Final Weeks of Training for the Gornergrat Zermatt Ultra Marathon 2019

Ten months ago I did something which felt a bit daft at the time, and is feeling even dafter now (**gulp**), I signed up for the Gornergrat Zermatt Ultra Marathon. The race uses the same course for the half, full and a 28 mile Ultra Marathon. I’d run the half marathon part of the course with my mate Phil the previous month. Feeling fit (I lost two stones to do that run), I knew I needed a challenge so inked the form in blood, and let the world know I was doing the Ultra so there was no backing out! Shortly afterwards, Ju had a  bout of insanity too, and signed up for the half marathon taking place on the same day. 

We’re now into our last six weeks of training, and are heading slowly down to the Alps to do some running in the mountains, getting us used to the long ascents and thinner air up there (I ran up some beautiful hills last year including the Col de L’Iseran, Col du Galbier and up to Arc 1800). Down here at sea level I’ve managed to keep my training going, completing a 33 mile run last December, training in Spain through the winter, finishing the Boston UK marathon in April and weirdly running a treadmill marathon a couple of weeks later.

Ju’s had a tougher time of it though, falling during a training run for the Boston half marathon in Spain in the winter and damaging her knee. Unable to walk properly, never mind run, it’s knocked her right off course. She wasn’t able to run in Boston, but has had lots of physio and has started short runs again this week, building her confidence back up. Her base fitness will still be there, I’m sure, but having done that uphill half I know she’s going to need every day left to get into shape for the challenge ahead.

We’re doing these runs both for ourselves and for charity, raising money for the British Lung Foundation who have been brilliant at supporting my dad Keith through long years of chronic lung illness. He’s a stoic fella anyway, but having the support of the local Breathe Easy group, who are funded by the charity, has been incredibly important in getting him the right equipment, advice and above all support. We want to try and raise a few quid for them to say thanks, and what better way than to use our lungs to the maximum up in that Swiss Alpine air? If you can spare some money to support us (every donation feels like a helping hand up the hill right now), please go to our Just Giving page.

Thanks very much, Jay & Ju x