A trail-runner’s dream

52k. 3000m ascent and descent. 100% Beautiful.

SwissAlps100. Wow! If you could design a perfect 50k race this would be pretty spot-on. Mind-blowing views, super fun trails varying in type and technicality, idyllic peaceful villages, enough aid stations and streams, wonderful weather, well-organised chilled-out event.

This race was actually one of the main reasons I came back to Europe after spending a day here last year and experiencing some of the stunning scenery, glorious trails, Aletsch glacier, and the lovely people. And it was the main event I really wanted to do well in all trip.

I’ll take you through how it went:

→ The days leading up: some walks, sightseeing, staying with a cousin who lives near Zurich. Again many late nights. Amanda arrived from NZ and we headed down through beautiful Lucerne and the lakes ending up in a tiny mountain village at 1200m elevation near the Furka pass.

→ We chose to do a Via Ferrata the day before the event on the way over to Fiesch. Two hours navigating up a cliff face on the side of a valley above a crazy Swiss gorge with roads, tunnels, cycle tracks and railways far below, with a steep 5k run back down to the car. Not what I’d recommend to others as a taper activity. Legs felt pretty tired tbh. But funnily enough the exact same thing I did before winning Xterra European champs last year in the Dolomites. Maybe a cheeky Via Ferrata mountain climb is what I will do before every major race from now on 😂

→ Lots of food and an early night, but a nagging feeling I was not 100% for this race after the week we’ve had.

→ Up at 4.30am for a 6am start. Hundreds of athletes all congregating at Fiesch sport resort, milling about, stretching, some looking nervous. Feeling very at peace knowing I have some glorious trails ahead of me.

-> We start with 1400m of ascent within 9.5km. Great fun. Just settling into a 7/10 gear and grinding up the steep switchbacks, forest trails, past gondola stations and to the high peaks. As we approach 2600m elevation, the sun pokes out and lights up the most glorious views of the snow capped Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, with blue skies and clear views as far as you could see. Pictures can’t do this justice. I was sitting in 3-5th position for much of the ascent but took the lead near the top.

-> Next a traverse of the high points at altitude with some technical running over boulder fields, soon joining the Aletsch glacier. Running the Kms close to the ice giant in the peaceful morning with no one around and an eagle overhead was sensational.

(pic from last year from above. This time getting to run the trail down next to the Glacier)

-> Now a huge descent down a really gnarly valley, losing 800 metres in a few k. I have a pretty good descending game, but some of these Europeans put me to shame. Italian runner Manuel flew down this crazy descent and opened a good lead on me.

-> The section from 18-24k was an incredibly fun medley of interesting trails including swing-bridges, metal pins, ladders, boulder-hopping, traversing sides of canyons, eventually crossing a huge swing bridge and climbing to a summit. Followed by a muddy descent through farmland to a beautiful mountain village where an aid station and Amanda was waiting. She is great at crewing now, swapping out my flasks and giving me the exact info I need: “1st is 1 min ahead and 3rd and 4th are hot on your tail, get going!”

-> This next section required a bit of sensible leg protection. A constant descent through foot hills and some tarmac to the valley floor. Go too hard and you can really smash your legs up, with another 25k and 1500m climbing to go. Catching up and passing back into 1st was great. Definitely feeling that Via Ferrata in my legs now, but able to push hard and get a gap of about a km.

-> Now on the other side of the valley, with another mountain to climb. Out of fluid half-way up. Got to the top with farmhouses and cows, gasping for some water, again super pleased to see Amanda here. “You are a few mins ahead, just keep pushing”, whilst I casually put my head in a water trough!

-> More fun forest trails, climbing up the side of rivers. Then a really runnable trail alllll the way down to the valley floor. It’s at this point in the race you have to decide how much you want it. It definitely hurts throwing yourself down a mountain as fast as you can on tired legs, unsure how close others are behind you. The runnable part turns into super steep technical single trail, again throwing myself down as fast as possible. I was at this point channeling previous disappointments (poor race execution at UTA, being screwed over with no fuel at Grossglockner trail). Looking afterwards, this Strava segment I was 3rd fastest in 21mins, with Manuel getting the crown 20seconds faster. Good enough.

-> One more aid station then 8k to go, through villages, some more insane climbing where I felt like I was moving backwards! Then running along the valley in the full sun, now 34degrees to the finish including a last uphill at the end. Along this stretch I placed my head and cap in a few fountains trying to cool down and continue running fast. I took a wrong turn up a road a km from the end. Realising quickly and only adding on 300m, but others did the same later and added on much more. What a way to mess your race up.

-> Crossing that line was such a good feeling. Mission accomplished, with a bonus 14 min course record 🎉.  Incredible day. The entire 52k is stitched together with some of the most fun and interesting trails to run, with incredible views throughout. Super tough, but this is one I will remember forever :D

This event has a really low-key feel, which is in contrast to the absolutely mind-blowing scenery and trails. The race organiser has a personal chat with you at the end, no ceremony, organisers and officials are all chilled-out and experienced. Love the vibe. Though it does feel so understated.  Part of the magic.

Some awesome chat at the end with some legends in running, trip to hot pools at Brigerbad springs, food and enjoying beautiful Fieschertal village in the evening.

N.B) Also, quick shout-out to Jeff Pelletier and Audree Lafrenière who I met briefly at this race, with Jeff running the 160k. If you haven’t come across them they make incredible trail running films which you can follow on YouTube. I’m sure they will showcase some of the splendour of this area and event in due course. 100% recommend a follow :)