Lord Jens Kramer: barefoot running with Michelin

His name is Lord Jens Kramer and he comes from Steinegg, a small town in the beautiful South Tyrol, Italy. He is a passionate and successful trail runner who would like to convey to others his own enthusiasm, passion and motivation for running and the beauty of nature.

Transalpine Run has no more secrets for you. You are a real veteran of this race.  What’s so special about it?
I just like to run outside in the mountains. If I can do that for eight days in a row, so much the better. I just hand over my bag with the everyday things at the start and I don’t have to worry about anything else than running. The organizational team around Uta and Heini Albrecht are perfectly organized. You always feel cared for and safe. Each participant shares the same passion and we care for each other. It’s like a little trail running family. A race with a special atmosphere that I would love to enjoy every year. This race has now become part of my life.

In 2021 you’ve replicated the result achieved in 2019 with a first place in the Master Mixed category, together with Irene Senfter. How was this edition?
This edition was very special again. We really had the perfect running weather and always sunshine. This also spread the good mood of the participants and we could forget about the pandemic for a while. Irene and I were very well prepared again and were able to repeat our victory after 2016 and 2019. What could be better than this grand finale?

How did your collaboration with Joe Nimble start?
The good cooperation with Joe Nimble began when I learned from a friend of mine that these special Functional Footwear shoes were available. Since I was already very interested in running in foot shaped shoes or barefoot shoes and liked running in shoes with wide, asymmetrical toebox, I had to try them right away. I was immediately convinced that toefreedom and the right amount of cushioning with zero-heel elevation was the right way to run healthily. After I was able to test the shoes, I was immediately hooked with the feeling they gave me. I then got in touch with the friendly team of Joe Nimble and luckily, I soon became part of it. A successful collaboration began.

Races are always tough, but train for it is key, can you tell us how do you train for a race?
It’s not that difficult for me. I just like being outside in nature and since there are so many beautiful places and locations, I’m often out for a very long time. I just enjoy it. So, I’m also highly motivated to get faster and stronger. I exercise four to five times a week. These are the shorter units of one to two hours. The long units at the weekends can sometimes last up to ten hours. It is also important that you give the body time to regenerate.

On your feet, during last Transalpine Run, you had nimbleToes Trail Addict, a shoe that combines the advantages of the Toefreedom concept and the Flexitec insole.
I am glad that I was able to enjoy the advantages of the nimbleToes Trail Addict combined with the Flexitec-Insole at this race and this was certainly one of the keys to my success. The right footwear is really very important and I can’t think of a better one.

In 2012, during your first Transalpine Run, you had to give up the race due to an injury. How important can a shoe be for foot functionality and running anatomy?
Yes, unfortunately I had to give up this prestigious race due to an injury. I realized how important the interaction of the running anatomy can be. It is very important that the foot and entire body is healthy. This is the only way to withstand these extreme stresses and to lead to such successes. So, the answer is: “Definitely very important!”

How important is the right shoe in such demanding races? With such important differences in height, is the safety that the sole can give you also important?
The right shoe is essential. If shoed don’t fit and don’t give you a solid impression, you can’t trust them and injuries and falls can occur. At high speeds in downhill, the grip of the sole is crucial. Personally, the sole is one of the most important things. If something is wrong here, you cannot perform so well.

Michelin soles technology is part of Joe Nimble’s Functional Footwear concept. How did you feel with these multidirectional studs and the large grooves that guarantee adaptability and flexibility?
I already knew Michelin soles from another shoe manufacturer and therefore I knew about their high quality. But in connection with Joe Nimble’s Functional Footwear concept and the toefreedom, it felt perfect. I found the flexibility and adaptability I was looking for. On difficult passages with little grip, I found the Michelin sole the ideal ally to maintain firm contact with the ground.

Next goal?
I have many goals and dreams. But one of my greatest would be to tackle Badwater 135 in the USA. I will certainly do the Transalpine Run again in 2022. But I’m secretly in the process of planning the Everest Trail Race. This landscape just fascinates me immensely. Then there would certainly be the Diagonale des Fous, Tor de Géants or the Dragons’s Back Race. You see, I’m not running out of goals.