Gauja Trail: Latvia’s 1st UTMB Event. A well-known route - what could go wrong? Just run it, no big deal. Yeah, right - an ultra is still an ultra, even on familiar trails. But the adventures? Always guaranteed

How many times do you have to run a 24-hour race for it to be enough? I’ll be honest - I already knew right after finishing last year’s Roja 24-hour challenge that I would do it again. I’d convinced myself my legs could handle 24 hours on asphalt, but the result I’d been dreaming of for years was still nowhere near within reach. Lately it seems like anyone with a pair of sneakers is out there running 200 km. Why shouldn’t that be me? After all, I’ve got sneakers too.

An unforgettable adventure, but for me - an unbelievably hard one. Breathtaking views in a ten‑million city, where tidy park paths alternate with challenging stone trails, while ancient fortress walls and hills meet modern city skylines. Covering 109 km with no less than 4,800 meters of elevation still doesn’t feel like seeing enough of it. This place is enchanting. Truly unforgettable.