07/11/2025
“I was really calm in my mind,” says Elias. 🧘🏼 The 32-year-old mail carrier from Wallisellen took part in in Thun in August. “I knew I could reach my goal.” Yet he still had respect for the 226 km.
For a long time, Elias himself had little idea that one day that he would take part in an Iron Man event. Although sporty as a child, his doctor tells him four years ago that Elias absolutely has to do more exercise again to stay healthy. “I thought running is easy. Apart from good training shoes, I don’t need any equipment.” So Elias takes up running.
A year later, he runs his first marathon in Zurich. “A pro runs a marathon in about two hours, and I reached my destination in four hours and 48 minutes. But that didn’t bother me. I was just happy to have made it over the finishing line.” 🏁
His attention is then drawn to the Iron Man Switzerland event in Thun. “I needed a new challenge, something to clear my head.” He signs up in August 2024. From that point on, he trains six days a week, including running, swimming and cycling.
Elias checks his supplies one last time before starting in August 2025. Special gel for runners and water with mineral salts is all he eats in the next 14 hours and 40 minutes. Then, during the 20 kilometre bike section, Elias gets a shock – he feels leg cramps that almost force him to pull out. “At that moment, I had to win the battle against myself. “My body was tired, but my mind was fully there.” Elias keeps going. Finally, he reaches the finish line: “I can’t describe this moment at all, there were just so many emotions out there”🏆
And what does the future hold? “I still train several times a week at the moment, but now family is my number one priority.”
