November 7, 2024, 4:05 pm | Read time: 12 minutes
Musician, TV star, extreme sportsman – when it comes to entertainment and fitness, Joey Kelly is a force to be reckoned with. As is well known, he also discovered his passion for endurance sports during his successful time with the Kelly family – countless running and other sports competitions and extreme sports adventures followed. In an interview with FITBOOK, Joey Kelly revealed why he couldn’t imagine life without sport, why he has already taken part in the “7 vs. Wild” survival format twice, and what he thinks of Stefan Raab’s comeback.
The outdoor and fitness company Skandika could hardly imagine a better brand ambassador than Joey Kelly. After all, he knows what makes good equipment in this area. There is hardly an extreme sports competition or outdoor sport that the 51-year-old has not done in the past three decades or that he would not be willing to try out. In an extensive interview, he told us what drives him and how he feels about his son Luke becoming a professional runner. Plus, we learned how Joey Kelly deals with low motivation and getting older and what adventures he has in store for the coming year.
How Joey Kelly got into extreme sports in the 1990s
FITBOOK: You’ve been active in extreme sports since the 1990s. How did it start for you?
Joey Kelly: “I started out a little differently to most people. Many people start with shorter distances, such as 5 or 10 kilometers, increase to half marathons and marathons, and then at some point get to extreme distances. For me, it was more of a coincidence. I’ve always enjoyed playing sports, but never competitively. In 1996, I made a bet with my sister Patricia that I could do a fun run. I finished, but almost last, because I had completely underestimated it. At first, I thought it would be my first and last run. But a few days later, my ambition got the better of me. I asked myself what I could achieve if I really trained and got myself some good equipment.”
How did the story continue?
“Eight weeks later, I competed in a triathlon – again at the back of the pack, as I didn’t know it was the German Championships. Nevertheless, I wanted to keep going and ran my first marathon shortly afterward. A year later, I ventured into the long distance, and things went from strength to strength.”
“30 years later, endurance sport is still an important part of my life”
What does this sport mean to your life today?
“The sport became a passion and an ideal balance to my job in the management of the Kelly Family. Today, almost 30 years later, endurance sport is still an important part of my life. The mixture of physical challenge and that special euphoria that I feel motivates me to keep going on new adventures.”
Many people try extreme sports once, but only a few stick with it so consistently. What is your secret to this lasting motivation?
“I think it’s a bit of a type thing. Not everyone has to do competitions; many people just run for themselves and their fitness. Some set themselves smaller goals every year, such as a half marathon, and that’s enough for them. For me, however, it’s more than just a hobby. It has given me so much, and I still enjoy it, even if the long distances are often a real torture. In the end, a lot of it comes down to your head – the mental strength to keep motivating yourself is crucial. But for me, it remains a pleasure to face new challenges.”
Joey Kelly is always planning the next competition
Were there ever years when you trained, but without working towards a specific goal?
“No, that never happened. I always have a well-planned schedule, often for the next two years. I know exactly when the next competition is coming up. I’ll be crossing the Atlantic soon, running the North Pole Marathon in April, the Race Across America in June, and then a 24-hour marathon challenge in November. Everything is planned out.”
Can you give us an insight into your training? How do you prepare for a competition, especially in the early stages and then later when it gets serious?
“My training depends heavily on the competition. For the Race Across America, for example, I train intensively on the ergometer, bike, or spinning to strengthen my leg muscles for the long distance. For other challenges, such as survival events, I prepare completely differently – it’s all about skills such as building a shelter, making a fire, and foraging for food. My years of experience help enormously, of course, but every competition also brings new challenges, and the preparation is correspondingly individual.”
“I used to run 14 hours a week, sometimes 24”
If we come back to running: How many kilometers do you run per week, and how often do you train?
“Ideally, I train five to seven times a week. In the past, in my heyday, I used to train 12 to 14 hours a week, sometimes even up to 24 hours. But I am and always have been an amateur athlete. My main job is as an entrepreneur and musician, and sport remains a complementary hobby for me. Professional triathletes often train 30 hours a week or more because they have to master three disciplines. My son, Luke Kelly, is active in competitive sports. He now runs marathons and finished in an impressive 2 hours and 37 minutes in Cologne two weeks ago. He trains up to 200 kilometers a week for this – that’s a real professional level with two sessions a day.”
“I was never my son’s coach”
Did your son inherit this passion from you? How did it develop?
“Yes, he probably picked up a few things through observation. All my children are active in sports clubs, which I think is great. The club work in Germany is great – so many people are involved in sports on a voluntary basis. Sport is hugely important for children, it not only strengthens them physically, but also mentally. When children are also active in competitive sports, they usually develop a strong sense of ambition and a healthy social environment. Training and competing together strengthens the sense of community. As far as my son is concerned, however, I would like to emphasize that I was never his coach and never wanted to be. He has found his own way and is coached by an experienced coach who has won German marathon titles himself. I support him, but without pressure. It all comes from his own motivation.”
In your training, you focus heavily on endurance sports, but is strength training also part of it?
“Yes, strength training is also important for me, but not to build up large muscle mass, but to develop functional strength. I have a small gym in my basement. It has everything from an ergometer and treadmill to weight machines and rowing machines.”
