Keeping the Wheels Turning

The RoadRUNNER office grew quieter after Christian’s passing, but I was determined to keep the magazine alive—and with it, his spirit. I felt his presence in every corner. Burying myself in work felt easier than facing the empty space he left behind. With the support of my sons and a loyal team, we kept moving forward.

Florian moved into Christian’s office and continued working part-time while still attending college. Manuel became our remote IT lead. I hired an assistant to help carry the growing load.

I stepped into the role of publisher. I had always worked behind the scenes, with Christian as the public face. Now, that duty fell on me. I was grateful that our industry partners stood by us, and I was touched by the many heartfelt letters from our readers. This support gave me the strength to continue.

With Christian gone, responsibilities had to be rebalanced. I took over the editorial calendar, planning and assigning stories. My goal was to show that we were still committed to producing a top-quality magazine. As I sorted through Christian’s notes, I found many tour routes he had mapped out. It felt like he was still planning the road ahead for us.