Monte Rosa Sky Marathon / Mountaineering Trip
When my mate Graham Friend who’s an accomplished mountaineer asked me if i wanted to team up with him for the #MonteRosaSkyMarathon (MSM) – which would be a first for both of us – it did not take me long to confirm. A trail run race that starts in Alagna Valsesia (1,192m) in from where the race goes all the way up the Signalkuppe (4.554m) – the 4th highest peak in the Alps and back down to the valley. 35KM including 3.500m positive elevation. Neither the distance, nor the positive vertical elevation scared us hugely as both Graham Friend and I have – individually – ran far longer trail races including more vertical. But It was the ratio between the distance and vertical elevation, the ambitious time cut offs and the altitude at which a significant part of the race would take place that made this race a real challenge.