My Day on the Swiss Alps 100 Vertical Race – iRunFar

The 2023 Swiss Alps 100 happened on the second weekend in August, and for me it was the final leg of a terrific journey round Europe. We travelled by practice from Berlin on the Thursday, and the near-1,000-kilometre journey took us by some breathtaking landscapes, which grew to become steadily extra spectacular as we neared the Swiss municipality of Fiesch that hosts to the occasion.

As my physique wasn’t as much as one other extremely simply then, I used to be collaborating within the roughly 10-kilometre vertical race. I believe on studying the stats of the race as I signed up for it, I had seen solely what I wished to see, and satisfied myself that this was a reasonably customary vertical kilometer, with a few 1,000 meters of elevation acquire. It was solely whereas consulting the route map within the begin space on race morning that the penny dropped that it was extra like 1,850m. A variety of bang for the buck for a 10k race!

The race began at 10 a.m. on the Friday, a half hour after the 100-mile primary occasion, which had the extra draw this 12 months of being a Hardrock 100 qualifier. Our race adopted the 100-mile route for roughly 7k, earlier than deviating to a steep climb to the end.

Unusually for an uphill mountain race, we began with a number of hundred meters of downhill on the highway. This was a great way of spacing out the sphere earlier than we received to the slender singletrack that adopted because the climbing commenced. I discovered myself behind the lead pack by the point we began the climb, with a spot behind me to the bigger chasing pack. Already there have been two ladies gone on forward, however shifting so effectively I didn’t have any designs on chasing them. And after I regarded round, I couldn’t see anybody shut behind to problem me for third place. So, it was a kind of races the place my destiny appeared sealed from very early on.

Even at that hour of the morning the warmth was selecting up, and I used to be grateful for the shade within the wooded sections within the first half. However as soon as the course opened up a little bit greater up, the views have been greater than ok to compensate.

Our small discipline had strung out fairly shortly, however gratefully we caught up with the again of the 100-mile discipline quickly sufficient, and selecting off 100-mile runners whereas providing phrases of encouragement gave the run some momentum. At 7k, we received to the help station. It was small and low-key, however the environment and the welcome for the runners, notably within the 100-mile, was further. I used to be humbled by what these people have been getting down to do, overlaying 160k with 10,150m of top acquire, whereas I used to be fretting about an 1,850m climb.

I hurried previous the help station with out stopping for water. Not sensible. I’ve been working path races for about eight years now, and nonetheless have a manner of constructing it appear like it’s my first time. The final 3k to the highest was when the climbing actually picked up. I by some means wobbled my solution to the highest, and fortunately managed to carry on to 3rd place.

As soon as the exertion was over, solely then may I absolutely soak up the place I used to be. Probably the most serene and otherworldly end space, overlooking the Aletsch Glacier (Grosser Aletschgletscher.) Measured to be 23k in size as lately as 2014, though sadly decreasing year-on-year, that is nonetheless believed to be the most important glacier within the Alps. My accomplice, Garth, had been busy friend-making whereas he waited for me on the prime, so we hung round for some time to soak it in and discuss to the opposite runners and supporters earlier than taking the cable automobile again down.

We spent three nights in Fiesch across the occasion, and located it a brilliant base to vacation from, with good public transport linking up the area. The occasion itself has one thing for everybody, from the 100 miler right down to a 100k, 50k, and Vertical. Additionally, having travelled to very large international occasions reminiscent of UTMB and the Path World Championships this summer time, in addition to no-frills ultras at dwelling in Eire, I might describe this occasion as a contented center floor in that respect. Though progress is inevitable, for now not less than it retains an intimate really feel.

Name for Feedback

Have you ever been to the Swiss Alps 100? Which race did you do? How did you discover it?

Do you even have a keenness for medium-sized occasions like this?