{"id":111683,"date":"2026-08-04T17:00:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T17:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/111683\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T17:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T17:00:10","slug":"new-zealand-woman-sets-remarkable-new-fkt-across-the-alps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/111683\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand woman sets remarkable new FKT across the Alps"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kiwi ultrarunner Sophie Woods has set a new fastest known time (male or female) on the Via Alpina, a network of mountain trails running across eight countries, completing the route in 28 days, 17 hours and 59 minutes.<\/p>\n

Woods started near Trieste, Italy, on July 4 and reached Monaco on Aug. 1. Over those four weeks, she covered approximately 2,018 kilometres and climbed more than 117,000 metres. That works out to nearly 50 marathons, with elevation gain equivalent to climbing Mount Everest from sea level more than 12 times.<\/p>\n

Her time lowered the previous overall record of 35 days and 21 hours, set by British runner Jake Catterall in 2024. Dutch ultrarunner Tessa Caspers held the previous women\u2019s record after completing the route in 38 days and two hours in 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am ecstatic but knackered,\u201d Woods told BBC Sport<\/a>. \u201cThe last couple of days I did on one and a half to two and a half hours of sleep to really push at the end. That tipped me over the edge a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eight countries in 29 days<\/p>\n

Woods began her trek in northeastern Italy before travelling through Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and France, then descending to the Mediterranean coast in Monaco. She spent 15 to 18 hours on the move most days, often beginning around 3 a.m. Woods\u2019s efforts coincided with two European heatwaves, and she also was forced to contend with storms, horseflies and wildfires. At one point, her team had to change the route due to a large wildfire, adding about five kilometres and 200 metres of elevation gain.<\/p>\n

\"sophieNew Zealand ultrarunner Sophie Woods, Via Alpina FKT. Photo: Zoe Salt<\/p>\n

Woods said that the first portion of the run was especially hard on her body. \u201cEverything was swollen, everything was sore,\u201d she told the BBC. \u201cI was sure I was going to pull 15 million muscles. Week two wasn\u2019t great either, and then week three, I felt like I was getting fitter. It was like I was eating mountains for breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her FKT was a supported effort, meaning that a crew, including her husband, George Woods, and photographer Zoe Salt, met her along the route with food, equipment and a chosen location to sleep.<\/p>\n

\"SophieNew Zealand ultrarunner Sophie Woods and husband, George Woods, Via Alpina FKT. Photo: Zoe Salt
\nFrom avoiding cross-country to ultrarunning<\/p>\n

Woods, 42, grew up in Christchurch, N.Z., and races under her maiden name, Sophie Grant. She wasn\u2019t a runner as a child and has said she used to ask her parents to write notes to excuse her from school cross-country. She began running in her mid-20s and later moved into trail and ultrarunning. One of her early major endurance events was the Marathon des Sables, a multi-stage race across the Sahara Desert that she completed in 2013.<\/p>\n

\"SophieNew Zealand ultrarunner Sophie Woods, Via Alpina FKT. Photo: Zoe Salt<\/p>\n

During the Via Alpina run, Woods estimated that she was consuming roughly 6,000 to 7,000 calories a day with very little rest. By the final stretch, she was sleeping as little as 90 minutes a night. \u201cI might not be the fastest person out there, but I know how to do big, long days in the mountains and just keep moving when everything hurts,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

While Woods\u2019s time awaits final verification from FKT.com, she has already begun the recovery process. \u201cI honestly can\u2019t thank you all enough for the encouragement, love, and support over the last month. It has meant more than you\u2019ll ever know, Woods shared on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cRight now I\u2019m tucked up on the couch, managing to stay awake for a few hours at a time, so there\u2019s plenty more to share once I\u2019ve caught up on some much-needed sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n