| Date added : | 10-Sep-2009 |
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July 24th Flew to Zurich and then catch a rather beautiful train from Zurich to Davos, Scenery is out of this world and if you’re anyway scared of heights then watch out as you approach Davos your right at the edge of the mountain looking down-down down.. Davos is a lovely little town, very Alpine in it’s feel, the air is thin, you’re surrounded by mountains, lovely little shops here and there. Went and registered then food, bath, and bed, same as always. You’re told before you run the 78K or the marathon for that matter to try and be in Davos three or four days before the race to acclimatize to the air or lack of however for me that’s not possible but yes it would help as it does take a bit of getting used to. July 25th Race Day Up and ready bright and early. I’m a bit nervous today as I have never run over 35 miles before so today entering into a bit of the unknown. The start is nice and friendly in a small stadium in the centre of town. Before you know it the gun goes off and away we are. The first few miles are around the town before were off road running through beautiful fields and parks. It’s a bit like the sound of music in feel and image, Without the singing and dancing but with running and panting, it really is beautiful. After about 10 miles we start now running in the woods, then fields then woods again and so on. There are a few climbs and down hills along the way but nothing mad although I’m crap with heights and at one stage we crossed a very deep valley over a railway bridge that frightened the be-Jesus out of me….However I had no choice but to cross. A few timed during the course of the run were on the road and before we get to the 26 mile stage there is a part of the run along the road that goes up and round and up and round till you get dizzy and can’t feel your legs anymore. You can see the top of the mountain all the time but it never seems to get any closer. Bit like doing the turf as a young lad when the trailer load is dumped and you have to load it into the shed, the mound of turf never seems to get any smaller, feels like life is passing you by. Mile 23 we enter a small mountain village which is also the start for the 42K runners so all of a sudden there are a lot more runners on the road as we all merge. A few miles pass by then by Christ you know you’re in the Swiss Alps. The next section I’d say I walked as well as just about every other runner for about an hour, going up and up and up. My heart was pounding, my legs were tired and then a started to laugh out load to myself with the thought ‘What the feck am I doing here’? It was so hard it was funny. As soon as you get to a flat bit then it’s another hard climb worse again each time. Streams, cold, snow; rain, sun, grass and running along the verges of the mountains with deep valleys either side of you are all part and parcel of this race. My hands started to swell at about mile 35 it wasn’t sore but just uncomfortable but altitude will do that to you. I have to say although the run was hard at this point it also is magnificent in so many ways, the scenery I mean unbelievable. At about mile 39 you reach the highest point which at this stage your very cold because you do run across a bit of snow at a few points of the mountain but thankfully from here down the remaining 10 miles is completely down hill. The downhill run is quite dangerous as well as it is very much downhill with a sharp rocky terrain so extra care is needed. The finish then is back where you started some many hours before and a great and cheering crowd greet you as you enter the stadium. Job Done!! The Swiss alpine run no matter if it’s the 31K or 42K or the 78K you will have a hard day at the office. It’s a work run no doubt. It’s very well organised with many drink and food stops provided along the route. It must be one of the most beautiful runs I have come across. You have to pinch yourself from time to time looking at your surroundings and wondering whoever came up with this blue print for landscape in the Swiss Alps deserves a medal much like the one we got for our days work. Nice one Switzerland.
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