Corona and the father-in-law – if we were to give an extremely shortened version of Michaela Pilat’s story, we would conclude it with the two reasons for her having been nominated to compete in the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Innsbruck-Stubai. Even though the 31-year-old, who resides in Sonnberg im Mühlkreis in Upper Austria, has been running for several years, she only discovered her passion for trails during the pandemic. “Before then, I used to run quarter- and half marathons as well as Spartan Races,” she says. Since there were no more such races during the pandemic, and hardly any afterwards, she went looking for a new field of athletic activity – and found trail running.

She has her father-in-law to thank for her positive, strong development that came about despite the “rather hilly than alpine” environment she calls home. “He bought a house in the Styrian Lachtal valley, which is located in the Wölzer Tauern mountains. We spent a lot of time there and the area became my exercising grounds,” Pilat says, “both in summer and winter.” If she manages to get there in time, she will run up the ski slopes before the lifts open, otherwise she sticks to forest trails.

This is where she feels free and close to nature, and where she rejoices in every step. “I am passing roots, stones, climbing passages – that’s what makes this discipline fascinating.” If they find a babysitter for their little daughter, Michaela and husband Marco Pilat enjoy running the trails together. However, the WMTRC will be her event; husband Marco won’t be competing. “It’s not a problem for us, even if both of us are competing.” And if they are, they are coaching each other – as was the case in mid-March, when Marco participated in the Donautrail trail run and Michaela covered his back.

As for herself, she saw her personal performance soaring in 2022 when she was crowned Austrian Skyrace Master and 24-hour Trail Running Master. “I mastered 114 kilometers and 7,000 meters in altitude.” It was no surprise then to have the Austrian Athletics Association (OLV) come knocking on her door in November to sign her up for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. “To be honest, I have been hoping for it – at least a little,” Pilat confesses.

“It’s great for our sport to have its own WC, and to have it in Innsbruck-Stubai is simply amazing!”

The athlete, who is a stylist by trade, has developed a healthy level of self-confidence. “Trail running made me really blossom, it led to a positive development and I definitely grew.” She has profited both in athletic aspects and in private terms. Pilat has become more self-confident, she has become more daring. “And I know what I want to achieve.”

She wants to give her all at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2023 Innsbruck-Stubai and hopes to finish the “Trail Short” with its 44.6 kilometers and 3,132 positive meters in altitude uninjured.

Perseverance is her biggest strength. “And running downhill,” she says. “I can switch off and just let go.” That being said, Pilat doesn’t yet know which parts of the WMTRC route she will be able to just let go on. She hardly knows the trails in and around Innsbruck-Stubai, “which is why I am really looking forward to the route inspection.” Until then, she’ll keep up her training program under the guidance of coach Thomas Bosnjak, himself an active runner and organizer as well as founder of the Austrian Skyrunning & Trailrunning Association. He is a real legend, while Michaela Pilat only “got addicted” – intensely – a mere three years ago. For her, there’s always a next and life goes on – be it during a 24-hour race or at this summer’s WMTRC in Innsbruck-Stubai. “It’s always a mental thing. It’s about how you imagine things.”