The stroke that felt right
One thing from the water On Wednesday I had an 8×10 minute swim session. Somewhere in the middle of it, something shifted. Not the whole session. Not every length. But for a lot of strokes — more than usual — my technique felt like it was actually working. Not forced. Not managed. Just right. I’ve […]
Find your WHY and you will never lack motivation!
Why Grit Isn’t Always Enough It was 6:20am. I was standing at the edge of the pool, staring at the water, and for the first time in a long time, the motivation was just gone. Later that same evening, I had the same feeling. I was supposed to head down to my cold basement for […]
Why Willpower is a Failing System
Most “High-Performance” gurus lie to you. They tell you that if you just “grind harder” or “want it enough,” the 5am alarm clock won’t feel heavy. They treat motivation like a battery that never gets empty. They are wrong. This week, I hit the wall. That happens rarely. But it happened! I didn´t had any […]
The Alpine Seven Letter #4
Why your “perfect week” is holding you back Last week was far from perfect. I’ll be honest: I struggled. But if there’s one thing extreme swimming teaches you, it’s that the water doesn’t care about your plans – it only cares about how you adapt. This week, I found my rhythm again. Getting back into […]
Why Your Need for a “Perfect Week” Is Keeping You Weak
We don’t have the luxury of “perfect weeks”. We have (five) children, work and projects (The Alpine Seven), “perfect” is a fairy tale. Last week, life hit me with a triple threat: a business trip, a sick toddler, and then a cold that wiped me out. The “old” version of me would have felt like […]
The Alpine Seven Letter #3
“I don’t have the right equipment.” “I’m on a business trip and there’s no pool.” “I’m just too busy with work and the kids today.” We’ve all said it. We are not just athletes. We are parents, managers, employees, and friends. We don’t have the luxury of training all day, every day. But here is […]
The 5% Principle: Most people don’t fail because of their goals.
Many people do not reach their goals. This usually happens because they expect every day to be perfect. They wait for a day when they have 100% energy, no stress at work, and plenty of sleep Bernhard Hengl after his 25:55h swim through Lake Constance 65km . As a father of five and a manager […]
The Alpine Seven Letter #2
Hey everyone, welcome back to The Alpine Seven Letter. It has been an incredibly exciting—and freezing—week! Last weekend I was attending the Austrian Ice Swimming Championship, and I have some surprising news to share. A Victory in the Ice For those who don’t know, “Ice Swimming” officially counts when the water temperature is below 5°C […]
How to Turn Panic into Performance
“Get out. It’s too cold. You’re going to die.” That was the voice in my head last November. Back then, I couldn’t stay in 8 degree water for more than 60 seconds. My body went into immediate shock. My brain screamed “emergency”. Three months later, I stood on the podium at the Austrian State Championships: […]
Why Consistency Beats Intensity
Most people fail their goals not because they aren’t strong enough, but because they try to be perfect. When I decided to train for the Austrian Ice Swimming State Championships, I faced a problem. I have a full-time job. We have five children. And still have The Alpine Seven challenge. My life is unpredictable. If […]
