EP 03 | MY HOME SUMMIT | LAKE TO SUMMIT | SWITZERLAND

It would be hard to find someone who knows Switzerland better when it comes to navigating the country's best trail routes, than Diego Pazos. Last year he set the new fastest time crossing the entire country in an incredibly fast 79hours and 36 minutes. From Vaduz to Montreux along the Via Alpina route, he crossed 14 alpine passes and 6 cantons, for a total of 391 kilometres (and 23,500 metres of elevation gain) Here he shares one of his frequented training routes in beautiful Switzerland.

Name of My Training Lap

​Lake to Summit

Location

Canton de Vaud, Switzerland. Commencing in Montreux it Summits three tough but beautiful climbs: Cubly, Le Molard, Cape au Moine and the wonderful Dent de Jaman

Why I love this training

These trials are what made me the trail runner that I am today. Moreover, the views are incredible between lakes, ridges and summits. At the top you can see the French Alps, the Mont-Blanc, the Swiss French alps, the Fribourg Prealps, the Jura and the Berner Alps….so a 360° view which is simply breathtaking. The route is very complete; with steep, technical terrain but also being runnable at the same time. If that´s not enough to tempt you, you can also enjoy a brunch on the top of the Dent de Jaman with friends or with your partner.

Recommendations if you want to train here

You should be able to resist 2200 m+ (and 1500m+ straight) and 30k 2200m+. But you can make a day of it and do it as a big hike rather than a run. This trail is too hard and long to do it with the family.

My Training Session

Normally I use this route as one of my long run training. You can use the steepest part to work on a high intensity level or to improve your power hiking, while at the same time in the downhill you can work on your technical skills and prepare your legs for your next objective. This trail is a slightly harder version of Sierre Zinal for those who want a comparison.

Some extra tips if you want to run this route

I am normally doing this route on the weekend and from the end of April or beginning of may when the snow has melted. This is as well the trail of the MXAlps (30k) of the Montreux Trail Festival in case you want to test your time with the best in the world.