Swapping deadlines for ridge lines: four European Institute students take on 50km ultramarathon after completing their exams
While many of our students celebrated the end of exams with a well-deserved break, four of our MSc candidates swapped deadlines for ridge lines, taking on a 50km trail ultramarathon through the South Downs National Park.
Over 10 weeks, Emilian Röckemann, Dylan Smith, Clara Stauber, and Boudewijn Welkzijn trained together in Hampstead Heath, Seven Sisters, and just about every park in London, squeezing long runs in around coursework.
All four European Institute students crossed the finish line with big smiles on their faces.
By most accounts, the final stretch was as much a test of resolve as of fitness; however, the real story was the morning runs up Swain’s Lane after a night at the pub, shared blisters (some worse than others), and no shortage of conversations about asset manager capitalism.
It's the kind of thing that's easy to romanticise afterwards and much harder to enjoy at kilometre 40.
The runs leading up to the race were moments where I could air my good, but mostly bad, ideas on the Savings and Investment Union before turning them into essays. It truly felt like an extension of the MSc itself - we were still grappling with ideas and theories, just out of breath. Turns out that's a good way to force yourself to be a bit more concise.
A challenge for the books, far beyond academia. I am not sure if I could or would do it again, but this was European Institute team building at its finest. Thanks for the continuous support!
Join us in congratulating Emilian, Dylan, Clara, and Boudewijn for their incredible achievement! What an extraordinary physical team challenge to dedicate yourself to in addition to your academic goals!
Explore photos of their adventure
