WTC #16

Ultra Running with Vasileios Kampakis

Ultra running is a completely different world from your average road race — longer distances, tougher terrain, night sections, mental battles, and sometimes even wild pigs.

For this episode, Kevin and Wiebke sit down with Vasileios Kampakis from Utrecht Running Project to talk about trail running, ultra distances, and what it takes to keep moving for hours — or even days — through mountains, darkness, fatigue, and changing conditions.

Vasileios shares how he started running in 2012, how his first half marathon left him unable to walk for days, and how he gradually moved from road running into mountain races, trail ultras, 100K events, and 100-mile challenges. He also talks about the influence of his father, who introduced him to the world of long-distance running and later supported him through some of his biggest races.

The conversation dives into the mental side of ultra running: breaking huge distances into smaller sections, managing low moments, running through the night, dealing with sleepiness, and knowing when to push through versus when to listen to your body.

They also discuss race preparation, nutrition, mandatory gear, drop bags, trail shoes, running with music, recovery, and Vasileios’ upcoming races in Madeira and beyond. And yes, there is also talk about the Barkley Marathons — one of the craziest ultra races in the world.

A conversation about endurance, mindset, experience, and why anyone would voluntarily run 100 miles through the mountains.