Backward running

With seven world records in backwards running and 45 stair-running titles under his belt, it could be said that Thomas Dold chases victories of the more unusual sort. In an interview with Continental GripWorld, he talks about why every athlete should run backwards occasionally, what’s so special about stair running, and his connection to German television legend Thomas Gottschalk.

You hold seven world records in backwards running and have racked up 45 wins in stair running. What on earth make you decide to take up these two disciplines?

I grew up in the foothills of the Black Forest. And in the Black Forest, we have mountains. So that was where I started running. In 2003 I tried backwards running for the first time, and I was hooked right away. As for the stair running, it’s not a huge leap from running up mountains to running up stairs. That just sort of happened. I was 18 and looking for new challenges.

Help us understand what a stair running race looks like. Isn’t it a bit claustrophobic, racing up a narrow stairway with dozens of other runners?

Most stairwells are indeed a bit tight, at least for holding a race. There isn’t really ever enough room for two people to run next to each other. In New York, where I’ve won the most races, you actually have 100 people simultaneously dashing toward the first step. And to get into the stairwell, they all have to run through the same door – which is just your normal, average-size door. So of course there’s a bottleneck. Everyone squeezes through, one after another, like passing through the eye of a needle.

How do people usually react when you say you prefer to run backwards?

A lot of people find the idea of backwards running pretty funny. But when I tell someone whose hobby is running that my 10k time is 38:50 minutes, they are pretty amazed, because my backwards time beats their forwards time! I train a lot, after all. And wanting to try out new things is in my blood. Backwards running is not a widespread sport. There aren’t dozens of books about it, so you have to figure it out for yourself. You’re the only one who can improve your performance. That’s not something everyone can do, but it’s a useful asset at work, particularly if you’re in a leadership role. Backwards running can actually help you develop the leadership skills you need.

You once said that it’s only possible to deliver peak performance when you have achieved inner equilibrium, when your body and mind are in balance. How do you achieve this balance?

Balance really does play an important part. Backwards and stair running are very important for the physique. Stair running is extremely good for building strength in the upper body, torso, and legs. And backwards running is a great alternative for exercising your back – which in turn gives you an edge when you are running forwards. I can really recommend it to all athletes. To achieve mental balance, you probably need to do a bit more than just stair and backwards races. What’s important here is self-reflection, a sense of humor, and a positive attitude toward life. This gives you the resilience to cope with setbacks.

In 2008 you had a very unusual experience. In the German television show “Wetten, dass…” (“Wanna bet?”), hosted by Thomas Gottschalk, you went head to head against a ‘builderer’ – an urban climber. Rene Gabris scaled the outside of a skyscraper while you ran up the stairs inside. In the end your opponent beat you by 3 seconds and you had to face defeat in front of an audience of millions...

That was my finest defeat ever. It was a thrilling experience. For one thing, it was one of the most elaborate outdoor challenges that the show ever held. My opponent received more than 56 percent of viewer votes for the best bet in the show, reflecting what a nail-biting contest we offered the audience. And after all, “Wetten, dass...” wasn’t a sports program; it was a variety show, and Thomas Gottschalk is a legend in Germany. So at the end of the day, winning wasn’t the most important aspect of the experience for me. Personally, it was more important when I won a race in Singapore the following week. The television show was just great fun.

And when will you do your first backwards stair run?

(Laughs) I am still desperately seeking a coach and ironing out the kinks in my style. All joking aside, backwards stair running is not even anatomically possible! Not at a competitive level, at least. You’d have to stand on the ball of your foot while lifting your heel toward the next step. That would be suicide at a high speed.