As he set off at the start of the 350-kilometer Wanoga Gravel Ultramarathon, whose route ran through Kashubia and along the coast, Łukasz Jerchel—representing our MIST (Meden-Inmed Sport Team)—had a clear goal: to cover the entire distance in one go, without any planned overnight stays. Things went well at the start, and the kilometers flew by. In an ultramarathon, however, the situation can change in a matter of seconds.

At the 230-kilometer mark, near the Tricity and Reda, he came across another competitor. The cyclist from Warsaw was clearly exhausted. No one on the route is required to stop for other competitors, but Łukasz did it anyway. He accompanied him to the nearest gas station, where they could both eat, drink, and rest.

After a while, it became clear that continuing to ride alone in that condition would not be wise. A dense forest with a steep climb stretched out ahead of them, and night was drawing near. Łukasz reached for his phone and, after a few attempts, found lodging for both of them in a nearby town. This meant giving up on his original plan and personal record.

On the second day, well-rested, they set off together and reached the finish line as a team. Their finish time: 35 hours, 52 minutes, and 49 seconds.

As the MIST team, we are proud – and not just because of the distance. Endurance sports are usually associated with performance, but how an athlete behaves toward others when they are tired says just as much about them.

That same attitude matters in our daily work.