New Zealand ultrarunner Sophie Woods has completed the Alpine route, running 1,240 miles (2,000 kilometres) across eight countries to set one of the world’s toughest self-supported endurance records in 29 days, breaking both the men’s and women’s time records.
Woods began the endurance challenge on 4 July in Trieste, Italy, and ended the journey in Monaco, passing through Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and France, becoming the fastest person to complete the 2,000-kilometre trail.
She completed the journey, beating the previous fastest-known time of 35 days set by British runner Jake Catterall in 2024, averaging about 69 kilometres per day and climbing more than 100,000 metres in cumulative elevation.
Speaking to the BBC, Woods said that in the opening weeks of the challenge she battled swollen muscles, storms, heatwaves, and wildfires, forcing her team to alter part of the route.
“The first week was horrendous; everything was swollen, everything was sore, ” she said. Woods added that she reduced her sleep to as little as “one and a half to two and a half hours” in the final days of the challenge to secure the record.
The 42-year-old finished the challenge with the support of her husband and their dog, who accompanied her in a support van throughout the journey.