In 2001 a bunch of sadists decided to organise the Zermatt Marathon, on the tenth anniversary they decided to make it even tougher and added a little bit on the end so it became an Ultra Marathon. Unbelievably this proved popular, they ran it again in 2013 and it’s stayed on the calendar for 2014. The regular Zermatt marathon finishes at a height of 2,585m and the Ultra has an added 550m making it the highest finishing line in Europe. Maybe the organising committee should rename this marathon, something more befitting of it’s challenge, how about “Zermatt Uphill Slog Marathon”.
On the morning of 5th July 2014 at 8.45am precisely the starting pistol will signal the start of what for many of the participants will be several hours of torture. Starting in St Niklaus, for the next 42.195k the route rises inexorably upwards. St Niklaus is situated in the lowest-lying mountain valley in Switzerland and at Gornegrat for the Ultra Marathon finishers, they will find themselves at 3,100m. That’s some ascent and makes this marathon the ultimate Alpine racing challenge. In 2013 the winning time was 4hr 23, the winner was Ruedi Bartschi who will have been 49. The time for the fastest woman was 4hr 50, hats off to Alexandra Hagspiel aged 33. The Zermatt Marathon actually finishes at Riffelberg and the additional length making up the Ultra is only a further 3.5k, which seems easy peasy but the elevation for this last section is 550m, making it very tough for the best of runners.
The first 20k from St Niklaus to Zermatt seem relatively easy, although uphill all the way the incline is quite gentle. The route winds it’s way along the valley floor, more or less following the course of the Vispa River but after Zermatt things get considerably more difficult. The cheering crowds thronging the streets of Zermatt give the runners a lift and possibly a second wind but with the legs softened up from the previous 20k the next section to Sunegga starts to take it’s toll. After Sunnega there’s a respite of sorts as the incline lessens and starts to flatten out. Through pine forests and alpine meadows with the Matterhorn for company the route is quite possibly the most beautiful and scenic marathon on the calendar but I reckon that many a runner will not paying much attention to the surrounding splendour. For many the torture re-introduces itself with the last pull from Rifflelap to Riffelberg and an arduous ascent of the final 400m. The slowest runners will have to make this point by 16.20pm or it’s elimination which seems pretty cruel but rules is rules. The Ultra runners have literally another mountain to climb, the last 550m and 3.5 k. With the stunning view from the Gornergrat at 3,100 the panorama may well be reward in itself for the effort. For those less active, catch the train from Zermatt and experience those same views without the effort and the sweat.