Day 8

It feels a little unreal but we are done. No more waking up at 5:30 in the morning to trek across the Alps. It is actually a little sad that it is over although my legs were happy to see the finish line.  We finished the day in 3 hours 57 minutes running 30 km (18 miles) from Schlanders, Italy to Latsch, Italy. We had to ascend 1807 meters (5,928 feet) today. We didn’t do as well today in our rankings, we finished 9^th in the mixed category. So at the end of the race, we finished up being 8^th place in the mixed category out of 88 mixed teams that started the race. Overall out of 312 teams that started the race we ended up being 51^st place. We had a great experience running and seeing part of the world we would have never got to see otherwise. We met some great runners from all over the world as well. Our goal for the race was to be one of the top 10 teams in the mixed category and we accomplished that and we didn’t get injured along the way. We have a celebration dinner tonight and then we take a train to Venice, Italy to fly home to America.

So we made it across 4 European countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and then Italy. This was a distance of more than 273 km (170 miles) and 15,436 m (50,643 feet) of climbing, running the most challenging course that has ever been run on the Western route from Oberstdorf, Germany to Latsch, Italy. I am very thankful for this experience I got to have with my wife and will remember the journey forever.  

Day 7

Wow, what a challenging day. The legs were definitely hurting from the start. We are both tired and had no appetite last night at dinner or this morning at breakfast, so we were low on energy as well. It was a pretty mellow run for the first 15km then it all changed. It went straight up this mountain to reach our highest elevation yet. We climbed up to 3012 meters (9,881 feet). It was slow moving up lose rocks and bolder hoping. At the top you instantly dropped down off the other side and going down the backside was no easier. The quads and calves were rockin’. We made it to the finish even though there were a few low moments. We ran from Mals, Italy to Schlanders, Italy with a total of 37km (22 miles) in 4 hours and 58 minutes. We went up a total of 2063 meters (6,768 feet) and came down 2334 meters. We finished in 6^th place out of the mixed teams. Over the whole 7 days we are now in 7^th place for the mixed teams and 48^th overall. Our hotel today had a swimming pool so we got to sit in it and soak the legs and we both got two scoops of gelato after the race, so we are feeling better now. One more day! 

Day 6

We ran from Scuol, Switzerland to Mals, Italy today. They said it was only supposed to be 37km but it ended up being more like 41km (25.5 miles). We ran along some rugged cliffs and through some tunnels. It was a quick day for both of us. We finished the day in 4 hours and 4 minutes putting us in 5^th place in the mixed category for the stage and moving us up to 7^th in the mixed category for all the stages and 43^rd overall. We only had to go up 1332m (4,370 feet) today. So a lot less elevation gain than normal. The legs are definitely hurting but we only have two more days left.

This town we are in are really old with lots of old historical castles and churches. 

Day 5

This was the “rest day”. It was a 6.2km (3.8 mile) “sprint” up to the top of the ski slopes outside of the town of Scoul, Switzerland. It was kind of like a time trial. Suz and I started together but this day you don’t have to run together. It was a 936m (3,070 feet) climb up the top of the mountain. I finished in 56 minutes and Suz finished in 57 minutes. It was a bit of a let down at our performance but we pushed as hard as we could. We came in 11th for the stage but maintained our 9th position for the mixed team. We got dinner up there then got to ride the gondola back down the slopes. We didn’t get any pictures of the run but I included 2 from around the town. 

Day 4

What a day! I have to say that it was the most beautiful wonderful day yet and we lost the camera somewhere along the way so I don’t have many photos to share. (This was my bad when trying to put away my gloves and arm warmers). We started in freezing weather at 8:00 am this morning in Galtur, Austria and ended 39.9 km (24.8 miles) away in Scuol, Switzerland. As the sun came out the day only got more and more beautiful. The Swiss part of the Alps is so spectacular. There were two high peaks we had to go up today. The first one was 2768m (9,081 feet) high and the second was slightly higher at 2793m (9,163 feet) high. You could feel the high altitude and it was a little harder to breathe near the tops. I got a little bit of altitude sickness but pushed through it and charged down the backside of the mountain. The total elevation gain today was 2339m (7,673feet). We finished in 5 hours and 31 minutes, which put us in 5^th place for the mixed/coed teams for the day. It moved us up to 9^th place for the mixed teams and 63^rd place for all the teams for the whole race.

So we are half way done, only 4 more days left and tomorrow is considered a rest day. We only have to run 6km (3.7 miles) straight up one of the ski slopes here. We have lunch on the top and then get to take the gondola back down the mountain.

We both still feel good, sore but not letting it hold us back. We only have one blister and no injuries. Every day we have to carry a small backpack with drinking water, a rain jacket and gloves, first aid kit, and cell phone. There are usually 3 aid stations along the way were we can fill up on water and sports drink; as well as, food like bananas, nuts and Suz's favorite cucumbers with salt. Mine is yellow cake with chocolate and cola.

Day 3

Well another great but challenging day. Every day has had it’s different challenges so far. It started raining so hard yesterday and all today that they had to do an alternate route due to safety reasons. This route was 42.3km (26.2 miles or a marathon) from Shruns, Austria to Galtur, Austria. There was only an elevation gain of 1,870m (6,135 feet). So an easier course than yesterday but it rained all day and rain equals mud and being wet and cold. Much of the run was spent trying not to slip on rocks and huge cow pies, as well as running through mud. I stepped into mud about knee deep quiet a few times along with stepping in cow pies. Also, there were low clouds and rain all day so there was no view and we didn’t get any pictures except for what you see below (before the race and at the end of the race). We ended up finishing in 5 hours 30 minutes. Today, we got 8^th place out of the mixed/coed teams, which bumped us up to 10^th place in the mixed category for the whole race and overall we are now 70^th place. Our bodies are sore, especially the quads from all the up and down, but we still feel great and we are loving every minute. 

Days 1 and 2

Day 1

The first day was a great day just a little hot. The Transalpine run started on September 3^rd in the southern ski resort of Oberstdorf in Germany. We ran 27.2 kilometers or 17 miles with a total elevation gain of 1806 meters or 5925 feet. The hardest part was actually coming back down what we climbed up into the town of Hirschegg in Austria. Today we ended up placing 13^th mixed/coed team and 88^th team overall. Suz and I feel great just a little nervous for our big day tomorrow.  

Day 2

Well we survived the hardest day of the race or so that is what they tell us. We ran from Hirschegg, Austria to Schruns, Austria in 7 hours and 26 minutes. We finished 10^th place for the mixed teams, which bumped us up to 11^th place for the mixed teams and 77^th place overall for both days combined. Today we finished 2nd out of all the USA Teams. It was a very challenging run. We ran 53.2 km (33 miles) and gained a total of 2481 meters (8,139 feet) of elevation. What hurt the worst was coming down all that we went up. We finished just in time because it started raining pretty good about an hour after we finished. I am thoroughly enjoying every minute of this race. I can’t even explain how beautiful these mountains are. I think I will be sore tomorrow. We have a big day tomorrow, too, we have to run about 43km.