Engadin Ski Marathon « Follow that Fire Engine

TEAM ENGADIN

Each year, on the second Sunday in March, a 42km cross-country ski race rips through some of Switzerland’s most amazing scenery.

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TEAM MOTTO

‘We’re as cold as ice, but willing to sacrifice’

MARATHON SUMMARY

12,000 competitors gather at the start, get whipped into a frenzy by music from Chariots of Fire, and take off Le-Mans-style across a couple of snow-covered lakes. It’s all very picturesque (unless you’re taking it way too seriously).

The course winds around a mediaeval castle, over another lake, through St Moritz, into the forest and and up Matress Hill. Then it’s a swift descent to Pontresina and back onto the flats. Before you know what you’re into the final couple of kilometers. A short climb up the ‘Golan Heights’ and the finish is just a whimper away!

RACE REPORT

I don’t know where the crazy idea came from to do a ski half marathon, what with mixed skiing skills (Debs has only skied for a culmination of 6 days in her life, Paul has skied since he was a child) and with both of us having NO cross country experience at all. But you can’t back down from a challenge, right?

Final race times: Paul – 2hrs 53mins Debs – 3hrs 30mins

The first hurdle was getting to the race from where we were staying in Zurich, which had us up at 2am to start the 5 hour journey of taxis and coaches to the start line. Once we arrived we quickly began to freeze in the -15 degree wind chill in the valley, we had to huddle together to keep warm. Not even the hot sports drink they had on offer was enough to keep our toes and fingers from losing feeling.

Before long we were at the start line, our skis planted in the classic tracks, listening to a ‘warm up instructor’ shouting excercises at us in german alongside the olympic theme tune. All very surreal.

We had chosen to do the entire half marathon in classic style, which was definitely a compromise of speed for comfort. Even a staff member at a ski hire shop was trying to convince us we would not be able to classic ski the half marathon distance. With roughly 90% of competitors skating past us classic skiers, you couldn’t help but get a little disheartened. But the sunshine and iphone tunes helped keep us going.

There was a sad lack of aid stations, but locals were out in force offering us their own dextrose sweets and chunks of banana. Once we reached St Moritz I (Debs) have to admit I had a glimmer of hope that it was the half marathon end point… no such luck.

We were both very pleased with ourselves for finishing the half marathon distance, because the last 5 or 6 kilometres were constant hills, which was a total surprise to us – the race map didn’t show these hills! The climbs just didn’t seem to end! It was absolutely exhausting, so the bratwurst and Appenzeller beer we enjoyed at the finish line was very well deserved!

We loved taking part in the race, but if we do decide to attempt it again, then we will definitely learn to skate!!!