Jungfrau (marathon)

After the was held for the first time in 1986, it was time to organize a mountain peak marathon. The Jungfrau Marathon was the first race of this kind at 42 km. Already in the first race, 1,500 runners reached the finish line. The first winner was from Germany, who showed the time at . In men, the winner was Swiss Jörg Hagler with a time of 3: 00.05. In the following years, the famous runners joined the marathon, such as Marco Kaminsky , Francis Rohat-Moser , Tesfaye Etisha , , Emebet Abossa and many others.

In 1998, American writers Denis Creitorne and Rich Ganna, in their book “A Guide to International Marathons,” defined Jungfrau Marathon as “the finest marathon in the world . ” The fact that the number of participants in it was limited to 3,500 people also contributed to increasing the popularity and significance of the marathon in order to avoid negative environmental impacts.

In 2002 , on the 10th anniversary of the marathon, the competition was held for two days, so 5260 people took part in it.

The start takes place in Interlaken (565 m above sea level) and ends in Klein Scheidegg (2,095 m above sea level) in front of the three famous mountains of the Jungfrau massif ( Eiger , Jungfrau and Mönch ). It is necessary to overcome 1,829 meters in height along the slope and 305 meters in height down. The highest mark of the marathon runs at 41 kilometers at an altitude of 2 205 m above sea level.

After starting in front of the Victoria Jungfrau Hotel, runners make a short lap around Interlaken. A 10-kilometer level stretch runs through Boenigen to Wilderswil . Then begins the first segment with a difference of 100 meters in height. At the same time, participants are enthusiastically welcomed by the tiny spectators in the tiny villages of Gsteigwiler and Zvaylyukhinen . After a straight stretch, the last kilometers to Lauterbrunnen , starting from 20 kilometers, there is a steep climb. In Lauterbrunnen, participants are again greeted by numerous spectators with the ringing of cow bells and other instruments.

After marking the middle of the marathon, another 300 meters of height difference must be overcome.

After the site, which is more like a descent, the participants on the 25th kilometer of the marathon find themselves in front of the notorious “wall”, a steep climb to Wengen , to which another 500 meters of height difference remains. The hardest part begins. At 31 km, participants reach Wengen, where enthusiastic spectators await them again. It remains to overcome another 600 meters of height difference to Wengernalp . The private owners can see a grandiose mountain landscape, and in good weather - an impressive view of the mountains and glaciers of the Jungfrau massif .

The last 400 meters of elevations go up the mountain path. The participants stretch along the sharp edge of the moraine ridge of the Eiger glacier, until they reach the culmination point of the segment - the Louherflu ridge (2,205 m above sea level) near the Eigergletcher station of the Jungfrau railway. According to tradition, the pipers are met with Scottish tunes.

The last kilometer to Kleine Scheidegg the distance goes downhill.

• Men: 2: 49.02 ( New Zealand ), 2003
• Women: 3: 20.55.8 Aline Kambuyev ( France ), 2011

Fastest Runners 2012

• Men: 2: 59.42 Marcus Hochenwarter ( Austria )
• Women: 3: 22.43 Stevie Kremer ( USA )

In 2008, 3,762 participants (3,076 men and 686 women) finished, 301 less than in 2007 .

Since 2004, the Jungfrau Mile ( German: Jungfrau-Meile ) has been held as part of the Jungfrau Marathon. This is an invitation race for leading Swiss runners. It consists of a circular even area along the streets of a town one English mile long (1609 meters). The start is given at the Metropol Hotel, and the finish is in front of the Victoria Jungfrau Hotel.

In 2009, the race is planned to be held simultaneously for men and women, with a handicap for women.

• Official site