GORE-TEX Footwear Transalpine Race
A Mountain of Marathon
Fredrik Ölmqvist (Salomon Trail Runners) / 05.09.2006
On a marathon with more than 2000 meters elevation gain you will not make your personal best time. My time today was about 6h 15min. It’s the slowest marathon ever for me, but it was a relief to finally reach the little Swiss town of Scoul, on the boarder of Italy and Austria. After four stages we have now covered more than half of the total distance of 230 km. Since my team partner Stefani is out of the race due to injury, I ran today’s stage with a new team partner, Nicolas Wetzel from San Francisco, USA.
Today’s stage was very tough for all the runners. The high altitude, the long steep climbs and descents in the scorching sun, with a big risk of dehydration, and of course with three prior stages in the legs and feet this was for sure a test of determination. (Also I had to struggle with a minor headache after last night’s farewell to my American friends, Adam, Ellinor, Stefani and Cynthia. Feeling week at the start of a marathon distance in the Alps isn’t the ideal for a long day in thin air!)
Nick and I got off to a good start with a steady pace and slowly moved up the field while reaching Fimberpass, 2608m. Our Camelbacks were empty to soon though and arriving at the second food and water post we were both quite dehydrated. At the next mountain pass, Fuorcla da Champatsch at 2730m, Nick was getting dizzy and we had to go slowly to stay safe.
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