Type 4 Fun!

Coolest scariest thing I have ever done! Vertical kilometer on Friday night, 50k the next morning! And, I took that photo!

Boy, this was a trip for the ages. I had never been to Europe before and I was able to spend some time in Paris, Zurich, and Geneva in addition to 5 days in Zermatt, Switzerland. It really does go without saying, but I’ll say it anyhow, the Alps are so freaking majestic but onto the races.

The first race was the Vertinight VK. It started at 8pm Friday night from the village center where all the races would start and finish (with the exception of this race). It was hell of a night for it. The air was cool and misty with a thick fog making visibility in the dark truly unlike anything I’d experienced. It was spooky, but thankfully the course was copiously marked by long strands of blaze orange ribbons. I definitely stepped off trail a few times though.

I had a good night, I’d completed several VKs in times ranging from 2 hours to 1.5 hours before, and despite visibility issues this one clocked in as one of the faster editions for me. More importantly was how good I felt crossing the finish line at the Schwarzsee lift and restaurant.

I ended up being just a bit overdressed as you can with the rolled up jacket sleeves. It was wet and cool, but not that wet or that cool. I was pumping with adrenaline already but I knew I needed to get back down the mountain and go to bed because Sky was in the morning.

By the way, the gondola ride back down through the inky fog was very unnerving. There were no lights on the gondola so you really couldn’t see a damn thing as you slowly descended the mountain. Eventually, the lights of Zermatt pierced the darkness but it was quite a ride.

I, quite predictably, did not sleep a wink before needing to get up and be ready for the ultra. I toed the line with nervous excitement. I had a decent training block, there were a couple of minor injuries along the way but I felt prepared. It helped that the cut-offs seemed manageable.

I brought poles (Travel Tip! if you try to bring poles on a plane they have to go in your checked bag!) but I was hoping to not need them until later stages of the race, and definitely not until after the summit of Gornergrat, the highest peak on the course.

However, that plan went right out the window almost as soon as we exited the village and started the first climb which was about 2 miles and a 1000 feet. The course “flattens” ever so slightly for bit before a steep half mile leads into an equally steep dip.

Then comes the biggest climb of the day, a VK in and of itself. From the 10k point to the 10 mile mark is a nearly 4000 ft climb. It’s not a technical climb but dang it’s a beast! The descent is almost as long and steep which was a wildly fun quad destroyer.

Unfortunately, by this point, all bets were off. Plans had been disintegrated and it became about survival. There were only three major climbs left but each one took a sizable toll. Just before the last climb was the last aid station and upon arrival I realized I was less than 30 minutes from the cut off. I had to eat, I had to refill my bottles, but first I really had to go pee behind that shed over there! I got out of that aid station and started up the last climb, feeling quite nervous as I’m visualizing the ~2 mile and ~3000ft descent back into the village.

I was right to be nervous because much of that descent was also the most technical part of the course. So much of the final descent was traversing these large eroded earthen knee obliterating steps, for lack of a better phrase.

But hey, I freaking did it! Once the course flatten out as the village neared I was able to pick up speed and even out kicked someone just before turning on to the paved roads careening through the village to the finish line. I was awash in triumphant glory as I crossed the finished line with 23 minutes to spare, my closest call to date.

The nitty gritty:

https://www.matterhorn-ultraks.ch/en/home

Vertinight VK: https://www.strava.com/activities/7667024035

4 miles, 3200 feet in 1:34:25

Sky: https://www.strava.com/activities/7667024035

31.5 miles, 10,000 feet, 12:07:08

For hydration I relied heavily on Nuun products both caffeinated and not. Calories between aid stations came from an austere consumption of GU Roctane gels. Aid stations provided Naak bar pieces and I found them be delicious. I did not experience any gut issues nor did I struggle with much cramping.

Unfortunately, for this retrospective, I do not have CGM data to point to how blood sugar fluctuated throughout the day but I can recall anecdotally that I avoided some tell tale signs that I’m having a bad time (i.e. constant yawning, needing to pee frequently)

Despite the slow time, this is the result that I am thus far most proud of. It was the hardest and scariest race I’ve completed yet. I can’t say I would do it again, but that is a matter of cost more than anything. If I’m going to spend the kind time and money on trip – international or not – I want to prioritize new experiences*. But, you absolutely should sign up for Ultraks Matterhorn! Plus, they have like 5 or 6 different races to choose from so there is something for everyone.

_{*Qualifying for the Extreme race would be dope though}