Sandra Saitner

A situation that passionate runner Sandra Saitner cannot tolerate? Standing still. Her motto - both in sport and in other areas of life - is: Just do it! That's why Sandra has been taking on sporting challenges again and again for 20 years now, looking optimistically to the future and showing how, with the right attitude and a good dose of hard work, trail running can literally move mountains.

Why is Sandra so passionate about trail running? It's simple: the sport shows her that you can achieve things that seem almost impossible. "With the right attitude and a little ambition, you can push boundaries. I always try to look ahead and just do it and encourage myself to take on new challenges - without thinking too much," says Sandra, describing her life motto. Thanks to this approach, she has also been very successful in competitions in recent years. For example, she came third overall in the Zugspitz mountain run. However, she is most proud of her victory at the K85 (IATF) in Innsbruck 2023.

When she's not training on the trails at home, Sandra can also be found travelling on a wide variety of trails. Trail running shoes are always part of her luggage. "My favourite trail experience to date is probably the Trans-Corsica Run - a guerrilla run on the GR20. It is one of the most beautiful long-distance hiking trails in the world and one of the most difficult in Europe due to its alpine route. "Together with two friends, we covered 180 kilometres over 12,000 metres in altitude on this long-distance hiking trail. A very intense and wonderful run that we will certainly remember for a long time to come," enthuses Sandra about her most beautiful trail running adventure.

Sandra Saitner,

Doyou have a role model?
"No specific one, there are so many great athletes in this sport. But if I had to name someone, Courtney Dauwalter comes to mind. Courtney is probably the best 100-mile runner at the moment. She runs with such ease and radiates incredible joy. She remains true to herself in everything and doesn't allow herself to be influenced by any outside conventions. I find that very inspiring."

HOW DO YOU OVERCOME AN INNER PIG DOG WHEN TRAINING?
"Set goals. It helps me to have a specific goal in mind. It doesn't even have to be a specific competition; a private endeavour or project can also help. When the worst comes to the worst, I always know exactly what I'm training for. That helps me a lot to motivate myself. Training sessions that tend to be more difficult for me, such as track intervals, I usually do together with others. A healthy group dynamic can do wonders for motivation."

WHAT DOES OUTDOOR MEAN TO YOU?
"Outdoor is often associated with equipment and wild adventures. For me, however, the outdoors starts on a small scale, like a morning coffee in the sun on the balcony. I'm an outdoor person through and through, but I don't need any special equipment or a big plan for it."

WHAT OTHER HOBBIES DO YOU ENJOY, apart from running?
"Apart from running, I love cycling in all its forms. Mountain biking, road biking and now gravel biking are some of my favourite alternative sports. When things are a bit quieter, I also like to go hiking or via ferrata climbing. I also climbed quite regularly for a while, but unfortunately I can't fit it in at the moment. In winter, I do cross-country skiing and occasionally go on a ski tour, which is the perfect alternative to mountain running training for me."

WHAT DOES YOUR PERFECT DAY LOOK LIKE?
"To be honest, I don't really want to define THE perfect day. For me, a successful day can have many different facets. It can be a beautiful summer's day that starts early at sunrise - with an extended tour on the mountain and a cosy end to the day in a beer garden. Or a training run in rainy conditions, when it's windy and cold. Followed by a visit to the sauna and a pizza at my favourite Italian restaurant. That also makes a perfect day for me. But there are always two components: Exercise and good food!"

WHICH TOUR OR RUNNING ROUTE CAN YOU RECOMMEND? AND WHY?
"One of my favourite tours goes from the Rabenkopf over the Jochberg, along the shores of Lake Walchensee back to the Jachenau. This 30-kilometre route combines everything I love about trail running. A longer, runnable climb through a beautiful forest, a bit of technical terrain at the summit, flowing trails and wonderful views of the Alps."

WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE LOWA SHOE?
" The LOWA CITUX!"