Documents of Zugspitzlauf 2008

With a distance of 3 weeks and the media hype finally run out I feel able to publish a selection of photos which document the disaster's development.

A rainy start at Ehrwald (990m) with winner Martin Echtler already in front. Steffen Uebel (left) finished third.




Runners in the mid of the pack are clothed very variably.

This is the scene after the first ascent of 500 meters, at Ehrwalder Alm.


Me, obviously very wet, but still in a good mood at Ehrwalder Alm after 36 min of running.

Feeding station at Sonnalpin (2,550 meters) at around 11.30 am with the weather just having turned to worse conditions.

Me at Sonnalpin, around 11.45am, helped with a fleece to keep me warm on the final stage to the top (2,960 meters). Alas, it turned out to be not sufficient. At around 2,700m I got so cold that I was nearly unable to move my legs and fingers. In a flash of inspiration I managed to turn back to Sonnalpin.

Runners approaching Sonnalpin station, fighting snowfall and icy wind.

A runner moving slowly close to the finish at 2,960 meters.

This runner is finishing at 9th place overall. Temperatur is -4 degrees celsius, but the icy wind is the worst hazard.

More runners approaching the finish at the top.

About 190 participants reached the top at 2,960m, thereof tens who only survived with the help of the mountain rescue team. 2 runners died, 6 had to stay at the local hospital, an unknown number had to be cured by ambulant treatment. Nearly 400 runners abandoned the competition at Sonnalpin station at 2,500m.