The word Délibáb is Hungarian for a natural optical phenomenon — a mirage often seen on the flatlands of the Hortobágy National Park. It’s created by a unique combination of sun, sky, and landscape. And there’s hardly a better metaphor for what it felt like to run in the 8th E.ON Délibáb race.

The race began on July 9th, 2011, at 3 p.m. The temperature was an extreme 38°C (100°F), turning the event into a true test of endurance. There was no shade — just the endless plains and the burning sun overhead. It felt like running in the middle of nowhere.

My heart rate was at its maximum, and I pushed myself to the edge. This wasn’t a race to chase a personal record — it was about survival.

But I did it. I crossed the finish line and conquered the heat, the landscape, and my own limits.