Running Through the Pain: Sebastian’s 2,100 km Mission

The 26-year-old ultramarathoner on conquering 100 Miles of Istria, racing with his dog Kian and his mission from Spain to Morocco

1. Hi Sebastian, could you tell us a bit about yourself?

First of all — thank you for having me here in this interview. I’m very grateful to take part.

I am a 26-year-old ultramarathon runner, a 100 Miles of Istria by UTMB finisher, and an entrepreneur. I hate running, but I try to do it as if I love it. Altogether, I am a pretty quiet person who loves being in the mountains, because I feel the truth and the wisdom they provide.

2. How and why did you first start running, and what made you fall in love with endurance sports?

It was the period when I sold my enduro mountain bike. One day, I decided to go for a quick run. Just before starting, I opened Instagram and saw Mr. David Goggins for the first time. I could not believe what that person had achieved and endured. At that moment, I stopped feeling sorry for myself.

I went for a run — the plan was 6 or 7K — and after 10K I had a very painful achilles tendon injury, but I continued for the next 6K. In that moment, when I felt that pain and continued to endure through it, I decided to apply for the Istria 100 110K race. Soon after, maybe a month later, I decided to go for the full 168K distance.

3. You used to be heavily into mountain biking. How would you compare the two sports today— both physically and mentally?

Mountain biking is a beautiful escape from your life. Running is the absolute opposite — you go deep into the problems, into the feelings, and into the things you strongly do not want to feel.

Mountain biking taught me how to love and how to have passion. Running teaches me to be a better and more profound person.

4. What is it like running in Istria? Where do you usually train, and what makes the Istrian terrain so special for trail runners?

Running in Istria is beautiful. You have plenty of trail running terrain, especially in the Buzet and Učka area, where you can clock in some good elevation gain. I mostly train my long days on Učka, and my regular runs around Banjole, Pula and Kamenjak.

5. You often run with your dog, Kian, and you even placed 2nd together at the Life on Mars trail. Can you tell us more about that experience and what it’s like training and racing with Kian?

It was a good and hard experience. He was peeing and pooping all the time, haha, so we had to gain back time again and again. I wanted to keep myself low through the race because the Istria 100 by UTMB start was close, but as soon as the race started, something clicked and I let it go.

I thought we will definitely come first, but at one point I lost track of the route. I opened my phone to check where to go, and Marijan got back on track and passed me.

Running with Kian is special, but it also teaches responsibility. It is not only about me anymore.

6. This year you successfully finished the 100 Miles of Istria. What was going through your mind during the race and what did you learn from those 100 miles?

It was actually my third attempt.

The easiest explanation would be that it was the biggest and most valuable thing that had happened to me so far. You learn to be patient. You learn to be stoic. You learn to dive into your deepest thoughts and pain. You learn much better your second voice — the bad voice — and how much it is able to alter the mind. You realize how much advantage your mind can have over you.

Literally, you gain so much knowledge about yourself in HD — high definition. And with that knowledge, you can project your life much better, because inside that race you can find a lot of the answers you need.

7. Can you share more about your upcoming project, “2100 km for those still fighting cancer”? What is the main motivation behind it, and what are you hoping to achieve?

My main motivation is my mother, who suffered from cancer. She is now good, and she is in the best shape she has ever been in her entire life. She is 53 now — and it happened because she started running. She is now preparing for DUT 56K ultra trail race. 

The main goal is to create a project with an organization through which cancer patients all over the world could apply and get real, useful help.

The project starts on the 15th of January in Barcelona, Spain. It will go through Valencia, Málaga, the Gibraltar crossing, Rabat, Casablanca, and it will end in Agadir, Morocco.

The goal is simple: 2100 kilometers in 50 days — one marathon every day — for the mental health of cancer patients.

8. Looking ahead, what are your next big goals in running and life, and what is the message or mindset that keeps you pushing forward?

Currently, I am in the hospitality business. I am a person who doesn’t drink alcohol at all, nor do I go out. And by owning a beach bar, you are surrounded by a lifestyle that promotes alcohol, drug abuse, nightlife, superficiality and things that do not align with my long-term vision.

My long-term vision is to become the best father I can possibly become and to serve good in the world. My vision for the next few years is to go to America, start a podcast, become much more active with social media, and one day write books. I see that path much more aligned with who I want to become.

The mindset I push through life is to fear God, to do good, to become the best version you can possibly become, and to actively push your own possibilities.