Quick race report - LGT Alpin Marathon:

Beautiful and often brutal marathon course. Major rain during all but the first hour -- was a soaking wet day with 1800 meters of elevation gain over the 42km course. The rain never seemed to stop and it got colder as we climbed and the day progressed. I feel for the people who didn't bring a shell or hat. Even with my shell and gloves, I was shivering by the time I crossed the finish!

Nice and easy flat 10K to start and then the first big climb (10km itself), which was sometimes runnable but often so steep that walking was in order for all but the elite. Quick descent down to Steg to close out the 1/2 marathon section. I had it in my mind that the bulk of the climbing was in the bag by this point -- which is entirely the wrong thing to have in your mind when you reach Steg!



From Steg (center-right in the photo below), you begin a long climb (partly runnable with some rolling sections early on). This part of the course is very scenic (especially, I can imagine, when the weather is clear!). There are some very steep bits, especially the end push to the pass that overlooks Malbun (top of photo just left of center). 30km+ into the race -- this climb hurts and seems to never end.



After topping out on the 2nd big climb of the day, you're rewarded with nice views and the feeling that you're on the home stretch -- you can see Malbun and soon even hear the Finish Line announcer. This is a cruel joke though. After descending to the edge of town, you climb back up again high above Malbun -- a 5km tour of the town that packs a huge punch in tired legs that were expecting an easy push down (and only down!) to the Finish Line. Half way through this tour, you drop back down toward Malbun and climb up again (toward the top of the Malbun ski lifts). With the big day of rain, we made countless crossings of small streams and splashed through endless mud. It was a cold, wet, and dirty day of racing -- great fun of course!

Finally the climbing ends and you have a rippin' descent to the Finish Line. Good SWAG at the finish (nice technical shirt plus a nice Swarovski wine bottle stopper). Even with my dry post-race clothes on, it took me half an hour to stop shivering. I saw people being treated for hypothermia -- which reinforces the need to take mountain weather seriously.

I'm looking forward to next year's race, when the weather will hopefully cooperate! Next up, the Graubünden Marathon -- which I just noticed has nearly 900 additional meters of elevation gain over the LGT. Doh!