Jungfrau Marathon
Encyclopedia
The Jungfrau Marathon is one of the best known mountain marathon
s in the world, in full view of the famous Eiger
, Mönch
, and Jungfrau
mountains in the Bernese Oberland
area of the Swiss Alps
.
The first Jungfrau Marathon was held in 1993. Approximately 3,500 runners from 35 different nations participate. The Jungfrau Marathon takes place each year in September.
The 2007 edition of the competition incorporated the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge
and attracted 4200 participants from 50 countries.
and climbs 5,960 feet (1,823 m) in elevation to the finish at the Kleine Scheidegg
.
The first 10 km of the course are flat. The race begins in central Interlaken and circles around the town centre before moving east to Bönigen
, where runners briefly run along the shore of Lake Brienz
. The race proceeds southwards to Wilderswil
at the 10 km mark. From there the course heads upward through Zweilütschinen
(at 15 km) to Lauterbrunnen
(at 20 km). The course loops for 5 km south of the town before returning to Lauterbrunnen and then heading eastward up the alpside. It is at this point that the race is steepest, zigzagging up the hillside and climbing 450 m in the 5 km to Wengen
. The course heads southeast and relentlessly upward over the Wengernalp
, turning east and then northeast beneath the Eiger toward the finish. It reaches its highest point of 7,234 feet (2,205 m) around the 40 km point, and then heads steeply downhill for the last kilometre to the finish at Kleine Scheidegg at an altitude of 2061 m.
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
s in the world, in full view of the famous Eiger
Eiger
The Eiger is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. It is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends across the Mönch to the Jungfrau at 4,158 m...
, Mönch
Mönch
The Mönch is a mountain in the Bernese Alps, in Switzerland. Together with the Eiger and the Jungfrau it forms a highly recognisable group of mountains visible from far away....
, and Jungfrau
Jungfrau
The Jungfrau is one of the main summits in the Bernese Alps, situated between the cantons of Valais and Bern in Switzerland...
mountains in the Bernese Oberland
Bernese Oberland
The Bernese Oberland is the higher part of the canton of Bern, Switzerland, in the southern end of the canton: The area around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and the valleys of the Bernese Alps .The flag of the Bernese Oberland consists of a black eagle in a gold field The Bernese Oberland (Bernese...
area of the Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....
.
The first Jungfrau Marathon was held in 1993. Approximately 3,500 runners from 35 different nations participate. The Jungfrau Marathon takes place each year in September.
The 2007 edition of the competition incorporated the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge
World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge
The World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge is an annual international mountain running competition organised by the World Mountain Running Association ....
and attracted 4200 participants from 50 countries.
The course
The 42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi) course starts in InterlakenInterlaken
Interlaken is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland.-History:...
and climbs 5,960 feet (1,823 m) in elevation to the finish at the Kleine Scheidegg
Kleine Scheidegg
The Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
.
The first 10 km of the course are flat. The race begins in central Interlaken and circles around the town centre before moving east to Bönigen
Bönigen
Bönigen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The name Bönigen is composed of the Old High German personal name Bono and the toponymic suffix -ingun.Bönigen belongs to the church parish of Gsteig bei Interlaken, which includes...
, where runners briefly run along the shore of Lake Brienz
Lake Brienz
Lake Brienz is a lake just north of the Alps, in the Canton of Berne in Switzerland. The lake took its name from the village Brienz on its northern shore. Interlaken and the villages Matten and Unterseen lie to the south west of the lake. The shores are steep, and there is almost no shallow water...
. The race proceeds southwards to Wilderswil
Wilderswil
Wilderswil is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.It is situated at the southern border of the Bödeli watershed, where the Saxetenbach joins the Lütschine, south of Interlaken. The village is situated at the foot of the mountains...
at the 10 km mark. From there the course heads upward through Zweilütschinen
Zweilütschinen
Zweilütschinen is a hamlet in the district of Interlaken of the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It gets its name because of the confluence of the two Lütschinen rivers,the White and the Black. It is about 4 miles south of Interlaken. The village is part of the municipality of Gündlischwand.It...
(at 15 km) to Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
(at 20 km). The course loops for 5 km south of the town before returning to Lauterbrunnen and then heading eastward up the alpside. It is at this point that the race is steepest, zigzagging up the hillside and climbing 450 m in the 5 km to Wengen
Wengen
Wengen may refer to:*Wengen, a village and winter resort in Switzerland*La Val, a commune in South Tyrol, Italy with the German name "Wengen"*in Germany:**Wengen , a village in the municipality of Nennslingen in Mittelfranken...
. The course heads southeast and relentlessly upward over the Wengernalp
Wengernalp
The Wengernalp is an alpine meadow at an elevation of 1874 m, between Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg in the Swiss Alps. It can be reached on foot, by Wengernalpbahn to Wengernalp railway station from Wengen or by skiing from Kleine Scheidegg....
, turning east and then northeast beneath the Eiger toward the finish. It reaches its highest point of 7,234 feet (2,205 m) around the 40 km point, and then heads steeply downhill for the last kilometre to the finish at Kleine Scheidegg at an altitude of 2061 m.
Past winners
Key:| Edition | Year | Men's Winner | Time (h Hour The hour is a unit of measurement of time. In modern usage, an hour comprises 60 minutes, or 3,600 seconds... :m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Women's Winner | Time (h Hour The hour is a unit of measurement of time. In modern usage, an hour comprises 60 minutes, or 3,600 seconds... :m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 25-09-1993 | 3:00:05 | 3:30:00 | ||
| 2nd | 24-09-1994 | 3:02:05 | 3:34:01 | ||
| 3rd | 09-09-1995 | 3:00:19 | 3:28:46 | ||
| 4th | 07-09-1996 | 2:55:07 | 3:27:57 | ||
| 5th | 06-09-1997 | 2:58:43 | 3:22:49 | ||
| 6th | 05-09-1998 | 2:59:03 | 3:23:53 | ||
| 7th | 04-09-1999 | 2:54:34 | 3:23:38 | ||
| 8th | 02-09-2000 | 2:59:33 | 3:22:04 | ||
| 9th | 01-09-2001 | 2:56:3 | 3:21:03 | ||
| 10th | 6/7-09-2002 | 2:53:28 | 3:25:18 | ||
| 11th | 06-09-2003 | 2:49:01 | 3:21:46 | ||
| 12th | 11-09-2004 | 2:59:30 | 3:23:11 | ||
| 13th | 10-09-2005 | 2:59:21 | 3:29:15 | ||
| 14th | 09-09-2006 | 2:59:44 | 3:26:26 | ||
| 15th | 08-09-2007 | 2:55:33 | 3:23:06 | ||
| 16th | 06-09-2008 | 3:03:18 | 3:35:05 | ||
| 17th | 05-09-2009 | 2:58:33 | 3:34:24 | ||
| 18th | 09-09-2010 | 2:56:42 | 3:33:45 | ||
| 19th | 10-09-2011 | 3:01:52 | 3:29:56 |