Sophie Woods sets Via Alpina record, crossing eight Alpine nations in 29 days

New Zealand ultrarunner Sophie Woods, 42, completed the 2,000 km Via Alpina trail in 29 days, breaking the previous record by six days. The route spanned eight countries – Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France and Monaco – and involved elevation equivalent to climbing Mount Everest twelve times.

Woods began in Trieste on 4 July and finished on the Mediterranean coast of Monaco. She ran 15–18 hours each day, sleeping only one to two and a half hours toward the end. Her support crew included her husband George, friend Zoe and their dog Nila, and she sustained herself on pasta, energy gels and fast‑food meals.

The achievement eclipsed the 2024 men’s record set by British runner Jake Catterall (35 days) and the previous women’s best of 38 days by Dutch runner Tessa Caspers. Woods described the experience as “absolutely ecstatic” despite extreme heatwaves, storms, horse‑fly swarms and nearby wildfires that forced a five‑kilometre detour.