Transalpine Run RUN2

Race strategy

Hold a steady pace and save energy for every section.

• Big early climb with 1150m gain. Control your HR at altitude.
• 1158m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• The finish is runnable. Save your legs to run it all the way.
• Long race. Control your HR and effort. Early mistakes cost the most.
• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the descents until 37.4km, then run your race pace.
• Start · 0.0km–1.9km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.9km–18.0km · Climb of 1154m, high point 2587m, descent of 1158m averaging 13%. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. At altitude your pace drops, and that's fine. Hike the steepest pitches.
• Work · 18.0km–37.4km · Climb of 838m, descent of 1721m averaging 14%. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them.
• Fade · 37.4km–55.5km · Plus 1 more climb and 1 descent. Your energy fades, and that's normal: hold a steady effort and stop counting the miles. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. Running pays off here: run wherever you can. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 55.5km–68.6km · 13.1km of runnable trail. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.

Course

The course climbs 3265m+. With 47m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 35% of the distance is uphill, 38% downhill and 28% flat. The longest climb runs 8.8km at an average 13.1% grade (1154m of vertical). The longest descent runs 12.2km at an average 14.1% grade (1721m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 27.7% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 45.4% over 0.2km. Surface: 67% trail, 14% road, 14% smooth, and 6% technical. Flat-equivalent effort: 83.9 FlatKM.

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 13.1km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 46 of 100), with 75% of the load in the first half: 2 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Control your HR on the first mountain, save your quads on the descents until 37.4km, then run your race pace.
• #1 · 8.8–18.0 km · 1158 m D−, -12.7% · 50.6 km ahead → control
• #2 · 25.1–37.4 km · 1721 m D−, -14.1% · 31.2 km ahead → control
• 53.4–55.5 km · 324 m D−, -15.4% · 13.1 km ahead → your pace

Weather

On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 7°C to 16°C, with around 8°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 57%. Heavy rain of 10.0mm or more falls on about 16% of days around this date.

Results

117 finishers completed the 2026 edition. Men's winner: Jhon Huaman (Peru) in 6:47:51. Women's winner: Ann-Kathrin Deubner (Germany) in 7:19:28.