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Chilly at 4000metres |
Matterhorn selfie |
The race series offers a marathon, half marathon and an ultra. All with the same profile: Up, up and more up. I opted for the half. Actually I only entered because of the profile - no pressure to run at a certain pace and I could use the hills to hide behind a rubbish finishing time.
When I finally decided to enter the race, they had already reached their 500 capacity. One of the fantastic things the organisers offes, was an online entry exchange, so I managed to buy a place from a Czech girl who could no longer participate.
When I went to pick up the pack from race HQ in St Niklaus, I realised my race number had me in the very last starting pen. I would have tried to change it, but then I remembered I'm no hill runner. And I'm certainly not a half marathon runner.
The forecast for race day was thunder and lightening storms. But even in Switzerland the forecast lies, as we were greeted with a beautiful sunny day.
There was no compulsory kit for the race - even though I would have classed it as a mountain race - so it felt a bit alien rocking up with only a hankie and a gel in my pocket.
Sonic and Cairn were going to get the train to the finish in Riffenberg, so I said my goodbyes and went off to join the joggers pen. Not without stopping to join the queue for the portaloos for the 27th time. A lady asked to jump in the queue because spotted my remedial class green start number and she was donning the super-fast red race number and would be starting soon. I took great joy in passing her at around mile four of the race ;-)
The race starts with loop of Zermatt and then it hit the trails. It's certainly a cheeky course. I don't recall every going uphill for so long without some kind of respite.
Thankfully with the profile of the race, no one tried to speak to me. So I didn't have that awkward moment of having to tell people - who are most likely fluent in many languages - that I'm your typical ignorant Brit and can only speak one. Badly.
I would highly recommend the race. Great course and amazing scenery. How can you beat the Matterhorn as a back drop? And it's fabulously organised. There are even shower cabins at the finish line - at the top of a mountain in the Swiss Alps. Plus, if you're at the sharp end, there's some serious prize money up for grabs.