Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running

"I Need This to Stay Alive" | Inside the Compulsive Mind of Biel

September 8, 2026·29 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Ultrarunning rewards people who can keep going. Biel makes you wonder what happens when stopping no longer feels like an option, and where ambition ends and compulsion begins.Biel is a Brazilian ultrarunner, Speed Project athlete, tattoo artist and printmaker living in Berlin. He has represented Brazil at the 24-Hour World Championships and set records from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and Chamonix to Marseille. But the more interesting story is the force connecting his face tattoos, his art and the extreme experiences he says he needs to stay alive.Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review.If you’re new to Borderlands, start here.Topics / Timestamps00:00 Introduction02:27 Face Tattoos, Identity + Freedom05:17 Why Ultrarunning Keeps Biel Alive07:19 TSP | Chamonix-to-Marseille Record10:59 24-Hour Racing x The Speed Project13:07 A Perfect Fit for Biel18:40 From Nightclub Cleaner to Pro Runner22:48 Art + Life Beyond Running27:39 Beyond Records + LimitsResources / LinksSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races Borderlands.ccRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningPresented by Kiprun.----Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.Watch on YouTubeRead on Substack

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