Sophie Woods completes Via Alpina endurance challenge in record 29 days
Ultra-runner Sophie Woods has set a new record for the Via Alpina endurance challenge, completing the 2,000km route across eight countries in 29 days. Despite facing extreme weather and physical exhaustion, she surpassed the previous record by six days.
Why it matters
This achievement highlights the limits of human endurance and brings attention to one of the world's most challenging long-distance mountain trails.
Ultra-runner Sophie Woods ran 2,000km across eight countries in only 29 days to break the record for completing the Via Alpina - one of the world's toughest endurance challenges.
The course follows the entire length of the Alps with elevation equivalent to climbing Mount Everest 12 times.
The 42-year-old began the marathon on 4 July in Italy, following a trail network through Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and France before ending on the Mediterranean coast in Monaco on Saturday night.
New Zealander Woods and her team battled two heatwaves, storms, a swarm of horseflies, and wildfires that resulted in a detour that added five kilometres and 200m of treacherous climbing to her route.
British runner Jake Catterall set the previous fastest-known time for the route, completing it in 35 days in 2024.
"I am ecstatic but knackered," Woods told BBC Sport.
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