Zürich lauf cup, Switzerland

Zürich summer series

I heard about Zürich lauf cup last year when I moved to Switzerland and now I decided to take part of it. It is simple. There are 12 runs spread out throughout they year at different locations in and around Zürich. You can participate in as many as you like but the 5 best results in terms of points count to a total when the season is over.

Hasli night run

Hasli night run a Friday evening in May became my first race in the run cup. I was running Göteborgsvarvet half marathon less than a week before and unfortunately my calf was suffering after that. I had been looking forward to this run since it is my favorite kind of place to run at. Half-half gravel and asphalt. I teamed up with a colleague and neighbor and we took the train there. In Switzerland it is very common that train rides are included in the race fee, great thing. Saw some fellow runners from my Adidas runners team and 20 minutes after we got there it was time to run.

My GPS watch was slow connecting so I missed out the first 2ish kilometers and with 3K I turned it on. At that point my tummy already started to be upset after eating three gel candies that I wanted to try out if they would be an option since gel’s doesn’t work for me. It was not. So half way into the race I had to visit the toilet. It was absolutely not a run to remember running wise but all organization around it and the company was great.

I finished the 10K at 50:08 min and I was not even disappointed about the bad time. Okey, a little but I had my reasons. After the run we got massage and there was also würst and drinks for all runners. I loved the race and would absolutely come back to run again!

Zumikon lauf

Saturday afternoon. Thunder in the air. I woke up feeling sick. Maybe it was the weather but I absolutely didn’t felt for either eating or drinking. It didn’t got better of taking the public transport to the other side of Zürich for the race start. The last thing I wanted to do was to run a race. I walked in to Aldi to buy something. A peach Red Bull and nuts. Forced myself to eat at least a few nuts. Met up with my fellow runners from the run club. Got into starting position and boom.

Woke up from sitting on the street not feeling for move to get fighting face on. Started slow and improved slowly. My legs were ready for a run. It was my favorite kind of track. Up and down through forest and gravel roads. Some asphalt. It was just everything I could have wished for. From nothing I enjoyed it to the max. Focus shifted from just finish without pressure to finish the tough course with over 200 meters elevation in less than one hours. I was enjoying the run every minute. Almost. With two kilometers to go on the 12,2K route the thunder and rain started and when I thought the uphills was over with 1,5K from the finish line a last one appeared. I took the challenge and forced it. Ended up at 6th place in my age group and collected a whole bunch of points to the total Zuri laufcup challenge. I might have a chance on top 10 in my age.

Uetliberg run

If I like to run uphills? The answer to that question is NO. I hate it and therefore I do not practice it and as a consequence I am not good at it. But when you need to do five runs and the five you can fit your schedule includes one with close to 400m elevation you gotta go.

The run was beautiful. 10,6 kilometers whereas 2,5 were step uphills and I walked those. The rest flat or medium flat. Switzerland had just beaten Italy in Euro soccer tournament when the start of the race took place and the victory feeling was in the air. Weather was changing from rain to a humid summer evening with mosquitos in two digit numbers around us. But I liked the run anyway and funny enough I could think of doing it again another year. My goal was less than 1 hour and I finished in 57 minutes and got a 12th place in my age group. Fair enough and better than expected. I even stopped at the top for taking a picture.

Griefensee half marathon

End of September and it is the perfect autumn weather for a run. Clear blue sky, fresh air and still warm. I been to Griefensee twice since moving to Zürich and the area is very nice so I was looking a lot forward to run this race. I was a bit late to the start and realized it was longer from the train station than I thought. Luckily I had was having company with a running friend that showed some shortcuts so it went quick to pick up the race number, then I had to visit the toilet (race mandatory), leave my bag and run to the start. I arrived just in time and no chance to get a GPS signal so I decided to skip it completely. It was a good choice. No rush and just run by feeling. The course was flat and it felt on top first 9Ks. Then I started to feel a bit in my legs that I actually was moving and I had to fight a little to keep up the pace. Think I did well because not many passed me. I just kept going with the flow. Not thinking to much and only enjoyed. Then I thought I saw the finish line but it was a tricky one. You needed to keep running straight and then make a turn to cross it. Not the nicest when you just want to finish. I finished in 1:42:14 minutes and I am happy about that on this medium easy course. I would have wished for a finisher medal or some other memory from the run instead of just another t-shirt I probably never will use. I don’t think I will run this race again. I like to course a lot and will absolutely come back for a walk or run around the lake but race wise there are other races I like more.

Pfärffikerseelauf

The last weekend of September Züri laufcup took us to a lake called Pfäffikon nearby Zürich. I been there once before by bike and looked forward to loop around it in my running shoes. It came to be absolutely one of my favorite courses of this ZüriLaufcup. Weather was perfect with sun and you could clearly see the alps. Luxury! I was running a race also yesterday so I was just going with the flow today. Goal was to finish every kilometer below 5min pace. Managed it with margin most of the times. It was nice and another t-shirt to the collection. This was my fifth and last race of the 12 ones of whereas five gives you ranking points and hopefully my 56 minutes in the 12,2K gave enough points to be top 10 in my age group W30.

Was a great idea with this run cup, like a soccer league and it has brought me to places I probably wouldn’t seen otherwise. And I would absolutely not been running the Uetliberg mountain run. I don’t think I will participate next year. But I never say never but I finished my project reaching my goal to become top 10 in my category.