Runner's World

JUNE 2018 RUNNERSWORLD.CO.UK 049

GIANT STEPS

the cardiovascular system may be stretched to breaking point your joints enjoy

something close to a free ride. ‘I was very injury-prone as a track athlete’ says

Suzy Walsham stair-running ‘galactico’ and multiple winner of the rival world

championships staged by the Towerrunning World Association (TWA) and the

Vertical World Circuit (VWC). ‘But stairs being non-impact means I don’t get injured

at all. In fact I can still train and race even when I’m carrying injuries that prevent

me from running.’ At 44 Suzy is lean bursting with vitality and seemingly getting

better with every race. She runs an estimated 200000 steps a year and shows no

signs of slowing down. The former Commonwealth Games 800m and 1500m runner

is convinced that such longevity would not be possible in more conventional racing.

NEVER-ENDING STOREYS

Back at the Niesenbahn those Odor-Eaters won’t win themselves. My number

• siebenundsiebzig (77) – is called and I and my randomly assigned race buddy
  (CamelBak neat Germanic glasses hair as white as his knee-high socks) are ushered
  through the door of the base station and towards an electronic counter. This works
  down from 20 seconds during which we share a handshake and then the starter’s
  arm goes down and we’re trundling over the river on the elevated steel walkway.
  ‘Don’t go off too hard.’ The mantra repeats in my mind as I slip into a cautious
  early pace aided by the walkway ramping up alarmingly like a reverse ski jump.
  White socks is even slower. ‘Treppe’ I announce proudly and he steps aside with a
  cheery nod. Early days. We’re all friends.
  I feel good. My legs are strong and my breathing is regular and the morning sun
  has just crept over the mountain f looding the valley with sunlight and taking the
  edge off the crisp air. I allow myself the occasional glance left and right to admire
  the valley opening up below. Cattle bells tinkle in the distance. I’m enjoying this.
  And then all too soon everything starts to fall apart. There’s just no let-up. In
  a conventional run as Gallagher points out you can vary the intensity commit

EARLY RISERS
(top to bottom): Almost a vertical mile from
the valley oor; the course featured a series
of covered sections; on top of the world