This page is a longer look behind the "hybrid athlete" headline – how I went from 120 kg and mostly sedentary to training for races while working, studying and trying to build a balanced life.
I never saw myself as either a runner or a lifter. For a long time I let other people's opinions define me. Eventually I confronted that reality and started pushing back against the bullying and body shaming—mostly against my own doubt. I realized it has always been me vs. me.
I like being strong enough to move weight and fit enough to enjoy long runs on new routes. Becoming a hybrid athlete means saying yes to more experiences: a spontaneous hike, a 10 km charity race, a long day on my feet without feeling wrecked, or running a half marathon in Malaga, Spain :) Small extra: hybrid athletes like Arda Saatci and Nick Bare inspire me a lot.
When I moved to Germany and started working at Liebherr, I finally found a team that felt ambitious, kind and supportive at the same time. That environment made it easier to admit a hard truth: at 120 kg I wasn’t taking good care of my body. Setting a marathon goal for 14 December in Málaga was my way of saying: this chapter will be different.
Hybrid training was never just about running or just about lifting. It had to live next to work, studying and normal life. That meant early-morning runs before stand-ups, lifting sessions squeezed between lectures, and accepting that some weeks would be messy but still better than giving up entirely.
Even on a family holiday back home I tried to stay in the line: easy runs on unfamiliar streets, one long run between tea breaks, and a lot of negotiating with myself. You are not "supposed" to run on holiday, but I realised discipline matters most exactly in those moments when it would be easiest to press pause.
With winter, exams and workload piling up, the full marathon in December started to look unrealistic. For a while I was close to cancelling everything. Instead I changed the target to a half marathon. Smaller distance, same spirit: prove to myself that I can commit to something big and see it through.
The long-term goal is still a full marathon – run with a smile, not just survived. On the way there I want to keep stacking small, sustainable habits: consistent sleep, smarter strength work, and runs that fit naturally around work and study instead of fighting them. The "hybrid" part is not a label, it's a reminder to keep my life and training in balance.