Sophie Woods, a 42-year-old athlete from New Zealand, has established a new speed record for the Via Alpina. She successfully completed the grueling 2,000km route across eight countries in just 29 days. The path traverses the entire Alpine range, featuring a total elevation gain equivalent to climbing Mount Everest twelve times.
Beginning on July 4 in Italy, Woods navigated through Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and France before concluding her journey in Monaco. Throughout the expedition, she and her support team encountered significant obstacles, including intense heatwaves, severe storms, swarms of insects, and wildfires that forced a detour adding extra distance and elevation. She outperformed the previous record set by British runner Jake Catterall in 2024 by six days.
Supported by her husband, a friend, and their dog, Woods maintained a daily schedule of 15 to 18 hours of running. Despite the physical toll, which included extreme swelling and exhaustion, she persisted by adapting her strategy and nutrition. The athlete noted that the challenge felt overwhelming at times, yet she remained determined to finish within her 30-day target. Following her accomplishment, she plans to focus on recovery and rest after a period defined by intense mental and physical resilience.
