Coached athlete James recently completed the stunning SwissPeaks Marathon. Here he tells us about his reasons for taking on the race, how it unfolded and some key things you should know if you’re thinking of running the Swiss Peaks.

Key Stats:

Distance: 46KM
Elevation: 2480m gain, 3450m loss
Start: Valais, Switzerland
Cutoff: 12H30

Why did you choose the SwissPeaks Marathon?

After ticking off my first longer trail races this past 2 years, I was asking myself what's next - the beauty and daunting nature of mountain running seemed like the perfect way of pushing myself.

SwissPeaks offered that blend of breath-taking scenery and a challenge; the right mix of terrifying and exciting.

What was your racing background going into the SwissPeaks?

I started trail running in 2022, ticking off my first trail marathon (Beachy Head) in 2023, then first mountain race (UTMB Whistler) and ultra (Beachy Head Ultra) in 2024.

How did the race unfold?

After a challenging year to date - suffering with knee issues and a lot of physio/strength work to build back up - I really didn't know if I would even finish on the day.

But things clicked on that day - despite nerves and feeling every phantom pain imaginable pre race, the weather was beautiful and the scenery was unlike anything I've experienced. My pacing and hydration/nutrition went well, and later in the day I set myself the challenge of finishing before nightfall.

Knuckling down for the last 3 hours, I came out of a steep descent in the woodlands to see Lake Geneva, the mountains, and the finish in Le Bouveret open up in front of me just as the sun began to set - one of those pinch-yourself life highlights.

Anything that didn’t go to plan?

Somehow I broke a pole around 15km in - only noticing I was without the end of a pole some km later and confirmed by someone spotting a pole-end broken and inaccessible on a hillside!

Thankfully, the rest of it was somewhat intact and I just had to plug along and make the best of it.

What did you focus on in your training for the SwissPeaks?

My first priority was strength and getting my knee to a place where I could have a shot of covering the distance - after that came many a Box Hill rep to prepare as best I could for the elevation.

What was the most important thing you learnt in training?

Never give up - I had some real tough moments in the preceding year, between injury and some real self-doubt; keeping at it and getting advice eventually saw things turn for the better.

Also on the training side, the value of downhill practice - I was woefully unprepared in my first taste of mountain running in the shorter 25KM Whistler race last year. It makes such a difference on those long slogs in the mountains, being able to gain time even when the descents are just technical and relentless.

Were there any surprises on race day?

It sounds clichéd but just how spectacular running in the mountains is - the fresh air and scenery really made it the most enjoyable run I've ever done despite the exhaustion and effort involved.

Anything people should know if they’re planning on taking on the SwissPeaks Marathon?

Make sure you have the right medical cover is a must first of all - Switzerland requires cover for Air Ambulance/extreme sports; ITRA's cover and membership is the most accessible for these sorts of events in my opinion.

Secondly, book early and take the time to enjoy it - the surrounding region really is beautiful, and you can be crossing between the French, Swiss, and Italian alps around Mont Blanc within an hour or two from the Lake Geneva race village.

Find out more about the race: www.swisspeaks.ch

Race Recap: The SwissPeaks Marathon

Building Consistency