First Mountain Run

After getting back to Switzerland and being pretty lethargic for a couple of days (I blame jetlag), I decided to try my first "berglauf" or mountain run. It was called Belchen (perhaps gaspen would have been more appropriate), and it was in Olten (a city I have been through maybe 50 times, but never actually gotten off and looked around). Plus I didn't remember any huge hills near Olten (again my memory proving how poorly it sometimes operates). The run went up around 2400 feet in 8 miles or so. It had some pretty steep sections that occasionally caused me to walk, but it was doable. I was completely exhausted at the end. The scenery would have been much prettier had the weather been nice, but as it was, it wasn't too bad.
One of the things I really liked about this run, and I assume berglaufs in general, is after the start the field automatically sorts out into nice groups, and you really stay together till the end of the race. It helps you stay motivated, and keep your pace since you know the people around you are probably suffering just as badly as you are. It can also be motivating when an old man in a sweat drenched button-up dress shirt passes you.

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