A run for Siebesieche

7,051 runners made the pilgrimage to Engelberg this weekend in blazing sunshine to put their strength to the test at the sixth FISHERMAN’S FRIEND StrongmanRun. Mud holes, ditches, climbs and so on… how glad I was that I had a solid excuse for this weekend. Participation in the run? Sorry, impossible to do. But then I had the idea to motivate the friend. After all, a little training never hurts. He actually got involved in this adventure and traveled to Engelberg on Friday with a sinking feeling in his stomach (of course without mentioning the sinking feeling in his stomach – you don’t want to be a). Then on Saturday at 5:11 p.m. the SMS “done”. In two hours and 47 minutes, the friend reached the finish line as 1,944.

How bad was it?

Overall, it was less bad than expected because bottlenecks such as queuing in front of obstacles could be used to recover. The first part of the lap – which you had to do twice – was a drain because it was uphill. The first two kilometers were the hardest, but after I had done it, it was purely a matter of my head. In this heat, there was also a lack of a water post for the first five kilometers. The second part, on the other hand, was surprisingly relaxed.

Did you have a specific running strategy?

The strategy was banal. Take it easy on the first lap and attack the field from behind in the second lap. In addition, I didn’t want to “overdo myself” with the obstacles, so that there was still enough breath for the race.

Which obstacle was the biggest horror?

The most physically demanding thing was “Simi backwards” – running up the ski jump. And then the mud hole, because there was the biggest danger of losing your shoes (which also happened to some runners).

And what was easier than expected?

The start, because I was lucky enough to get a “first fifty” wristband. So I was able to run with the first block and didn’t have to queue miserably for a long time. And in this heat, the creek section was not really an obstacle, but a welcome cooling.

Are you satisfied with your performance?

I achieved my main goal of reaching the goal without physical breakdowns. In addition, I had aimed for a place in the first quarter. Well, just missed.

Who should participate in the FISHERMAN’S FRIEND StrongmanRun?

People who like to have a challenge but also appreciate the event character of the run. The fun factor definitely takes precedence over primary performance. During the waiting times in front of obstacles, for example, jokes were made and dogged runners who pushed their way forward were booed.

And who is in the wrong place here?

All those for whom the pure runtime is in the foreground. They tend to be disappointed at the FISHERMAN’S FRIEND StrongmanRun. The race is not designed for competitive runners. If this is important to you, you should at least queue up early so that you can run away from the front and not get stuck in the crowd in front of the obstacles.

Tell us a little bit about how you prepared for the run?

From the time I decided to take part in the race until the race, I had six weeks to prepare. Before that, I rarely or never went jogging. During the six weeks, I tried to maintain a training rhythm of three runs a week. In total, I covered 150 kilometers. You can read more tips on how to prepare for a run here.

What advice would you give us for next year?

Go at your own pace, don’t let yourself be unsettled by the other runners and have fun!

You can find more photos of the race in our Flickr album. At this point, we would like to thank Oliver Glauser, who took on the role of sports photographer during the race and raced from obstacle to obstacle on his bike.

And what else does Engelberg have to offer?

In order not to be exposed to the additional stress of arrival and departure on the day of the race, the two boys arrived on Friday. They were guests at the Hotel Bellevue-Terminus directly opposite the Engelberg train station. Last week, the more than 100-year-old hotel was chosen by the hotel rating of the Sunday newspaper as the new hope of the mid-range hotels and ranks 24th of the 35 best nice-price holiday hotels. Deserved, we think!

During the first major renovation phase last year, the Hotel Bellevue-Terminus was equipped with modern elements. The bridge between the charming Belle Epoque architecture and the minimalist contemporary design has been skilfully drawn. The perfect starting point to start the crazy FISHERMAN’S FRIEND StrongmanRun Weekend and to end the running day in the relaxed atmosphere of the Restaurant Yucatan after the race.

And of course, Engelberg also has a wealth of exciting activities on offer for the remaining 364 days of the year. On Friday afternoon, the boys did not miss the opportunity to make a detour to the Titlis. In the ice grotto there was the longed-for cooling off on this day and after the mastered cliff walk at 3,041 m above sea level, the obstacles of the StrongmanRun were a piece of cake anyway.

The Trüebsee middle station is a great starting point for beautiful hiking tours in summer. My favorite is the 4-lake hike over the Jochpass, past the fantastically beautiful Engstlensee to Melchsee-Frutt.

The participation in the FISHERMAN’S FRIEND StrongmanRun as well as the stay in Engelberg were supported by the FISHERMAN’S FRIEND StrongmanRun and the Hotel Bellevue-Terminus – As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm.