Frequently asked questions

If you are going trail running in the Alps with Alprunning, I can imagine you have questions about your trip. Below are the most frequently asked questions. Is yours not listed? Please feel free to contact Alprunning. 

Do I need special trail run shoes?

Yes, trial run shoes suitable for mountainous terrain are mandatory for Alprunning trips. The sole is the most important factor in this. It should have a coarse tread with sufficient depth. A trail run shoe with a tread that looks more like a road shoe is not suitable for the terrain we are going into. Grip is very important here. Also pay attention to whether the shoe has a reinforcement in the toecap, this protects your toes from rocks. Furthermore, it is important that it has enough cushioning. We work long days, so a bit of comfort is nice. If in doubt, ask a specialist retailer. Also check here for more information on equipment.

Do i need al the items on the provided kit list?

Yes, the equipment list you receive describes the minimum equipment you should bring. On site, it will be decided for each day what we will or will not take. This depends on the weather conditions. One day we run in the sun, but the next day we might have to run in rain and wind. Then you do want to have the right clothing with you. Look here for more information on equipment.

Is it mandatory to walk with poles?

No, this is entirely personal. However, it is advisable to (learn to) walk with them, because poles can help you when climbing by relieving the leg muscles a little. They also provide support and stability when crossing snow fields, etc. On the descent, they are basically not used, but can be nice for support in case of fatigue or injury. During the trips, attention is also paid to the correct use of trail running socks. Look here for more information on trail running poles.

How to trail run 20km every day?

We deliberately keep the pace during the trail run days at a slower pace than you would in a race. In addition, it is imperative that you eat and drink enough during the trail runs. This enhances recovery afterwards. After running, you can relax, take a nap or hit the sauna (depending on the accommodation). Not having to do anything afterwards like: work, housework, etc. reduces your stress and thus improves your recovery.

What to eat and drink during trail runs?

This will mainly be your own brought sports food. It is important to practice with this beforehand during your long slow endurance runs. So that you learn to eat during exercise and check how your stomach reacts to certain sports nutrition. Advice in this is to do this with bars/solid food. Solid food is absorbed well in the first three hours of exercise. Also try to practice with isotonic sports drinks during your training. Many people only take a little water during a training run, but we go into the mountains for at least 4-5 hours. So you need enough energy that you can get from sports nutrition and drinks. Moisture is especially important because it keeps the plasma in the blood up to standard. By sweating or being at a higher altitude, among other things, you lose a lot of moisture and there is less plasma available. Plasma is responsible for transporting nutrients to the muscle fibres. By eating and drinking well during trail runs, you also recover faster.
Whenever possible, we also have lunch at a mountain hut. But the rule is that what you need, bring your own. What we eat and drink in the huts is extra, as they may be closed, or if there is a deviation from the route we need to be able to manage ourselves with food and drink.

How do I know if a tour is right for me?

Carefully read the information accompanying the trip and check the difficulty level of the trip. You can find these here. It is important to look honestly at your own experience and level in this. Overestimation is a common pitfall that can get you into trouble during a trip. You can also endanger the group by doing this. If a trip is too hard for you, you will enjoy it less. After all, that's what we come to the Alps for.

What heights do we reach?

Depending on the trip, you will stay between 1000m and 2000m of altitude in hotels and chalets. During the trips where we sleep in a mountain hut, this will be between 2000m and 3000m. Trailrunning  will then be mainly between 1000m and 3000m. During the Alprunning Expert trip, the highest point we will reach is 3610m. On the way to this altitude, you will notice that air pressure gets lower and you take in less oxygen per breath. How your body reacts to these altitudes is different for each person. The risk of altitude sickness is minimal because we will only be at these altitudes for a short time.

Do i need to acclimatise?

Should you have time to be in the area earlier, it can be nice to acclimatise to the altitude. Do this by walking slowly and just being there and sleeping. But it is more important to start your travels well rested, because acclimatisation is a slow process and you don't do it in a few days or a week. Furthermore, we move to altitudes that do not require immediate altitude acclimatisation. The trip itself is the acclimatisation.

There are preventive drugs against altitude sickness, do I need them?

No, During the trips in Switzerland, we will be at medium to alpine altitudes. At the highest points of >3000m, we stay only briefly, which minimises the risk of symptoms of altitude sickness. And preventive medication is unnecessary.

Is there a possibility of travelling together?

Yes, a wattsapp group is created well before departure and you can make arrangements among yourselves to carpool or travel together by train.