Sophie Woods Breaks Alpine Ultra Marathon Record

Sun Sep 06 2026 00:20:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Champion Sophie Woods finishes a 2,000km alpine ultramarathon in 29 days, beating the previous 35‑day record, citing focus and a slush of ice‑cream.

Sophie Woods has just shattered the alpine ultramarathon record, completing a 2,000km (1,242‑mile) Via Alpina trek in a staggering 29 days. She braved storms, temperatures climbing to 37C, floods and wildfires across eight countries. Throughout the run she maintained a sharp mental focus, saying she only cared about the present minute. Her win not only beats the old 35‑day benchmark but also highlights the power of perseverance and a dose of ice‑cream treats.

Sophie Woods Breaks Alpine Ultra Marathon Record

Sophie Woods has just intercepted the Alpine record, sprinting a 2,000km (1,242‑mile) ultramarathon across the Via Alpina in an astonishing 29 days. The runner conquered sweltering heat up to 37C, navigated sudden floods and even slipped through wild‑fire‑hit stretches across eight countries.

“Through it all, I only ever considered the day, the hour, the very minute I was in,” Woods told reporters, underlining her unwavering mental focus as the key to sustaining pace through harsh terrain.

Her performance eclipses the previous 35‑day benchmark and she credits a steady supply of ice‑cream slushies for keeping her spirits and energy high throughout the ordeal.

This triumph cements Woods as the fastest woman to have completed the entire Via Alpina, inspiring runners worldwide with her fortitude and unique recovery strategy.