Words by Robert Birnbaum. Photography by Torben Flatemersch, Hanniel Hu andLea Kurth.

Robert Farken balances a razor-sharp focus on sporting goals with a passion for the subjects close to his heart. Whether it’s the thrilling descent of a grueling 800km gravel bike race or grinding through the 1500m  – the On athlete, and Leipzig native, combines high performance on the track with an innate self-confidence and distinctive style that shines. 

Sport was always a way to express himself, and Farken recalls finding his form on the pitch as a teen, "That was the classic case for us boys, playing football at first. Everyone in my family actually played handball – we were a family of athletes, so I've been involved in competitive sport all my life."

After elementary school, Farken transferred to a sports high school, where he was able to pursue his football ambitions and develop as a track runner. Ultimately, when he had to focus on one, Farken followed his natural talent on the track. 

"My body developed rather late, which is why strength and speed weren't my calling cards back then. In the end, I opted for athletics. I could simply do more damage in the endurance disciplines. That was also where my talent was."

With an Olympic participation in 2021 plus German championship titles in the 800m and 1500m, Farken's decision paid off. He originally specialized in the 800m distance, but qualified for Tokyo over 1500m in 2021. Now 26, Farken tailors his training to the 1500m.

"Eight years ago, training for 800m and 1500m was more similar, you actually always trained for both at the same time. Since then, things have changed. The 1500m uses much more endurance and aerobic training from the 5000m discipline. You [have to] do much more distance training. The 800m training goes in a completely different direction. Competitions are extremely fast and it's quite hectic. Because I have the tempo from the 800m, 1500m is more comfortable for me, you have a bit more time. Of course, it also hurts for longer, but it's a less hectic race."

As a professional athlete, Farken's everyday life revolves around training. And, as with any job, a runner’s motivation can fluctuate at times. Farken points out that love for a sport isn’t everything – that discipline is more important than motivation. When it comes to the daily grind, Farken is refreshingly honest. Like the rest of us, he can move through the motions with his eye on a greater goal.

"If I'm honest, I don't have many days when I feel like going for a long run. I don't say: 'It's great to run six kilometers in one direction and then six kilometers back'. But you have to go through it, it's just part of it. That's why I became a pro. I see it as part of the bigger picture. I want to achieve the best possible result. It excites me to see where I can go and what I can achieve."

"It's clear that you have to go into training with the right attitude – whether it's a steady long run that I’m not excited for, or a tempo run that I’m pumped about. It doesn't change the attitude that I deploy in training. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and complete the training sessions as planned."

Even the bodies of pro athletes like Farken can struggle with the high load of intense running training. But instead of letting injury-related training and competition breaks get him down, he sees them as an opportunity for growth.

"Whenever I had setbacks, I realized something: the most important thing about the situation is that you accept it. That you don't beat yourself up too much, but look for ways to end up better off than before. That you use it as an opportunity to tweak other things – whether that's nutrition or stability training, the little things you have time for when you're injured."

When you think of 'what you have time for', you might not immediately think of a Spanish off-road bike race with a distance of 800km and 16,000 meters of altitude. But Farken had his sights set on the famed Badlands race through Eastern Andalusia for some time. When injury forced him to end his 2023 outdoor season early, he spontaneously decided to give the race a go. Alongside a group of friends, he packed his bike and decided to document his experience as a short film. Even experienced cyclists reach their limits in the Spanish desert, and Farken also reports on an experience of a lifetime. One that cost him three days and 22 hours of perseverance.

"My goal was to finish the race, no matter what. Everything turned out worse than expected. I had food poisoning, but I simply manifested that I would achieve the goal I’d set in my head. I proved that to myself. That's why in the end – no matter how long it took me – I'm happy with the outcome."

Goal accomplished, but the passionate cyclist admits that he hasn’t touched his gravel bike since the Badlands experience. Instead, he and his road bike soar over the asphalt around his hometown of Leipzig – or he explores the trails high above St. Moritz on a mountain bike. Cycling plays a central role in Farken's everyday life, but also in his training.

"On the one hand, my body simply can't handle too many kilometers of running. On the other hand, I really like cycling. So I do a lot of my training on the bike. It's a win-win situation – I really enjoy it and I can use it in my training, especially during the ‘build phase’ of my plan. I'm happy that I don't have to run so much and can cycle a lot. It takes your mind off things. But when I can only ride a bike, I really miss running, too."

Off the saddle and the track, Farken can be found wherever there is a good café. On a day off, he trades his spikes and running shoes for lifestyle looks that become an amplification of his character. 

"For me, finding a personal style went hand in hand with finding myself – mistakes included," he admits jokingly. "I believe that – just like a person's different character traits – their fashion tastes are individual. I want to be at peace with myself regarding my actions, my words and the values I stand for. The same goes for my appearance – you could say my style is born out of a desire to feel comfortable in my own skin."

Among his fashion role models, Farken names Spanish footballer Héctor Bellerín, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, and stylist Marco Halbinger. The aesthetic inspiration he gathers on his travels is evident on race day. Especially on race day.

"I think 'feeling good' is directly linked to self-confidence. So of course that's even more important to me in competition. The spikes have to be clean, and the hair has to be done nicely. Our On race kits are designed the same for all runners, so on these days, the personal touch comes all the more through tattoos or sometimes jewelry - jewelry is also a very hot topic for me," Farken explains. “My style can often be a small window into my character.” 

Farken enjoys playing with style, but one thing he’s serious about is maximizing what's possible on race day. Whether the committing to long runs, tempo sessions or trail descents get him over the line, his unique, creative approach to life as a pro athlete sets him apart from the pack.