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Sophie Woods Breaks Via Alpina Fastest-Known Time

Her supported crossing used extreme sleep, fueling and logistics to overcome heat, storms and wildfire detours and set a new benchmark for long alpine traverses.

Overview

  • Woods began the attempt on July 4 in Trieste and completed the roughly 2,000 km route on the Mediterranean coast in Monaco after a reported 29-day run that media are treating as the new fastest-known time.
  • The route crossed eight countries and included technical high-elevation terrain with total vertical gain roughly equivalent to climbing Mount Everest many times.
  • Her team faced two heatwaves, storms, swarms of horseflies and wildfire-driven detours that added about five kilometres and 200 metres of climbing to the route.
  • Woods ran 15–18 hours a day, relied on high-calorie fueling including energy gels, pasta and occasional fast food, and reduced sleep to about 1.5–2.5 hours a night late in the effort to push the pace.
  • The time bests Jake Catterall’s 2024 mark of 35 days, is being reported as a major female achievement in ultra-running, and awaits formal GPS verification that could prompt new attempts and route scrutiny.