The Jungfrau Marathon was my first marathon and even though I ran several marathons after that (e.g. New York 1998) I still remember the Jungfrau Marathon better than any other one. True, I love the mountains, but nevertheless, to run through this unbelievable panorama while approaching the base of one of the most famous and beautiful mountain ranges of the world was just unbelievable exciting.

The marathon starts easy cruising through the famous tourist village Interlaken and touching on turquoise Lake Brienz before it goes up to Lauterbrunnen through a spectacular valley. After 13.1 miles (21K) you see to your left a roughly 2,000 feet (600m) high wall carved out by glaciers where you have to look twice to even spot the way to ascend. Later you run along mountain single trails and on the ridge of a glacier moraine before you reach the finish line at 6,500 feet (2,000m).

The course ascends 5,971 feet (1,820m), most of it on the second half.

The organization is perfect. They even manage to bring a sufficient quantity of warm showers to the finisher line. The only problem I have with the organization is that they only accept 3,000 runners due to the narrow single trails. However, they should try to start the several categories in intervals or something similar to stretch the field in order to give more people the chance for such a great experience.

There are of course not that many spectators as in Boston but they are just as supporting.

I'm going to run Boston this Monday, April 17th, 2000. I hope it will be good weather.