, and the power to surpass oneself.

Recovery as a daily ritual at every stage

During his extreme runs, recovery was key to his performance, a must and firmly integrated into Nicki's daily routine. BLACKROLL® products helped him achieve new peak performances every day. One tool in particular was a top priority: “The most important thing for me was the COMPRESSION BOOTS – I used them in the morning, at lunchtime during my run, and in the evening. They were a great support.” The boots mainly helped him to massage lactate out of his muscles and loosen up his legs for the next stage. Especially in the later stages of the run, when the strain increased, they were indispensable for him: “Towards the end, it got a bit tougher – the COMPRESSION BOOTS were an important piece of the puzzle for my recovery.”

Better sleep quality through targeted recovery

Sleep was also an important factor in daily recovery. With the BLACKROLL® RECOVERY PILLOW and the RECOVERY BLANKET, Nicki was able to rest better even under demanding conditions: “They certainly helped me sleep a little more comfortably.”

Fascia care for tired muscles

In addition, Nicki and his team regularly used the FASCIA GUN and the classic Foamroller to specifically release tense areas and promote blood circulation. These tools complemented his recovery routine well—even though, looking back, he emphasizes: “The COMPRESSION BOOTS were simply the most effective for me.”

Everyday tool with a big effect: the BASE

Even outside of competitions, Nicki focuses on daily recovery – and this is where the BLACKROLL® BASE, his mattress, plays a crucial role: 
“The BASE accompanies me in my everyday life, as I sleep on it every day – it has made a huge difference to my recovery.” He is particularly enthusiastic about the individual adjustment system: “Trying out and fine-tuning the individual settings to my body was a huge plus for me.”

Conclusion: Performance begins with recovery

Nicki's story clearly shows that if you want to achieve peak physical performance, you have to focus consistently on recovery. BLACKROLL® was not just an equipment supplier for him – it was a daily companion on his journey beyond mental and physical limits.

Investment Banking 2.0: Mindfulness as the Key to Self-Management

Nicki's experiences in extreme races such as the run through the Atacama Desert have sharpened not only his physical but also his mental resilience – and he carries these convictions with him into his everyday life in investment banking. For him, the day begins consciously and mindfully: “After waking up, I deliberately don't look at my cell phone,” says Nicki. Instead, he starts with stretching exercises on the mat, a moment of gratitude, and a little prayer: “I give thanks for the new day and say to myself: What if – Why not.”

He firmly believes that regeneration is not only important for top athletes, but also for executives: “It's no coincidence that regeneration plays an important role for the world's top athletes in order to perform at the highest level.” His goal: to live like an athlete – even if running is “just” a hobby and banking remains his profession.

Banking between dynamism and attention to detail

At its core, investment banking is about speed, precision, and the ability to navigate people—but at the same time, “the attention to detail must not be lost.” However, Nicki openly criticizes the status quo in the industry. Getting started is often tough, especially for newcomers: 
“As a newbie, it feels like being back in the schoolyard – like a fifth grader being bullied by twelfth graders.”

Long working hours are still considered the unspoken norm. “As a junior, it's completely normal not to go home before 10 or 11 p.m. – that's not sustainable, it's not healthy. There are always exceptions, but the focus should be on efficiency and productivity, not on putting in time.”

Self-determined instead of burned out

Today, Nicki is self-employed—and reflects on his privileged position: “I wasn't self-employed right away. I had to go through the school of banking to get to where I am now.”

He knows that many bankers work “what feels like seven days a week”—driven by the pressure to succeed, but often without any real balance. There is no time for friends, family, or relaxation. The result: “Relationships break down, you lose touch with the outside world.” And that has consequences: 
“At the end of the week, you're exhausted – I just slept for an hour at lunchtime. The body takes what it needs.”

Time for a new understanding of performance

For Nicki, it's clear: the industry needs to change – and that's already happening, step by step. “We want to do things differently here. That's why we have to live differently too.” He doesn't see sport, healthy eating, and regeneration as luxuries, but as the basis for sustainable performance: 
“A healthy body is cooler than a week without sleep.”

He calls for a rethink in the industry. Burnout, mental overload, and depression are no longer marginal phenomena.

Nicki's message: Success and health are not mutually exclusive – on the contrary. If you want to survive in the long term, you need more than prestige and power – you need awareness, mindfulness, and the courage to break old patterns in order to forge new paths. “What if – why not?”