Meet Kim Gottwald

Kim Gottwald, 22, is one of the founders of rappid. His journey into running began during his final year of high school in 2021. What started as a personal routine – running 10 kilometers every morning for a year – quickly became something more. Without chasing a specific goal at first, the discipline shaped both his mindset and direction.

After graduating, Kim launched his first business: Aliud, a streetwear label he built entirely on his own – from design and coding to production and distribution. Later, he moved to Cologne to study law, continuing to develop his creative projects alongside university.

Running became a way to explore new ideas. Kim gained attention through unconventional formats – like running every Cologne tram line or covering the distance to each of Germany’s matches during the European Football Championship in 2024. What began locally soon caught national media interest.

That momentum led to larger efforts. In the same year, he completed a 161-kilometer race in Berlin and ran 1,160 kilometers across Germany – from Sylt to Neuschwanstein. Around the same time, rappid. was born: a running brand focused on offering quality gear at fair prices, designed to support athletes pushing themselves further. The early days were intense – including months of living and working out of the office.

In May 2025, Kim took on his biggest physical and mental challenge so far: the Go One More Ultra in Austin, Texas. After 56 hours and 382 kilometers, the race was cut short by weather – with Kim leading. The format: 6.7 km every hour, until no one’s left. For him, it was more than a race – it shifted his outlook on effort, limits, and what comes next.

Kim’s daily routine reflects that mindset. Mornings start with training, followed by deep focus on content, logistics, and product development for rappid. Evenings are for strength and mobility work – then rest, because the next day starts early.

He’s active on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, sharing his journey and training. Upcoming goals include a sub-2:50 at the Berlin Marathon, hosting his own Backyard Ultra in October 2025, and returning to the G1M Backyard in the U.S.

His approach is simple:
Everything is temporary.
So keep moving forward.