The Swiss Alps 160 is never forgiving, and I knew coming into Attempt 3 that my margin for error was razor-thin. With minimal reserves and conditions hotter than expected, the race demanded precision from the very first step. This wasn’t about chasing adrenaline — it was about executing a plan: disciplined fueling, controlled hydration, and a steady mindset. Still, the heat pushed me to the edge early, testing whether I could hold the line or break.

The first 35 km had already tested me with relentless heat, sunstroke, and cramps. At Riederfurka, stopping wasn’t an option — if I sat, my legs would lock. From there, everything shifted: I stopped fighting the pain and chose to move with it. For the first time, my fear of heights disappeared, replaced by steady, confident progress. But just as I gained momentum, Bellwald hit me with a new challenge — fever symptoms, crushing headache, and fading energy.

From Bellwald to Reckingen, the course turned into a mental battlefield. Fever, cramps, and relentless climbs broke my rhythm, and the quit voice grew louder with every step. At Reckingen, a simple bowl of hot soup shifted everything — not toward finishing, but toward surviving one aid station at a time. That mindset carried me forward when nothing else could.

My third attempt at the Swiss Alps 160 ended in a DNF on paper — but it was my most controlled and deliberate performance yet. I managed heat, cramps, and fever with sharper pacing, smarter fueling, and clearer decisions. More importantly, I conquered a long-standing fear of heights, moving through exposed sections with confidence and flow.

From the very first minutes, I faced setbacks — a broken bottle, a broken mindset, and the cold creeping in. But the race wasn’t about avoiding problems, it was about confronting them. Step by step, I learned that most people quit at just 40–50% of their true capacity. The challenge wasn’t my body — it was overcoming the tricks of the mind.