Swiss Alpine 26/07/08

What can we say about the Swiss Alpine race? Heaven and hell rolled into one. The most punishing and exhausting course in the most beautiful and breathtaking surroundings. Swiss organisation and efficiency mixed with a sense of danger and adventure.  This, for me, was the best of them all.

We arrived in Davos on Thursday. Danielle was taking on the half marathon challenge and Nikki was to be our official motivator and photographer. Davos is situated high up in the Swiss Alps, about a three hour train journey from Zurich. In summer it is a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, bikers and hikers and in winter is a busy skiing destination. This weekend however it was all about the runners. There were several races over various distances taking place including the half-marathon, full -marathon and the daddy of them all, the 78km Ultra marathon.

After a day of relaxing and swimming on Friday we got ourselves ready and went to bed early. On Saturday morning Alan and I got the train to Bergun where the full marathon was starting. As we warmed up and stretched we watched the leaders of the Ultra race pass through. They had started at 8 that morning and had already run 36k.

Our own race kicked off at 11.30 and off we took into the hills around us. The first 10km was all uphill but it was only after that the real hills began. From there we were on a mountain path 6 kilometres long to the top of the Keschhutte at around 2632m. Everyone was walking. It was impossible to run but even if you could run it would be pointless because the pace would be only walking pace anyway. So up the hill we all streamed in single file gasping for air as we went.  We hit the top of Keschhutte at over 2 hours.

Then it was downhill into the valley below. We tore downhill, bouncing along the trail and somehow managing not to twist an ankle or break a leg. At 21k it was back up again. Up a savage incline that took us to the top of the Scalletta Pass. Again everyone was walking. Here the trail became dangerous as we were forced to walk across sheets of ice and snow with no foothold other than the prints of those who had gone before. At the top of the pass we were over three hours. Alan was starting to really suffer and so I went on ahead alone.

The downhill into the valley was treacherous.  It took great concentration to pick out your steps while running and as people got fatigued you could see the mistakes starting to creep in. People were stumbling all over the place and I was lucky not to twist my ankle on at least 3 occasions. Soon the route flattened out and became a long, arduous run in to the finish. This was less a race than a grim struggle for survival. It was more akin to some kind of ordeal the SAS or the Foreign Legion would put their recruits through to break them. A death march if you will. How must the 78k guys have been feeling?!

I finished strongly after taking a life saving gel at around 35k and crossed the line in 5hrs 53mins. Alan followed about 20 mins later. Danielle did her very tough half marathon in 2hrs 31. Despite the ordeal the body felt in reasonable shape. I had been running for nearly 6 hours and had burned 4500 calories but I had felt worse. The sense of satisfaction was better than anything I have felt this year.  Everything about this marathon was exceptional. From the superb organisation, to the supporters who trekked into the mountains to cheer us on, from the camaraderie between the runners to the stunning scenery en route, the whole experience was incredible. I’ll definitely be back at some stage and might even have a lash off the Ultra!

Swiss Alpine Race Info

Marathon Type:  Alpine Mountain Trail.

Temperature: 20 -23 degrees

Conditions: Hot & Sunny

No. of  Participants: 5000 (combined all races)

Entry Fee: 70ish euro