© Fernando Carniel Machado | Dreamstime.com
1) Demi-Marathon des Alpes • Aigle, Switzerland
The half marathon race of the Demi-Marathon des Alpes is not a course for beginners. Runners will travel along a point-to-point course starting at 1,300 feet and will reach at height of 5,300 feet before finishing at Leysin at 4,400 feet. Only a couple of miles are on paved roads, the rest are along trails that ascend the Alps. This stunning race takes place in early August and offers runners an unforgettable glimpse at the Alpine summer.
Runs August 2019
2) Côtes de l’Orbe Half Marathon • Arnex-sur-Orbe, Switzerland
For both fun-seekers and wine lovers, the September Côtes de l’Orbe Half Marathon is described as both “sporty and festive.” Winemakers from Les Côtes de l’Orbe offer their wines at the hydration stops as well as the finish and prizes are given for the best costume. Runners will enjoy a beautiful course that starts and finishes in Arnex-sur-Orbe, racing through vineyards and small winery towns along the way.
Runs September 2019
3) Swiss Snow Walk & Run • Arosa, Switzerland
Nestled in the Alpine resort village of Arosa, the town is bustling full of runners in mid-January for the Swiss Snow Walk & Run. The half marathon distance can be completed as a runner or by (Nordic) walking. It should go without saying that runners should be prepared to run on snow as well as be dressed appropriately for winter in the Alps. The course is along the Weisshorn Snow Trail and gives participants a unique and fun way to experience this scenic part of the world.
Runs Saturday, January 12, 2019
4) Lausanne Half Marathon • Lausanne, Switzerland
The flat and fast Lausanne Half Marathon is a point-to-point race held in late October. Runners will follow a course that begins in La Tour-de-Peilz and runs alongside the shores of Lake Geneva until reaching The Olympic Museum. Throughout the entire race, runners will have iconic views of Lake Geneva to their left and the beautiful lakeside town to their right.
Runs Sunday, October 27, 2019
5) Forch Run • Fluntern, Switzerland
Half marathon runners of the evening Forch Run will travel along an out-and-back course on forest trails. Racers of this early June race will travel past Adlisberg above the Greifensee to the Forchdenkmal and back. A total of 1,300 feet of ascending terrain is required of the 13.1-mile distance and those competing will experience incredible views of the greater Zurich area.
Runs Wednesday, June 5, 2019
6) Greifenseelauf – Halbmarathon • Greifensee, Switzerland
The Greifensee – Halbmarathon course forms a large loop around Lake Greifensee, approximately 7.5 miles to the east of Zurich. Runners will travel in a counterclockwise direction along the roads and paths that circle Lake Greifensee starting and finishing in the capital town of Uster. The late September race is flat and fast and runners can usually expect great racing weather.
Runs Saturday, September 21, 2019
7) Swiss City Half Marathon • Lucerne, Switzerland
The late October Swiss City Half Marathon is the most popular distance at the Swiss City Marathon and is the largest half marathon in Switzerland. The loop course of the 13.1-mile distance starts and finishes at the Swiss Museum of Transport and runners will travel past the traditional luxury hotels of Lucerne, the Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge), and the historical landmark, Wasserturm. Racers will also pass the famous Culture and Congress Centre Lucerne, enjoy panoramic mountain views, and spend their final miles in the old town before heading back to the finish.
Runs Sunday, October 27, 2019
8) Neujahrsmarathon • Zurich, Switzerland
Beginning at the stroke of midnight at the start of the new year, the Neujahrsmarathon has become a new classic for runners in Zurich. The course features loops of just over 10K and is run on the natural paths along the Limmat River. If you happen to find yourself in Zurich over the New Year, don your headlamp and join other runners looking to kick off the new year with a few (or more!) miles.
Runs Monday, December 31, 2018 – Tuesday, January 1, 2019
9) Harmony Geneva Half Marathon • Geneva, Switzerland
In mid-May, the Harmony Geneva Half Marathon takes place in the heart of Geneva, Switzerland. The point-to-point course begins from Chêne-Bourg and travels alongside Lake Geneva, the Rhone River, and throughout the city of Geneva. This flat and fast course offers pacers for runners aiming for a goal time of 1:30, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 2:00, and 2:10.
Runs Sunday, May 12, 2019
10) Trail du Velan • Valais, Switzerland
The 21K or 13.1 mile course of the Trail du Velan is tough and technical. Featuring over 6,000 feet of elevation gain, the course begins at Bourg St. Pierre and travels to Azerin, topping out at 9,917 feet. Runners will have a chance to take in incredible views of the Valais Alps throughout the race, including Mont Blanc and Grandes Jorasses. Those who are willing to tackle this late July race will be rewarded with stunning scenery each step of the way.
Runs Saturday, July 27, 2019
Carissa Liebowitz has run the Boston Marathon as well as dozens of marathons and half marathons. You can follow her running adventures on Strava, Instagram and her blog.
