The Vertical Kilometer. A simple idea in theory: run a course that climbs 1000m in 5K or less as fast as possible. Oh, and give your lungs the workout of a lifetime on the way.
Having not raced a VK before, I got my first chance at the Mont Blanc Marathon weekend and what a huge amount of fun it was.
A 3.8km course (the mathematicians among you will already know that’s a pinch over 26% average gradient) climbed directly underneath the cable car route from Chamonix up to Plan Praz.
Run as a time trial, competitors are set off from the start area in the centre of Chamonix at 15-second intervals. Each person fires out of the gate as they are unleashed, displaying a mix of smiles and sheer determination.
The course starts on steep road. Already there are people walking back, having decided against it; today is not their day. Start this race too fast and the top will take an age to arrive. Find a rhythm early and sit quietly in your discomfort zone. Light feet, burning lungs and mouth wide open searching for more air.
The trail starts. Lots of switchbacks that go on and on. Some turns are very steep and large hiking steps replace small running ones to get around them faster on the shortest possible route. Remember a race to 1000m means any running that doesn’t gain height is a waste!
The route is marked at 100m intervals. They tick past one by one. The top station comes into sight for the first time, as do the rails and ladders. Normally this would be slowing you down, but as the ladders go straight up, they are great for vertical gain so embrace them. They’re on your side!
Through the cable car station and a short blast up the gravel track to the finish. Stop. It’s time to consume some extra oxygen you’ve been missing.
Treated to a cable car ride back down, we were able to see the final and fastest predicted runners on the course. The speed is impressive; the steps are light and fast. The course record is broken by the eventual winner François Gonon in 34mins 7secs among a stellar field of athletes.
Fancy giving one a go? There are plenty all over Europe, usually as precursors to mountain races. Here are a few tips to bear in mind:
- As they say in Cool Runnings: “Feel the rhythm.” Once you have it, keep it, be efficient and make good progress.
- Think like a sprinter. Swing those arms. You may not be covering each 100m in 10 seconds, but keep the arms swinging and the legs will follow. Hips to nips!
- Don’t start too fast. There is likely no coming back from an over ambitious start. There is very little, if any, ground to recover on. The only option is slowing down.
