NEWSLETTER

Dear Irontrailers

Today sees the launch of the 1st Irontrail. Registration is now open! Be part of this 201 km adventure through the imposing Alpine landscape and culture of the canton of Graubünden. The course runs over the Morteratsch glacier, past the foot of the Piz Bernina, right through the middle of an ibex colony, past 25 mountain lakes, and over hill and dale, finishing in Chur, the oldest town in Switzerland.

Change of dates: 6 - 8 July 2012

In spite of extensive advance consultation with the destinations involved and consulting the most important race calendars, the scheduled dates from 10 to 12 August 2012 presented us with a serious conflict of interests. Due to a mountain bike race at the same time on the Lenzerheide, it would not have been possible to follow the desired route over Mount Rothorn.

After making further in-depth investigations and clarifications and weighing up all the pros and cons, we had to take the decision to move the dates of the Irontrail to 6 - 8 July 2012. We very much regret this situation and do apologise for any inconvenience caused.

However, we do hope we can depend on your flexibility! Many thanks for your kind understanding.

Online registration now open

The wait is over! Online registration for the 1st Irontrail has opened. You will find all the important information you need, such as route maps, profiles, timetables, regulations, transport information, catering information and the programme, on our website. Go straight to Registration c/o Mika Timing. Take advantage of the preferential rates for early entrants and register by 31 December 2011.

500 starting places in the T201 and T141

A maximum of 500 places are available for the T201 and T141. The first 500 applications per discipline will be taken into consideration and all subsequent ones will be put on a waiting list. There is no plan to limit the number of places in the T71.

Because of a modification to the route, the former T131 is now 140 km long, so we have renamed it the T141.

Irontrail Members' Club

The T201 has set a new standard.  The T141 and T71 competitions further enhance developments in the trail running scene. Irrespective of which challenge you decide on, being part of the premiere is all that counts. Will you take on a new challenge in a new discipline and decide to enter in good time? If so, you should be rewarded for this.

The Irontrail is launching a Members' Club. All those taking part in the first year will automatically qualify for membership and will benefit from plenty of extras. You will be able to enjoy the following advantages:

- A guaranteed place for 3 years from 2013 to 2015
- A premiere gift from the Irontrail region
- Many more specials will be announced as time goes by

Please note: From the second year, there will only be a limited number of new Members.

Arriving early

As an endurance event lasting many hours or even days at an altitude of up to 3,000 m above sea-level, the Irontrail places particular demands on the performance capabilities of all participants. Only a runner in perfect physical health who is very well trained will cope with the demands of this event. We strongly recommend acclimatisation for at least five days before the race at an appropriate altitude (over 1,500 metres above sea-level).

Arrive in good time and relax in one of our partner destinations before the start. For example, spend at least two nights in one of our partner hotels in Upper Engadine and enjoy free travel on our mountain railways, Engadine bus service and the Rhaetian Railway (St. Moritz - Alp Grüm, Samedan - Pontresina, Bever - Spinas). Similar offers are also available in various other destinations.

Pontresina Tourism
Engadin St. Moritz Tourism

Make travel an unforgettable experience

For getting to and from the race, as well as your transfers, why not make this an unforgettable experience and travel on the unique Albula/Bernina railway (a UNESCO world heritage site). By doing so, you are also making a contribution towards cutting CO₂ emissions and protecting the environment.

A Swiss Ticket covering travel to and from the event is included with all trails. We are also able to offer a Regio Ticket enabling you to explore the unique mountain and cultural landscape of Graubünden in the run-up to the event. Swiss and Regio Tickets are also available to support team members at specially reduced prices.

All details on ordering, prices and ticket validity can be found here.

Qualification race für the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all those who finished the UTMB 2011. As you will know, in order to register for the UTMB you need at least 5 qualification points. As the Irontrail is a partner trail of the UTMB, you can take the opportunity to collect qualification points for your registration: T201: 4 Qualification points T141: 4 Qualification points T  71: 2 Qualification points P.S. You don't need any qualification points to enter the Irontrail!

Starting place winners

During the Salon de l’Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, 3 starting places for the T201 at the 1st Irontrail were raffled. The winners are:

Robert Nolte, Germany (picture) Cal Mitchell, Canada Jose Fernandez, France

So what are you waiting for? Register right away for the new trail-running highlight in Switzerland.

See you at the start line!

Your Trail-Heidi and OK-Team


Swiss Irontrail
Gäuggelistrasse 16 | CH-7000 Chur, Switzerland
Phone +41 (0)81 258 40 14 | Fax +41 (0)81 258 40 10
infoirontrailch | www.irontrail.ch