Photography by Lukas Mengeler.
The Speed Project isn’t your typical race. There are no mandatory checkpoints, no prescribed route, just a start line and a finish line, with everything in between left to creativity, grit, and pure determination. What began as an underground legend from Los Angeles to Las Vegas has now landed in Europe for the first time: 450 kilometers from Chamonix to Marseille, run as a relay that tests not just speed, but innovation, teamwork, and the ability to push beyond every conceivable limit.
The Crew That Runs Together
Enter Cool Runnings Club Berlin, a crew that defines running culture far beyond the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other. They represent community, creative energy, and boundary-pushing in sport and life alike. Lukas captures moments behind the lens and keeps the team grounded, while Julian leads with energy drawn from marketing and basketball. Claudia brings discipline and determination, Pierre adds creativity and humor, and Stella shows unshakable toughness in her first ultra. Yannic, founder of Cool Runnings, balances competition with community, Julia runs for clarity and positivity, and Dino delivers fun and motivation when it’s needed most. Together, they show what Cool Runnings is really about: friends who push each other, one run at a time.
Photography by Lukas Mengeler.
The Journey: From Brandenburg to the Mediterranean
The story begins in the quiet training camps of Brandenburg, where the crew honed their relay strategies and built the chemistry that would carry them through 450 kilometers of European terrain. These weren’t just training runs they were the foundation of something bigger, a bond forged through shared miles and mutual respect. Supported by Zalando from the very beginning of their journey, the crew had everything they needed to focus on: running culture, creativity, and community spirit.
Next was Chamonix. Picture this: dark alpine trails cutting through mountain air, headlamps moving in the early morning fog, and eight runners ready to redefine what’s possible when you throw out the rulebook. The Speed Project Europe had begun.
For 450 kilometers, they navigated through French countryside, trading off segments with military precision while maintaining the loose, creative spirit that makes TSP legendary. No two teams tackle the route the same way, that’s the beauty of it. Some prioritize pure speed, others focus on strategy, but Cool Runnings Club Berlin brought something different: authentic crew energy that turned every kilometer into a celebration.
The nights spent cramped in their support camper became part of the legend. Sleep-deprived conversations, route planning by smartphone light, and the kind of bonding that only happens when you’re collectively chasing something impossible. These weren’t just runners sharing a vehicle, this was a family pushing each other toward greatness.
Photography by Lukas Mengeler.
The Finish: Into the Sea
When the crew finally reached Marseille’s Mediterranean coast, they didn’t just cross a finish line, they ran straight into the sea together. Eight bodies hitting the water at the same time. A perfect symbol of unity and pure joy. This moment encapsulated everything The Speed Project represents: the journey matters more than the destination, but when you reach that destination together, it becomes transcendent.
That image, the group disappearing into Mediterranean waves after 450 kilometers of French terrain, captures why Cool Runnings Club Berlin stands apart in running culture. They didn’t just complete The Speed Project. They embodied it.
Photography by Lukas Mengeler.
Join the Movement
The crew’s European adventure continues. On September 20th, coinciding with the Berlin Marathon, they’re hosting a Shake Out Run featuring a photo exhibition, coffee, snacks, and music bringing their Speed Project energy back to Berlin’s streets.
This is what running culture looks like when it transcends athletics and becomes art, community, and pure creative expression. Cool Runnings Club Berlin proved that The Speed Project isn’t just about covering distance. It’s about redefining what’s possible when you combine individual strength with collective vision. From Brandenburg training camps to Mediterranean finish lines, supported by partners like Zalando who believed in the journey from day one, this crew just wrote the opening chapter of European Speed Project history.
The question isn’t whether you can run 450 kilometers. The question is whether you’re ready to discover what happens when you throw out every rule except one: finish together.