Team Sporthunger

Madlen Kappeler was born in the Oberallgäu region and pursues her path in competitive sport with passion. She is currently aiming for a professional career and competes as a pro triathlete on the middle distance (Ironman 70.3) as well as in the 1st German Triathlon Bundesliga. Alongside triathlon, her great passion is trail and mountain running. Madlen is a versatile athlete who shows that athletic development doesn't have to be limited to a single discipline. Determination, perseverance and joy in movement shape her sporting daily life – and her smile doesn't get lost along the way, even in competition. In parallel with her competitive career, she is building her own business in training planning with a focus on trail running, as well as nutrition coaching. She is also pursuing her second master's degree in training science and sports nutrition. For Madlen, one thing is clear: learning and personal development never stop.

Sponsors: Dynafit, Suunto, Leki, Shokz, Pacemaker & Sporthunger

Best results: Participation at the World Championships for Trail and Mountain Running 2025 with Team Germany, 2nd place SkySnow World Championships 2024 (Vertical & Classic, Overall, Team), 3rd place Duathlon World Championships Middle Distance 2025, 3rd place Duathlon World Championships Long Distance 2025, Top 15 placings in the Ironman 70.3 Pro Series.

Preferred race nutrition: BIX gels, Maurten gels and drink mix, SUNN drink mix.

Sven Koch was born in the Allgäu and lives today in Innsbruck – right where the mountains begin at his front door. His path into trail running started as a classic career-changer: without much of a running background, he began with punchy vertical kilometres and distances between 10 and 20 kilometres. Over time his focus shifted increasingly toward longer distances, and today Sven feels most at home over 50 kilometres. What is decisive for his development is not the single perfect training day, but rather consistency over weeks, months and years. "Consistency is my key to success" is not only his personal motto, but also a core value he passes on to his athletes as a coach. Regularity beats extremes – in training as in everyday life. Among his favourite sessions are long runs that challenge head and body alike, as well as flat intervals for targeted work on efficiency and pace. In winter he often switches to cross-country skis, and in summer he enjoys complementing his training with many hours on the bike. This variety keeps him not only fit, but also reminds him again and again why he loves endurance sport so much.

Sponsors: adidas, COROS.

Best results: U23 Vice World Champion Skyrunning 2021. IATF K42 2023, 2nd overall GTNS 2023, 2nd Mozart100 by UTMB Marathon 2024, 1st ZUT Mittenwald Trail 2024, 2nd Ötzi Trailrun Nature's 30k 2024, 3rd Lake Sonoma Marathon 2025, 2nd Kackar by UTMB 2025.

Preferred race nutrition: BIX 40 Gel, BIX Performance Drink Mix.

Born in the Czech Republic, Nora began her sporting career in volleyball before later discovering her passion for running. Since 2022 she has increasingly been drawn to the trails, where she finds variety and new challenges. In 2025 she moved to Innsbruck – perfect conditions for her training. With her master's degree in nutritional sciences, Nora also brings valuable expertise to the team and is a perfect fit for Sporthunger.

Sponsor: Mammut

Best results: 1st place Wings for Life Austria / Top 10 women worldwide 2020, 4th place Golden Trail Series 2022.

Born in Frankfurt, Alena has tried many sports, including horseback riding and ninepin bowling. Eventually she became a professional heptathlete and was set to compete for the Greek national team at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In sport, highs and lows often lie close together, and an Achilles tendon rupture put a stop to her Olympic dream. After many years away from sport, Alena found her way to trail running and runs a particularly remarkable Instagram profile under run.silent__run.deep.

Sponsor: Norda

Best results: 6th place U18 World Championships Heptathlon 2001, 7th place European Combined Events Cup Heptathlon 2006, 15th place Indoor European Championships Pentathlon 2007.

Preferred race nutrition: Tailwind Naked and Lemon.

Living proof that it's never too late to make positive changes to your lifestyle. At 39, Ian was not only overweight, but also under constant work stress and, as he says himself, on his way to his first heart attack. Over the past few years he has made a radical shift from "Making Money" to "Making a Life". He captured this journey in his book "Lacing Up: The first steps of my running journey".

Sponsors: Norda, T8

Best results: Boston Marathon finisher, 2nd place Ultra Paine
Patagonia (50k), 4th place Al Marmoom Ultramarathon Dubai (270 km).