Ultraks - Matterhorn - Zermatt

Above pictures from my event in Zermatt. Route - Zermatt - Ultraks

Obviously being from the Netherlands, where hills are rare and mountains are most likely non-existent. There were 3 distances, 16km, 30km and 46 km.
My time was 6.16
Time and information of my run.

Great event. Lovely city Zermatt. I stayed in the Primavera hotel. Good value for money. I had 2 evenings dinner in Walliserstube. Mainly as it was next to the hotel. Great place. Both recommended if you ever stay in Zermatt.

The run itself was hard. Altitude, height, off road. But some spectacular views. Very well organised. 3 starts. I  missed the start of the 46k. I was glad I only choose the 30k. Hard enough as it was anyway. At the last 30 minutes it started raining. Slowly but surely it changed into a downpour. But at least I was nearly there. The views of the mountains are second to none. It's fully marked, and where the 30K and 46K have to take a different route, it's clearly marked as well. The descents are quite technical sometimes. The climbs are not that technical, just high and long and don't stop.

Flickr with all pictures

This event is the same family as the Transvulcania in La Palma.

I would recommend the event. It's a bit of a trip. Flight to Geneva or Zurich and then a 3 hour train with  a change in Visp. Clearly an outdoor skiing town. Clearly cold, -3 the Sunday 25 August when departing.

I don't want to write loads of things, merely sharing some pictures.

Have fun.

Sorry, been a while.

I know it has been a while. Quite a while even. I'm just back from a week in Spain. Running and cycling near Mijas in the hills. Clearly my cycling fitness is not what it used to be. So another quest. So I've picked up cycling. Guess I actually need a schedule now. Swimming this year taken a backseat. Means, swam once. In a pool and not even open water. OMG. ;-)

As I've move to Zurich for work, I do most of my training there. Which is good, as it's all up-hill (and down to get back of course).

The hills around Mijas are fab. Tough, hot and beautiful. Coming towards us soon is the Running Show in Sandown Park Esher near London. This year there will be an ultra running corner where yours truly, Rory Coleman (Rory) and others will be present.

Lost Worlds Racing (Lost Worlds Racing) has been very busy. Tim Holmstrom the owner had been able to add a few new races (check them out), in Greece (Meteora) and Transylvania (Dracula).

A lot is happening and myself I have a few little races coming up:

• Zermatt Switzerland - Ultraks - 24 August - Hopefully with Dave James Tsakanikas (assuming he joins) Dave James
• Bournemouth Marathon - BMF - 06 October with Colin Brett, Wayde Edwards, John Skinner.
• Kingston Run - Kingston - 13 October with Nasreen Suleman
• Amsterdam Marathon - AMS - 20 October with Joop Keizer - Joop. Check this man out. 71 (or a bit older) and fast as the wind. 

Guess that will be it for this year than. Hooray. 

And icing on the cake, 11 August, a MdS training run in Richmond Park. Despite no MdS on the horizon.

Hope you all feel cool and see you soon.

Promise, next one will not make you wait this long. Or maybe it will. Do I care :-)

M