My First Weeks of 2026
From Finland’s frozen north to Bavarian trails — a look back at the start of the new year.
After finishing my 2025 blogging challenge, I decided to slow down a bit with writing. Once a week felt like too much, but looking back and sharing some highlights every now and then feels right. So here’s what the first one and a half months of 2026 looked like for me: a mix of travel, community, sports, and a few slower moments in between.
Christmas and New Year Break
We spent the holidays in Belgium with some family members in a cozy house that made up for the long drive. I used the time for daily trail runs - even when it snowed - and plenty of board games with my kids and family. The highlight: a sauna, swimming pool, and whirlpool that made every day feel like a mini wellness retreat. Usually I’m not the biggest “family time” person, but this 10-day break was exactly what I needed.
Codefreeze Conference in Finland
This was my third Codefreeze in Northern Finland, and while I thought I had the formula figured out, I definitely overdid it this year. Between outdoor activities, attending (and giving) conference sessions, and trying to keep up with work, I hit a wall by day four. Still, it was an incredible experience: inspiring people, great sessions, and the indescribable magic of Lapland in January. I’m already planning for next year, but I’ll try to take it easier next time.
Munich Tech Sauna Meetups
Our first Munich Tech Sauna community meetups of the year kicked off strong. The cold weather seems to attract even more people. January attendance was great, and the energy in the group is fantastic. It’s fun to see new faces mix with the regular crowd, and there’s just something special about talking tech and innovation while sweating it out in a hot sauna.
Snowboarding in the Dolomites
My yearly snowboarding trip with my friend André remains a “two-person meetup” (sorry, non-inclusive) and we like to keep it that way. This year brought tons of fresh snow and some surprises, like the Marmolada being closed due to avalanche risk. Still, we found plenty of new areas to explore, and as always, the good conversations were just as important as the rides. I feel lucky to have friendships like this one that bridge sport, life, and everything in between.
Trail Running and more with OCR Munich
With plenty of OCR races planned for this year, trail running has been a key part of my training. Running through the woods and climbing local peaks around Munich is just as rewarding as any race.
The group atmosphere with OCR Munich makes it even better — if you’re in the area and enjoy trail running, you should check us out.
Health Check Season
Winter felt like a good time to take care of overdue doctor visits and small surgeries. That plan sounded better in theory than it turned out — it’s been a lot of appointments and follow-ups, and I can’t wait to have it all behind me. A small toe surgery means no running for two weeks, which feels weird after all the activity lately. Can’t wait to get moving again soon.
That’s my first six weeks of 2026 in a nutshell. A mix of family time, snow, community, and recovery (you might call it ‘taking care of an ageing body’, too). It feels good to write things down again and share some of what’s been going on.
How’s your year been starting off? Anything that already shaped the tone for your 2026? Drop a comment — always curious to hear how others kick off the year.