Getting older and continuing to do extreme sports
You mentioned that you are now over 50. Has this changed your attitude to sport? And have you had to adapt your training?
“Of course, age brings some changes. The mental strength I’ve developed over the years is a great advantage. For example, I’m now preparing for an Atlantic crossing by sailing boat, where I’ll be on duty 24 hours a day – this requires not only physical fitness, but also mental resilience, calmness, and the ability to work in a team. I have developed all these skills over the last 30 years in extreme sports. But I used to be more ambitious and wanted to be at the front of the field in competitions. Today, I’m more concerned with achieving the goal in the first place. I know that I probably won’t finish in the top 5 like I used to, but that’s okay. I’ve already achieved more in my life than I ever dreamed of, and I’m proud of my successes.”
What goals does he now have in his current phase of life?
“My goals have shifted in the meantime – for example, I started with the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent. You can still master challenges like that at 50, sometimes even better, as you approach things more calmly and with more thought.”
There has never been a long period in Joey Kelly’s life without sport
Was there ever a phase in which you didn’t do any sport for a longer period of time, perhaps because you simply didn’t feel like it?
“No, there never was. I once had a forced break of six weeks due to a knee injury, but that was it. For me, sport is an essential part of my life that I wouldn’t want to miss. After the operation, I was able to start again in a 250-kilometer race in Australia within four months and finished 37th. It may not have been the top ten finish I would have aimed for in the past, but I was happy to be there and finish the race. Experiences like this are important to me, and it shows that you can come back even after injuries and breaks.”
Joey Kelly’s motivational tip: “Sign up for a competition!”
Many people find it difficult to motivate themselves to exercise. You don’t seem to have any problems with this. But do you have any tips on how to motivate yourself, especially when you reach a low point?
“My first tip is simple: sign up for a competition! As soon as you’ve signed up, you have a fixed goal in mind and automatically feel the pressure to work towards it. This helps enormously to stay consistent. A club or training group is also a great source of motivation, as it is often easier to stick with it in a community. When I reach a low point in my motivation during a competition, I always tell myself that giving up is not an option unless I’m injured. In a marathon, for example, it can happen that you think you won’t make it after the 32nd kilometer. Then I try to look on the bright side: I’m already three quarters of the way through, there are only 10 kilometers to go. The thought of the feeling when I cross the finish line gives me new motivation. That way, I can get myself to the finish line bit by bit without letting the current low overwhelm me.”
That’s why Joey Kelly wanted to be on “7 vs. Wild”
You can currently be seen on “7 vs. Wild” again. What attracted you to this format in particular?
“I watched the first seasons in Sweden and Panama and was immediately interested. The concept reminds me a lot of the survival expeditions I did for Stern TV. In 2012, for example, I was abandoned on the border of Vietnam and had to cope alone for ten days, without food or equipment, just with a camera to film myself. I also had similar adventures in Bhutan, Tanzania and Namibia, where I had to get by in the jungle or the desert. When the request for ‘7 vs. Wild’ came, I was immediately on board. Last year I spent 14 days in the wilderness in Canada, and this year the season followed in New Zealand. I’m fascinated that this format is reaching such a new generation on YouTube. Although I’m certainly the oldest in the field of participants and could almost be a father to most of them, I find it exciting to compete with the young people and perhaps give them some of my experience.”
The producers of “7 vs. Wild” probably wanted a professional on board. Was that the reason you took part?
“That could be, but to be honest I have no idea why they asked me. But when they asked me, I said yes straight away because I find the concept really exciting. It’s currently being broadcast on Amazon and YouTube, and the response has been incredible.”
How younger survival participants surprised us
What is it like to go on an adventure with such much younger participants?
“Take, for instance, the current season: there’s a participant named Hugo, who is 21 years old and extremely successful in his endeavors. I was impressed by how mentally strong many of the young people are. It shows that they work hard for their success and have a real passion for what they do. Sometimes, I was really surprised at how some of them, who I wouldn’t have expected, rose above themselves and persevered. With Ann-Kathrin (Bendixen, editor’s note) from last season, I was skeptical that she would last the 14 days. She’s very slim, and I thought she wouldn’t have enough reserves. But she managed it – hats off! It shows that you shouldn’t just judge people by their appearance.”
“I was surprised by Stefan Raab’s comeback”
Such surprises are certainly the exciting thing about such formats. Speaking of surprises: You have often worked with Stefan Raab in your career. Were you surprised by his comeback?
“Yes, I was indeed surprised. At the same time, I’ve always said that he can’t stop completely. Stefan is a creative person, and someone like that needs his stage. When he announced his retirement back then, I thought that he would come back after a year or two because he is simply living his calling. I’m glad he’s back – he’s still incredibly creative and entertaining.”
Can you understand why he needed a break after such an intense media presence?
“Absolutely. Anyone who works in the media world knows how intense it can be. Even though he was still active and producing behind the scenes, I can understand that he wanted a break from the limelight. He did it very consistently and is now back with full energy.”
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Joey Kelly and Stefan Raab are planning a joint project
Would you participate in one of his projects again if the challenge was right?
“I took part in the Wok World Cup last year and even won. Stefan always has new, exciting ideas, and I can say that something is being planned again that I will be involved in. But I can’t reveal any more yet.”