New Zealand ultrarunner Sophie Woods has rewritten the record books after completing the gruelling Via Alpina route in a record 29 days, becoming the fastest person ever to conquer the legendary European trail.
The 42-year-old covered approximately 1,240 miles across eight countries, surpassing both the men’s and women’s previous records.
Her achievement eclipsed the mark set by British ultrarunner Jake Catterall in 2024 by six days, while also improving on Dutch athlete Tessa Caspers’ women’s record of 38 days.
The Via Alpina stretches across some of Europe’s most demanding mountain terrain, beginning in Italy before crossing Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and France, and ending in Monaco.
Woods started her extraordinary journey in the northeastern Italian city of Trieste on July 4 and reached Monaco on Saturday after nearly a month of relentless running through rugged alpine landscapes.
Reflecting on her accomplishment, Woods shared her excitement on Instagram on Sunday.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic. I still can’t believe that we did it.”
Throughout the challenge, she encountered a wide range of difficult conditions, from steep rocky climbs in Slovenia to overnight runs between Germany and Austria.
Woods credited years of endurance racing for preparing her for the feat.
“I guess I’ve been preparing for this in my whole running career.”
She added that experiences on “technical mountains” and “exposed ridges” had helped her cope with the extreme demands of the route.
Despite her extensive experience, Woods admitted the duration of the challenge made it unlike anything she had attempted before.
“Whatever you do on Day 2 is going to reflect you on Day 22,” she said, calling it “a very different format.”
Speaking to the BBC, Woods revealed that the physical toll became evident after the opening week, with swollen and aching muscles slowing her recovery.
Determined to beat the existing record, she reduced her sleep during the final stages to fewer than two and a half hours each night.
Her run also coincided with a severe European heatwave, forcing her to navigate dangerously high temperatures and areas threatened by wildfires.
She described running close to the fires as “terrifying,” while temperatures climbed above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Europe during her attempt.
Writing on Instagram, Woods said, “The heat has been relentless.”
She explained that drinking a “slushy,” made with crushed ice, became one of her ways of cooling down during the scorching conditions.
Woods was supported throughout the challenge by her husband and their dog, who accompanied her with food supplies and emotional encouragement along the route.
Asked how exhausted she felt after nearly a month of continuous running, Woods offered a candid response.
“I have been sleeping in the van in a pool of sweat,” she said, feeling “completely pooped.”
Despite the immense physical demands, she summed up the experience on a positive note.
“Delightful once you finish one of these things.”
