A marathon, not a sprint: Distance running couple graduate together with PhDs

A marathon-running couple have crossed the finish line of a different endurance test – as they both graduate with doctorates from Edinburgh Napier University.

Natalie Wangler and Jonas Müller collected their PhDs during the same ceremony at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, marking the end of a decade-long association with ENU.

The pair from south-west Germany first came to study together at the University as part of a semester abroad in 2016. They returned for a Masters three years later, which led to their PhDs.

Throughout this time, they combined their studies with competitive marathon running.

Running his first on his 18^th birthday, 32-year-old Jonas has since completed 47 marathons in 15 countries, achieving eight wins and a personal best of 2:26:21 at this year’s London Marathon.

Meanwhile Natalie, who is 30, has a distinguished distance running record too, finishing the London Marathon five times and twice placing as a Scottish Marathon Championships medallist.

Natalie said: “Running a marathon is all about resilience. There are definitely a few parallels with doing a PhD.

“You have to push hard at times, and it has the same feeling at the finish line.

“It can be difficult to explain marathon running to a partner who doesn’t do it. That was the good thing about our studies – we both knew what we were going through and could support each other all the way.

“It wasn’t about getting two letters ahead of our name. It was always about the bigger picture.”

Jonas said: “When you run a marathon you can have a bad start, then completely smash it on the second half.

“It was the same for the PhD. There were times when it was tough and others where it felt amazing.

“This was not our plan ten years ago, but things came together and it felt right. We’re proud to be a little bit Scottish now.

“The culture here felt perfect for us: the people, the landscape, the history.

“As runners we put a lot of value on working hard, and it feels like people in Scotland understand.”

Natalie and Jonas were able to combine distance running expertise with their doctoral research at Edinburgh Napier.

Jonas interviewed organisers of major marathons to examine the sustainability of large running event, while Natalie research the field of digital trust in e-government systems.

“It’s a real passion,” Jonas added. “I was able to build up connections with organisers of the biggest races.

“We wanted to research things that could make the world better a little bit. I hope this could help make big running events more sustainable.”

Natalie said: “Studying for a doctorate isn’t just nine to five, it’s something that stays with you 24/7.

“You wake up at night worrying about your research.

“It feels a bit surreal for it to be finished. When I got the email that everything was done, that it was the end, it was a mixed feeling.”

The newly graduated doctors reflected on a decade of hard yards as they celebrated with both sets of parents, who travelled from Germany to join Jonas and Natalie in their adopted home city.

Natalie added: “When we finished all the work we went back to the Lindsay Stewart lecture theatre at Craiglockhart, where we had our first class together in 2016, which was Scottish culture and society. It felt like a fitting moment.

“Our first semester here always felt too short – we decided quickly that we needed to come back.

“Since then, we have loved being at Edinburgh Napier.”

Jonas agreed: “We always had the feeling that this was the right place for us.

“After our semester abroad I took on two side jobs and spent every minute of the day following our dream of doing a Masters at Napier.

“Exactly 10 years on, our journey has come full circle. We are incredibly proud.”