Jungfrau Marathon

I ran Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg and New York. The Jungfrau has been the nicest and most challenging for me ever ever. Though this was in 2003 (not 2010) and I need to do this again. Thanks Jungfrau Team,

I picked Jungfrau for my 100th marathon because I wanted it to be something epic. I was not disappointed. By far the most stunning scenery of any race I have ever run. I am a 3:30 flat marathoner and finished Jungfrau in 5:13. The course is more crowded than I would have liked if I was shooting for a specific time, but did not mind a bit as going more slowly allowed me to enjoy the views more. We stayed in Lauterbrunnen and I rode the train in (free with race number) on race morning with no problems. If you are thinking about making the trip to Switzerland, schedule your trip around this race.

It is an absolute privilege to be able to participate in this event!!! The scenery is stunning and it has to be the most beautiful of any race. Plus it is well organized with plenty of aid and well supported by spectactors and fellow runners. The first 16 miles are rolling hills on a combination of trails and paved roads. You can push yourself during this stretch since the steep inclines during the last 10 miles require a lot of walking with a few runnable stretches. The last 4k is surprisingly congested single file climbing with minimal chances for passing. But the view of the Jungfrau at this point can be truly appreciated during the slow pace (take a camera!). The race has a 6:30 time limit, but it is the 5:30 cutoff time at the 38K that is strictly enforced. The congested climbing for 3K with a 1K decent to the finish, can take an hour. As a regular 4:30 road marathoner from Ohio (with no mountains to train on) I passed the 38K at 5:10 and finished in 6:10. There is plenty of food and beverages available for purchase at the finish area. Hot showers and drop bags are also nice at the finish before the train ride down. Be prepared for a long congested train ride full of friendly spectators and finishers. The train service to the start and from the finish makes it convenient to stay in some of the beautiful, quieter surrounding villages of Interlaken (Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Wilderswil). As someone who has completed over 70 marathons in beautiful places, I can not say enough good things about this event and the beauty of the scenery. It helped that the 2012 race had perfectly clear conditions. It is hard to get into this race but if you get the opportunity you will not be dissapointed.