The latest challenge of Bulgarian ultramarathon runner Krasimir Georgiev is to connect Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania with an ultramarathon along the Pan-European transport Corridor 8. The first event of its kind organized at the initiative of Bulgarian MEP Andrey Kovatchev begins on May 7. In 13 days Krasi will run between 80 and 100 kilometers a day to cover the distance of 1,200 kilometers from the Black Sea coast to the Adriatic Sea. The project is held under the motto Connectivity and is under the auspices of the three Premiers – Boyko Borissov, Zoran Zaev and Edi Rama. Thus, Krasimir Georgiev supports the joint efforts of the three countries to fulfill the infrastructure project which will bring a series of benefits to the Western Balkans and connect Bulgaria with its neighbors.

Krasimir Georgiev hopes to attract many enthusiasts in his new adventure. He defines himself as an adventurer who is interested in the world and life and is looking to find new challenges. He wants to see people leave their comfort zone and do things that make them happy and feel alive.

It all started in 1996 when Krasi continued his education in London. He had to support himself during his stay in the UK and became a volunteer in a local organization which worked with victims of violence. When he graduated he was employed permanently there as psychologist. He met accidentally a French professional chef and worked in his kitchen for ten years. When he turned thirty he decided to change his life completely and get rid of all bad habits – alcohol, cigarettes, drugs. He started to run and gave up drinking and smoking. In three months only he lost 25 kilograms. He left the job at the restaurant as well, because the worked there for 15-17 hours a day and was unable to run. Today he cooks only for pleasure in his spare time.

I was looking for an opportunity to work from a distance, Krasimir Georgiev recalls. I started with sports nutrition. I was doing online training schedules and food menus for teams and private clients. Thus, I had more time to run, which is not a hobby, but a way of life.

Krasimir Georgiev participated at 60 classic and 40 ultramarathons, although when he started running for the first time he got tired in less than two minutes. He remembers his first marathon in Scotland. He turned from a one hundred kilogram person into an athlete who can run 40 kilometers easily. Krasi is the first Bulgarian who finished successfully the difficult 216 kilometer ultramarathon in Badwater in the Death Valley.

He participated at the marathons in Sahara as well. In his words, these two marathons are among the world’s most difficult running competitions. He crossed successfully the Morocco desert (250 kilometers) where air temperature reaches 55 Celsius. Later he ran near the Arctic Circle where temperature drops to minus 55 degrees Celsius. The route of the competition crosses the northern part of Norway, Sweden and Finland. In his view, this is the world’s most dangerous marathon.

I want to inspire and help people with my initiatives. Krasimir Georgiev organized charity marathons in Bulgaria to raise money for children who suffered from onco-hematological diseases. The purpose of these charity initiatives is to help these children participate at the specialized Onco-Olympic games in Moscow known as the Winners Games where the Bulgarian children earned medals. What motivates Krasimir?

From a psychological point of view I am driven by the interest to learn what is in people’s minds and my mind as well. This is where my inspiration comes from. I do what I love to do and want to see how far I can go. I must know what happens with me, in order to be able to change other people’s lives and motivate them.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov