After months of training, preparing and trial runs, the Rock 'n Hike event got cancelled for another year, I decided to do the course alone and unsupported. I registered initially to achieve a life-goal of running 100 kilometres in one activity.
On Thursday 20.5 I set off just before 3PM and started with a small detour, adding approximately 150 altitude meters, to an already difficult course, but also going through a beautiful part of Zürich. I felt strong and made steady progress. After 12 kilometres I got a blister on the inside heel of my right foot, as I seemed to have forgotten a lighter, I had nothing to sterilise a needle and decided to leave it for the time being. It didn't bother me much anyway.
Along the course I kept myself fed on gels, kinder-riegel, snickers, stroopwafel, gummibärli and for dinner I had purchased a falafel wrap and a pasta salad beforehand. I had a 2 liter bladder with me and a soft flask which I used for electrolyte mixes. I kept filling my bladder in the fountains along the way wherever possible, the volume was enough to keep me going until the next stop.
I made the first longer break in Feldbach where I put on warmer clothes and my lights (head and breast) in preparation for the night and the cold. In Rapperswil I made another break where I ate my dinner and "slept" for 2 minutes in preparation for the biggest climb, just up ahead.
The climb was difficult as it was steep and dark and the surface was partially muddy, but I wore my Speedgoats for this activity and they really helped.
I made my next break in Schindellegi where I took on more water and refuelled. This is also the first time that I started feeling cold and I put on an extra layer. I continued onwards to Wädenswil where I made another short break and changed clothes again into fresh and dry items. I also put my lights away and took on more energy gels.
This is where the hard part started, it was cold and I was tired and another steep climb came in Horgen. I moved ok, but the route is less interesting here and the impeding rain made it much harder. After I came out of the woods, there was a long and boring stretch along the Sihl before arriving in Wollishofen for the final part.
By now it was raining hard and I tried to move as smooth and quickly as possible for the final kilometres. I finally arrived back where I started after 19,5 hours.
My nutrition consisted of approximately 15 GU energy gels, 3 GU liquid gels, 2 Kinder Riegel, 2 Snickers, about 12 Gummibärli, 1 Brezel, a few Chiefs Salt sticks, 2 Stroopwafel, 1 Wrap, 0,5 Pasta Salad, 1 electrolyte drink and approximately 6 Liters of Water.
I had no support along the way and I took water from available fountains.