Swiss Alpine K43

This proved to be my favourite event of the year, the weather was perfect, the distance was a challenge, the altitude was 2739m at Sertigpass, and certainly this was a taste of trails more than other marathon events I ran this season.

Finish time 4:50.14 

Zermatt Ultra

If you're going to run a marathon up to Riffelberg, you might as well do the extra 6km up to finish at the more prestigious Gornergrat and get an ultra under the belt right? Yes, I would say something along the lines of "A wise man ran the Zermatt ultra once, a fool runs it twice"
The run from St Niklaus was uphill from the start, through the town, then further ascent is made on the very attractive route upt to Zermatt. Lots of support, the atmosphere was great through town as it had been in the smaller villages on the way up.

I made the 42km in 4hr 15m,  but the total time was 5:31.27! Somehow, I felt great to continue, and felt like I was moving as fast as possible, but maybe the altitude and tiredness was tricking me. It really was a hike, but after the Riffelalp to Riffelberg section, it felt like there were sections where one could almost run.

Aletsch Halbmarathon

Finally got this run right, in great conditions, 3rd time lucky! Two years ago, I arrived on time but in a poor starting block, all I remember is being held up on narrow paths while having zero view as we were in thick cloud. Last year, I was help up at gondola station and missed the start, so this meant more frustrated trail trudging. At least we had views, the weather was clear, if a bit too hot.
This year, I arrived on time and started as close to the front as I dared, and it really paid off as I could run my own pace without holdups, or this time without me holding others up, and the weather was great - even nice to have thin cloud cover to keep the temperature down.
With other events coming up later this year, I even ran back down to Bettmeralp from the finish, as a good downhill training session.
Official time 2hr 14m 4s

Engadin Skimarathon

 3hrs 41m 43.

 

Engadin Radmarathon

Still the best single day sportive of them all, its a serious challenge but not a mental amount of climbing. Best parts are of course the Swiss National park, tunnel to Livigno, racing through Livigno valley to Forcola pass then the Berninan pass, the long fast peloton stretch to Zernez then the massive Fluella followed by the sweeping descent to Davos and eventually Filisur before the climb through the landscape of the Unesco world heritage Albula pass. So thats pretty much all of it.

I had a tough day, internal organs aching all day and I was really going backwards on the Fluella. I had thoughts of turning around, and just stopping there in Zernez for the short loop. But its only 10 o'clock, thats not even time to start a ride, this hasn't even begun! I did recover more after the descent to Davos, but we had to ascend into a thunderstorm and complete the ride in very sodden conditions.
Felt jelous of the guys who took another 40 mins or so, they got to finish in dry roads, warm sunshine and smiles on their faces!

I'm sure I'll  be back for this one.

Slowest time so far, 8:01:40.

Engadin Bike Giro

 Steep from the lake, and make no mistake the startline is already at 1800m so altitude plays its part in this steep ascent up to Marguns. Tough climb, combined with the amazing flowtrails make this a great start to the giro. 

 This is by far the best stage, very interesting single trails, open mountain, man made flowtrails with asphalt only for the refreshments! Thats how it should be. Just before lac de staz ectoplasm oozed from my rear suspension unit, so from herone theres no damping, but still air compression in my shock at least.

A day for the 29ers I feel. I doubt I will ever upgrade, or join those with tubeless tyres so I don't flail around with replacement tubes. I did hear some astonished voices proclaiming the 26er, and saw some sad faces when I was reduced to replacing my flattened front tyre. For now, I'd be happy to have a suspension unit that just goes rigid when it fails, instead of hitting hard.
The stage was demanding for sure, and varied considerably from the previous stages despite the proximity of the three stages. The only warning from the prerace briefing was about the final 5km down to Silvaplana, and well, yes, that needed a warning. But first came a shock of a final push up a rocky path, to join a rocky traverse before a death drop down to the finish line. Well, it wasn't so bad, but I among others took many steps down this final section to complete a well earned Engadin Giro finishers t shirt.

Aletsch Halbmarathon

My fault, should have taken the first train of the day, as we arrived in Bettmerhorn delayed as the gondola from Betten was having a lot of trouble taking all the runners up to the start in time.
That meant I started absolutely last, even after the walkers!
Impossible course at the best of times to pass people, virtually all the route is narrow path and I was walking along held up in some sections, yet still only 7 mins slower than last year.
Well, when the scenery is this good, I will stop complaining now, and just admire the view. It is stunning up here.
2hr 36m 35s