Ralf Wonnink

I am Ralf Wonnink. Grandfather of 3 grandchildren, ex-MMA fighter, bodybuilder and now passionate ultra runner. With my 1.98m and 105kg I am a bit of an outgrown little one in the world of ultrarunning. A beginner of stature haha!

My athletic path began at an early age. Swimming, judo, gymnastics and cycling; I did it all. In the military, I discovered my passion for strength training and after that for martial arts. I achieved successes in bodybuilding and MMA, but became injured and frustrated by life.

Running became my salvation. Inspired by David Goggins, I learned to regain discipline and develop mental strength. I ran numerous Obstacle runs, especially at Strong Viking including the Iron Viking, and experienced the euphoria of overcoming limits. Later I started running longer distances and continued with Ultratrails.

“I don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m done!” These words, taken from inspiring athletes and born from the pain and euphoria of running, have become my life motto. They symbolize my unyielding will to perform and push my limits.

In 2022, I founded @fitfactory_the_beard. Here I share my life lessons and coach others to achieve their goals.

My challenges for 2024: Backyard ultra run, 2 to 3 Ultra trails per quarter, an Ultra Viking run and an Iron Viking run (seemed like a nice challenge!).

Thanks to the discovery of Tailwind, I now have good hydration during exercise, previously I was running into energy dips and fluid deficiencies, resulting in cramps and complete shutdowns during runs and workouts. Now I experience more and constant energy, drink more easily and all without a sloshing water belly. After workouts, the first thing I do is replenish my body with the recovery mix that helps with initial recovery.