Last Soul Ultra 2026 · Personal experience report
301.5 kilometres. 45 laps. 68 years. At the Last Soul Ultra 2026, Hubert Karl showed a run that goes far beyond numbers. Julian Zimmermann, Co-Founder of athleteXhub, was on site and tells what moved him about Hubert Karl, Kim Gottwald's Backyard Ultra, and the community behind the event.
I had no idea what to expect at the Last Soul Ultra
Of course, I knew the Backyard Ultra format: every hour, you go on a 6.7-kilometre lap again. If you're not back in the starting area on time or don't start the next lap, you're out. It sounds simple. But it's not.
What I experienced at the Last Soul Ultra 2026 has moved me in a way that's hard to put into words.
I was honestly sceptical beforehand. There are many Backyard Ultras. But the Last Soul Ultra by Kim Gottwald felt different from the very first moment. What Kim and his team have built is no ordinary race. It's a community.
The atmosphere, the camaraderie among the runners, and the matter-of-course way they support each other: everyone helps everyone. No one waits for the other to fail. Although in the end, only one person can be left, the community carries each individual as long as possible.
As a filmmaker, I'm used to observing events from the outside at first. At the Last Soul Ultra, that doesn't work for long. This event draws you in.
Hubert Karl at the Last Soul Ultra: a familiar story that still leaves me speechless
Hubert Karl is not a stranger to me. We have already produced a documentary about him, which will soon be going on a cinema tour. I know his story, his values and his way of life. I thought I knew what made him tick.
And then I stood beside him at the Last Soul Ultra and was still left speechless.
68 years old. 45 laps. 301.5 kilometres. A performance that was celebrated at the Last Soul Ultra as a world age record.
This time, I was not on site as a director, but to provide social media support and produce a short documentary. I wanted to accompany the event and support Hubert. What Hubert Karl then achieved far exceeded our expectations.
For 45 hours, every full hour began the same task for him from scratch. Get up again. Back to the starting line. Again 6.7 kilometres. After 45 fully completed laps, 301.5 kilometres were completed. For a 68-year-old ultra-runner, this is an exceptional age-best performance that makes the dimension of Hubert's performance visible.
What 45 laps reveal about endurance and mindset
At the Last Soul Ultra, endurance is redefined. It's not just about running as far or as fast as possible once. The real test lies in repetition: after each lap, you return. The body winds down. For a brief moment, there is rest. Then the next start counts.
Exactly this is, for me, the greatest mental achievement of Hubert Karl. 45 times he faced this decision. Not at some point, but in the fixed rhythm of every single hour - during the day, at night and again during the day.
Endurance here does not mean being constantly tough. It means honestly perceiving one's own condition, allocating energy and starting again at the right moment. This is a sporting ability. At the same time, it is an attitude that goes far beyond ultra-running.
Naturalness as a principle – not as a trend
Many people imagine the backyard format according to the motto: as far as possible, no matter the cost. For Hubert Karl, this attitude is the opposite of what he stands for.
For decades, Hubert has been following a consistently natural approach. He emphasizes how important it is for him to listen to his body, perceive limits and not artificially cover up strain. According to his own philosophy, chemical painkillers and synthetic boosters do not belong to his way. No supposed shortcuts – instead, experience, body feeling and consistency.
This is not a short-term trend for Hubert Karl. It is a philosophy of life that he has been practicing for more than 40 years. His 301.5 kilometers at the Last Soul Ultra make this attitude tangible. Not as a general health promise and not as a recipe for others, but as the personal path of an exceptionally experienced ultra-runner.
Hubert Karl and Kim Gottwald: two ultra-runners, one special event
The Last Soul Ultra clearly bears the signature of Kim Gottwald. The format challenges the individual to their personal limit and at the same time creates space for closeness, mutual support and real stories.
The meeting of Hubert Karl and Kim Gottwald represents two perspectives on modern ultra-running: decades of experience on the one hand, a new generation of reach-strong endurance events on the other. At the Last Soul Ultra, both came together – not as a staged contrast, but through the shared fascination for what people are physically and mentally capable of.
What Hubert Karl's performance has to do with athleteXhub
At athleteXhub, we believe that the best athlete stories are truly lived. Not staged. Not invented for an algorithm. But genuine.
Hubert Karl is living proof of this. People who consistently follow their path over decades, don't seek quick success and give something back to others with their story, deserve visibility.
That's exactly why we're building athleteXhub: We bring ambitious athletes together with suitable sponsors and create a stage for performances, values and stories that often go under the radar.
The short documentary about Hubert Karl is coming soon
We accompanied Hubert Karl's run at the Last Soul Ultra with a camera. The footage will be used to create a short documentary, which we will publish soon on athleteXhub's YouTube channel.
I'm really looking forward to showing this story. Because between the starting signal, 6.7-kilometre lap and short break, there are moments that no results list can tell.
Thanks to Kim Gottwald and the entire Last Soul Ultra team for this exceptional event. Thanks to Julian Kolb and Marco Cognac for their support on site. And thanks to Hubert - for reminding us again and again what's possible.
An event that will stay in my head forever.
Frequently asked questions about Hubert Karl and the Last Soul Ultra
How many kilometres did Hubert Karl run at the Last Soul Ultra 2026?
Hubert Karl completed 45 laps. With the lap distance of 6.7 kilometres used by the event, that corresponds to a total of 301.5 kilometres.
How old was Hubert Karl at the Last Soul Ultra 2026?
Hubert Karl was 68 years old at the Last Soul Ultra 2026. His 45 laps were classified as a world age record or exceptional age best in the context of the event.
What is the Last Soul Ultra?
The Last Soul Ultra is an event organised by Kim Gottwald in the Backyard Ultra format. Every hour, a new round starts over approximately 6.7 kilometres. Anyone who does not complete the round within the hour or does not start again is eliminated.
Who is Kim Gottwald?
Kim Gottwald is an ultrarunner and organiser of the Last Soul Ultra. At the event, his team combines the Backyard Ultra format with livestream, media coverage, and a strongly community-oriented atmosphere.
Where will the documentary about Hubert Karl be released?
athleteXhub accompanied Hubert Karl at the Last Soul Ultra 2026 with a camera. The announced short documentary is to be published on athleteXhub's YouTube channel.
Editor's note: The classification as a worldwide age record is based on information from the event's environment. An independently verifiable official ratification of this age-related Backyard Ultra record was not available to the editorial team at the time of publication.
About the author:
Julian Zimmermann is Co-Founder of athleteXhub, the platform that brings ambitious athletes together with suitable sponsors.
