Ultra running adventure: 50 ultras in 2026 as a gift to myself

Editorial: From Travesía Pirenaica, we are excited to share this adventure signed by Geert van Nispen, one of the European references in self-sufficiency and long distance in the mountains. His challenge in 2026: to join GR10, GR11 and HRP in a single trip. Here is his account, in first person.

This article is an authorised translation of the original published by Geert van Nispen on his website: Ultra running avontuur: 50 ultra's in 2026 als cadeautje aan mezelf

Some ideas are announced with a bang. With fireworks and drum rolls. Others start small. Almost innocent. A thought during a soft roll. A phrase that hangs around while the world around me wakes up. This idea falls into that last category: fifty ultra running adventures in a single year.

An idea that did not leave me alone

This year I turn fifty. Fifty years of living, learning, falling and getting up. Fifty summers, winters and everything in between. And at some point the desire arises to not just mark that moment, but to really celebrate it. Not with a single big milestone, but with a year full of movement, depth and adventure.

The plan becomes clear: fifty ultras in one year. Not a fleeting challenge, but a conscious choice. A gift to myself. Fifty opportunities to be on the road. Fifty moments to pause while I keep moving forward.

Why ultra running

Ultra running is no longer a sport for me. It is a language. A way of communicating with myself and the landscape through which I move. Where a marathon can still be described with times and plans, an ultra starts just where control begins to evaporate.

Ultra running is no longer a sport for me. It is a language. A way of communicating with myself and with the landscape through which I move.

An ultra doesn't ask for speed, it asks for attention. Listen. Adaptation. Pace takes a back seat. The question becomes: how do I feel, what does my body need, what does the trail tell me?

I run in the rain and in the sun. On asphalt and on rough trails. In silence and in moments when everything inside me screams that stopping would be the most logical thing to do. And right there, on that frayed edge, something happens. Thoughts become simpler. Worries lose their edge. What's left is movement, breathing and the next step.

Ultra running brings life back to the essentials. To the basis of who we are.

What makes me

In an ultra there is nowhere to hide. Tiredness exposes everything. Doubt speaks. So does impatience. But joy, amazement and a deep form of calm still appear.

I know myself anew each time. Not the version that works well when everything is comfortable, but the one that stands up when something rubs, when it gets dark, when plans change and expectations need to be loosened.

Each ultra shapes me. Not by heroic moments, but by the accumulation of small decisions: do I keep running or do I stop? Do I trust my experience or do I let doubt drag me down? Those lessons accompany me off the trail. I am more patient. Gentler. And, at the same time, firmer.

The first steps: Andalusia

I knew early on that this was the right way to go. The first two ultras of the year are done. Two adventures held in the most magical Andalusia. I move through a landscape that breathes. Rough trails, warm air, endless horizons. Every climb demands respect. Every descent, dedication. The rhythm of my steps mixes with the silence of the mountains.

These first ultras are not a start, but a confirmation. Confirmation that it is not about crossing distances, but about living them. Of being present. Of feeling how the body coordinates with the environment. I don't arrive at the finish line with tired legs, but with a clear head. That's what I'm looking for. This is how I want to celebrate my fiftieth birthday.

Fifty times to choose

Fifty ultras in one year sounds big. Even unconscionable. But I know: I never have to run fifty at a time. Just one. Today. This one. Each ultra is a chapter. Some will be light, almost playful. Others will be tough and confrontational. But they are all part of the same story: choosing the path even when you don't know the end.

I don't run to escape, but to be more present. To celebrate that my body can. That I take the time to do it. That I allow myself to live in a way that doesn't always seem logical, but is true.

Beyond the Ultras: FKT attempts

This year's celebration will have more layers. To make it even bigger, there will be FKT attempts. Fastest Known Times. Not races against others, but against the landscape, the conditions and above all against myself.

FKTs demand a different kind of sharpness. They combine adventure and focus. Freedom and responsibility. They are not only physically demanding, but also mentally demanding.

I prepare myself, but I know that success is never guaranteed. That's exactly what attracts me: the unknown. The game between ambition and acceptance. Giving my all without clinging to the result. Dancing with time.

The coronation: The Pyrenean Triple Crown Adventure

And then there is the adventure that crowns it all. My Pyrenean Triple Crown Adventure. An epic journey, never before completed. The three great trans-Pyrenean routes, from coast to coast, in a single continuous story. From sea to sea. Mountains, valleys, cultures and climates linked together.

This is not a project. It's an expedition. An ode to everything I love about ultra running: being on the move for days at a time, living out of a backpack, relying completely on what the trail brings.

I will walk for days. I will sleep when I can. I will eat when I need to. I will make decisions based on experience and intuition. This adventure demands total surrender. That's exactly why it feels like the ultimate gift.

📋 The "Pyrenean Triple Crown is a concept inspired by the renowned "Triple Crown"The Triple Crown is a challenge to complete three of the most iconic long-distance treks in the United States. The American Triple Crown is a challenge that involves completing three of the country's most iconic long-distance routes: the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Appalachian Trail (TA) and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). These trails total more than 12,000 kilometres through some of the most breathtaking scenery in North America. HERE ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ROUTE.

What fifty means to me

Turning fifty does not feel like a frontier, but a beginning. I do not look back with regret, but with gratitude. For what I have experienced, for the lessons, for the people and the roads I have travelled. This year symbolises for me taking charge. Choosing where I put my time. Where I put my energy. How I use body and mind to live fully.

Ultra running is not an end in itself, but a means. A way to be true to what matters to me: freedom, growth, adventure and connection.

An invitation for you

You may never run an ultra. Maybe the idea of running fifty is totally alien to you. And that's OK. This story is not about distances or achievements. It's about daring to choose what fuels you. About listening to that soft voice that asks for space. Movement. Adventure, in whatever form it takes.

If any of this resonates with you, I invite you to join me. Not literally, but with attention. With presence. With the awareness that the path opens up as you move forward.

I am already on the move. Fifty times. And every step is cause for celebration.