Running in Switzerland

Nestled in the middle of Europe, Switzerland 🇨🇭 is a destination to discover that delights its visitors. Multicultural, the country is also rich in an exceptional natural heritage: the Jura as well as the Alps shape the outlines of Switzerland. The Plateau, also called the Midlands, is a central geographical area that is home to the country's four main cities: Geneva, Lausanne, Bern and Zurich. Cities brimming with cultural energy! The Swiss countryside is known for its lush green beauty 💚 and attracted many writers and painters in the past. And of course, let's not forget the majestic lakes found within or along the borders of the Swiss lands. We can mention Lake Geneva, Lake Maggiore, and Lake of the 4 Cantons, but the country is dotted with lesser-known lakes that are well worth the detour—so take a look here... Get your language dictionaries ready: Roger Federer's country is rich in different cultures. French is spoken of course, but also German 🇩🇪, Italian 🇮🇹 and... Romansh, less well known! A true Erasmus country 😃. Mountain lovers are of course invited to discover Switzerland, in summer ☀️ as well as in winter ❄️. Skiing and hiking are on the agenda.

Find the race calendar in Switzerland here. Road running, trail or walking, all Finishers will find what they're looking for (no pun intended 😄) in Switzerland. In Valais, a region in the southeast of the country, the Fully Vertical Kilometer is reserved for the tough ones: 1,920 meters of race and 1,000 meters of elevation gain!!! Whhhaaaat? Yes, yes. Poles are essential on this vertical race, which features sections over 50%... Another nature race in Switzerland? The Trail de la Vallée de Joux will let you discover the beauty of Vaud, a canton near the French border in the west of the country. Walking lovers 🚶🏻‍♂ can note the Vivicitta race, held in Geneva. There will also be something for children in this event! Road runners will inevitably sign up for the Geneva Marathon, run in particular along the shores of Lake Geneva... The Lausanne Marathon, still in French-speaking territory, lets you discover the capital of the Canton of Vaud. If you want even more nature and adventure, let yourself be tempted by the Wildstrubel Trail by UTMB—it's clearly worth the detour.

Switzerland is also much more than running 🏃. Triathletes also have major meetups: the Valais Triathlon Festival in Sion, between terraced vineyards and the crystal-clear waters of the Domaine des Îles, and the Ironman Switzerland in Thun, in the canton of Bern, with its 3.8 km swim in the lake and its 180 km bike ride in the heart of the Alps. Enough to weigh your ambitions before signing up 💪. Fans of hybrid thrills head straight to the Ötillö Swimrun Engadin in Silvaplana: open-water swimming and running follow one another without pause, in the midst of the lakes and alpine forests of the Upper Engadine, for a nature-and-adrenaline cocktail that's anything but a stroll 🌊. Two-wheelers also have their place: from Villars-sur-Ollon, the UCI The Majestics offers gravel and cyclosport routes on the mountain trails of the Vaud Alps, with a qualification for the UCI World Championships for the best riders at stake 🚴. Switzerland definitely isn't limited to running.

A little Swiss?