Tackling 52 kilometres and a 2,500-metre elevation gain: this is what I learned

Siri Schubert

27.4.2026

Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson

After covering just under 52 kilometres and tackling a total of 2,500 metres, I cross the finish line. My legs are tired, but I’m happy. Here’s what surprised me most during the Mont Terrible ultramarathon.

It’s just after eight on a Saturday morning. I’m standing at the starting line of the trail running event Les Courses du Mont Terrible in the Swiss Jura. There are plenty of other things I could be doing right now. Rolling over in bed one more time, or sipping a cup of coffee.

Instead, I’m here, struggling with mixed feelings. There’s the excitement about the impending adventure that’ll take me through mystical limestone gorges, across meadows dotted with spring flowers and along winding forest trails. There’s also the nerves. Will I be able to do it? Am I prepared enough? What challenges await?

Although a 50-kilometre race is considered an entry-level distance in the world of ultrarunning, it still commands my respect. After all, it’s my first time attempting to run such a long distance with so much elevation gain. What’s more, it’s studded with narrow, steep trails, roots and rocks.

The elite group started a few minutes earlier, as the race is also used for the Swiss trail running championship. A total of about 430 participants are taking part in the 50+ kilometre race, and 394 will complete it.

We start sooner than expected

The starting signal sounds. If I was sure about one thing, it was to pace myself at the start, no matter what. But as the crowd starts moving with me right in the middle of it, that resolution is out the window. It’s all downhill at first and I’m enjoying it. But as soon as I hit the first small incline, I realise I’m going too fast. So I slow things down and feel my breathing and heart rate calm down.

I shake my head in amusement at my mistake. After all, I’ve heard it a thousand times that it’s crucial not to start off too fast. And yet, with all the excitement, I simply forgot.

In any case, it’s not the end of the world, as I get to rest a bit at a later stage. In a magical wild gorge, climbing a wooden ladder takes you over a small waterfall. All the runners are queuing up to climb, and so I take in the view as I’m waiting, making sure not to slip in the bed of the stream. Even so, my feet get wet and it won’t be the last time today, as the trail leads through many a muddy puddle. I’m surprised that I get zero blisters despite my wet feet. The blister plasters I packed remain unused.

Not without my poles

A few days before the race, I was wondering if I should go with or without them. In the end, I decided to run with my trail running poles. If you’d like to know what other essentials I brought along, I’ve compiled a list for you here:

Luckily, I’d practised using the poles a few times beforehand. That way I knew how to whip them out, put them together and stow them away again just as quickly when I was done using them.

I’m still a big fan of the carbon trail poles by French manufacturer TSL here’s the review. Why? Because the magnetic clips make it very easy to attach them to the wrist straps. Details like these make all the difference during extensive runs. The longer the trail, the less patience I can summon to fumble for my gear.

Thanks to the poles, I can take some of the strain off my legs on the many uphill sections. This makes all the difference over time. For longer stretches with significant elevation gain, I’ll continue to bring trail running poles with me.

Time flies

After 17 kilometres, I reach the first refreshment station for drinks and snacks. Although I have enough water to keep me going until the second station at the 34-kilometre mark, I refill my bottle. I wouldn’t want to take any chances with temperatures above 20 degrees – even if that makes my backpack heavier and slows me down.

Right after refilling, I get into a flow state. The route is interesting, and I stop thinking about the kilometres that still lie ahead. Instead, I lose track of time. I’m on a runner’s high and feeling grateful to be able to enjoy the trail in perfect conditions. The sun’s out and the scenery in the Jura is beautiful. These positive feelings surprise me. Sure, I almost always enjoy running – otherwise I wouldn’t do it – but I didn’t expect to have this much fun despite the intense effort.

I reach the second refreshment station after 34 kilometres and can hardly believe how quickly the time passed. It’s not that I’ve been running particularly fast. On the contrary, in fact. I’ve been somewhere in the middle – not overly fast, but not particularly slow, either. It’s just that it hasn’t felt boring at any stage.

Downhill is harder than uphill

The trail presents me with quite a few ups and downs. As do my feelings. After my stop in St. Ursanne, I feel great; the climb up the Col de la Croix is a breeze. When I reach the top, I enjoy the view over the valley and the river Doubs winding its way through it.

But then, things take a turn. Running downhill, my thighs start to hurt. I start getting cramps and am overtaken by other runners. Instead of skipping over rocks and roots, I’m now moving at a snail’s pace. Ouch!

It seems that I’m paying the price for not investing enough time in training uphill and, above all, downhill running. In fact, I keep getting passed on the downhill parts throughout the entire route, but make up for it on the uphill bits. Lesson learned. Before the next trail running event, I’ll prepare better for technical trails and focus on training for downhill running.

Fortunately, even this descent comes to an end. As the path starts to go uphill again, my muscles start to feel better. And so do I.

Eating’s not that easy

Thanks to the excellent organisation of the race and the many volunteers, everything is running smoothly. But there’s one thing I particularly appreciate. There are no cups at the refreshment stations, which means no rubbish. The runners need to bring their own water bottles (more on this in an article on equipment). There’s something for everyone on offer: water, an electrolyte drink, coke and broth.

I started the race with a litre of my own electrolyte drink made with the powder mix by Peak Punk. I also have a 500-millilitre bottle of water with me. And my secret weapon. An extra 500-millilitre bottle of cold coffee. That might sound gross to some people, but for me it’s a must-have on long runs. The coffee cuts through the sweetness of the gels and other snacks. Plus, the caffeine gives me a much-needed boost during the race.

I also have some energy bars, gummy bears, a sandwich and pretzels with me. I realise that sounds more like I’m on my way to a kids’ birthday party than a running event. Before the race, I’d poured the Maurten gels into a flask. That way, I don’t have to faff around with opening packets during my run and the rubbish gets thrown away at home.

It turns out that I packed way too much food. 20 kilometres into the race, I manage to wolf down an energy bar. After that, my appetite dwindles. They say that energy intake is the be-all and end-all of long-distance running. But I simply can’t eat more. At least not until I spot some cheese and dried apricots at the refreshment station. After eating that, I start to feel better again. My energy bars are left untouched in my backpack, but my energy’s back. After 41 kilometres, I have some coke with salt in it to replenish the electrolytes I’ve lost through sweating. This sees me through to the finish line. I didn’t eat nearly as much as planned, but it seems it did the trick.

I cross the finish line, feeling happy. It was my first time running such a long race with so much elevation gain. The beautiful trails, the views and the friendly people I met along the way were definitely the highlights. Obviously, I didn’t see Swiss champions Nadja Fässler or Jerome Furer cross the finish line, as they were light years ahead of me. And having covered the same route myself only makes me respect their amazing achievement even more.

Many things surprised me during the run, but one thing stands out: lots can happen during a race like this. The best thing you can do is enjoy every step and every kilometre, even when your legs start acting up every now and then. No matter how long it takes you or whether your food intake strategy works out, it’s definitely an adventure. One I certainly won’t forget anytime soon.

Siri Schubert

Senior Editor

Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.ch

Research diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.

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