But we are still a long way from being completely sporty. For six weeks I want to carry out my good intentions. AFIMUR, I call it affectionately. "Alpine Fitness Program in the Maritime-Urban Area". The beginning consists mainly of apologies.
"Sorry, excuse me, can I go back again", I say to the morning grumpy faces of the commuters, as I admonish myself after the first two meters on the escalator to want to walk back every step, turn around - and run up the stairs. Several times I have to actively remind myself not to take the easy way. But why is it so difficult to get rid of these habits?
"Daily routines" are required, says the expert. I am not lazy, I would spontaneously run a half marathon. But over the years I got used to comfort, and integrating alpine training simulations into urban life is something different than a mere endurance run. Now I have to acquire new, more active routines, implement them consistently and adopt them in my everyday life. "People in big cities in particular simply don't move enough," explains Chris Ebenbichler. The 35-year-old is a sports scientist, has been teaching at the Institute of Sports Science at the University of Innsbruck for four years and is a specialist in athletic and fitness training for 15 top Austrian athletes at the Olympic Centre in Innsbruck. I asked him whether he could give me advice for my project and support me. When it comes to making people fit for the mountains, Chris is in! He also knows the biggest problem. "The body is very economical. Movements that we make only very rarely fall out of our movement pattern. An office job naturally promotes this development," he says.