My first ultra:
ZUT Basetrail XL 2022

It’s been a while since I ran 50km around the Zugspitze. My first ultra, as all runs are called that go beyond the marathon distance. Here is my race report.

The Zugspitz Ultra Trail is finally taking place again 2022 after a two-year break. In addition to the 50-kilometer race, there is a shorter distance of 25 kilometers and three really long races: 68, 83 and 108 kilometers. Some of my running group are actually signed up for the 108-kilometer race and will finish it.

 With more than 1,000 starters (only in my distance, the Basetrail XL with 50km), the race starts at 9 a.m. in Leutasch (Austria). I start quite far back to have the psychological advantage of overtaking others and not being overtaken myself.

Unfortunately, the plan doesn’t quite work out because I can’t really give it my all in my strongest discipline, uphill running. The path is just too narrow for so many runners and I can hardly overtake. At one point, I even have to queue. At this point, the run reminds me more of a Nordic walking event, as suddenly everyone is unpacking their sticks, and less of an ultra-run. If it weren’t for the Wetterstein Mountains as a backdrop in the background.

From the Scharnitzjoch, the highest point of the tour, it goes straight back down. In winter, I was here with Adela for a snowshoe tour and I am happy to be able to walk the terrain without snow this time. Over partly rocky terrain, I make my way down slowly – luckily I have another runner in front of me who runs downhill as carefully as I do. At some point, we finally reach the first aid station. The route to Mittenwald is then an easy forest road, I step on the gas and have to hold back at times to stop myself from running too fast. After all, the majority of the kilometers are still ahead of me.

Along the Ferchensee, the route continues towards Elmau, where the most powerful people in the world met at the end of June. The forest road also stretches here, I walk most of the time and ask myself not just once why I am taking part here. I finally arrive at the penultimate aid station and seriously consider whether I should continue. Food and isotonic drinks lift my spirits (unfortunately, my legs less so) and I continue with motivation. On the last ascent of the day to the Eckbauer, I overtake a few runners again. But downhill I feel my legs quite a bit and can only walk.

At the very end, the route descends steeply to the ski stadium in Garmisch – at times I walk backwards to take the strain off the back of my knees. But I step on the gas again for the last three flat kilometers through Garmisch to the finish line and let it rip. I can hardly believe that I have really made it – after 7 1/2 hours. My flatmates Adela and Malte are waiting for me at the finish line and cheer with me.

My legs felt and feel surprisingly good afterwards, and in the evening we even went dancing.
Whether it was my last ultra-run remains to be seen. In principle, I find it appealing to be on the road for a long time with little luggage. But the ZUT was too much for me in terms of people; running in a crowd is just not my thing. So I’ll see – maybe I’ll run 50 kilometers or more again at a smaller event or set another FKT record.