Important information for runners

Accommodation

You can obtain information on accommodation from our partner:

Aletsch Arena AG 
T: +41 27 928 58 58
E: info@aletscharena.ch

We recommend booking accommodation early.

Cancellation insurance

Participations can neither be carried over to the following year nor refunded. This is in accordance with the regulations. Have you taken out cancellation insurance? Then please contact the insurance company directly if you are unable to attend due to illness. (Please enclose a doctor's certificate and confirmation of payment).

Reimbursement is to be claimed at the following address:
Europäische Reiseversicherungs AG
Steinengraben 28
P.O. Box
4003 Basel
schaden@erv.ch
+41612752727

Alternative route

In bad weather conditions when the risks are felt to be too high, the run is carried out on an alternative route.

Award ceremony

The award ceremony will take place at the Bachtla Sports Centre at 3 p.m. Every runner that crosses the finish line will receive an award. The top three in every runner category will receive special prizes. Runners unable to personally take part in the award ceremony are not entitled to a prize.

Cancellation

Entry fees will not be refunded if the race cannot take place due to force majeure (e.g. war, terrorism, storm, pandemic). The organiser is not liable for damages resulting from the cancellation of the race due to force majeure.

Changing rooms / showers

Before the start, runners can use the separate changing rooms for men and women at the start line by the upper station of the Bettmeralp aerial cable car. After the race, there is a shower tent at the tennis hall in the Bachtla Sports Centre. Mirrors and hairdryers are available in the cloakrooms. The shower facility will be closed at 3 p.m.

Closing time of finish line

After 1:00 pm (post Mossfluh) and 3:00 pm (finish) the Aletsch Half Marathon course will be closed. If you exceed these control closing times, you will no longer be classified and you will no longer be able to take advantage of any services (catering, ambulance, timekeeping, finisher T-shirt, etc.).

Doping controls

The current Swiss Olympic Doping Statute applies to this competition. Doping controls may be carried out. By participating in the competition, the runners agree to comply with the anti-doping rules of Swiss Olympic and recognise the exclusive competence of the disciplinary commission for doping cases of Swiss Olympic and also the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne to the exclusion of the ordinary courts. 

Emergency number

In case of emergency, please call +41 27 928 41 40 or 144.

Entry fee

The entry fee for the Aletsch Half-Marathon depends on the category you are running in. 

Entry fees at a glance:

• All categories half marathon
  • until registration 31.12.2023: CHF 85.-
  • until registration reaches 29.02.2024: CHF 90.-
  • until registration limited number reached: CHF 95.-
• Nordic Walking:
  • until registration by 31.12.2023: CHF 84.-
  • until registration until 29.02.2024: CHF 89.-
  • until registration reaches limited number: CHF 94.-

The entry fee includes the return journey on the gondola from the finish line on the Bettmerhorn to Bettmeralp. Your race bib counts as a ticket for a single downhill journey with the gondola. For runners that have registered for an SBB Swiss Runners Ticket, travelling on the aerial cable cars is free of charge anyway. If you do not take part in the race despite having registered, you are not entitled to a refund of the entry fee. However, it is possible to take out cancellation insurance when you register online. 

Final check 

A tail runner controls the end of the regular race. Participants who are overtaken by this person are out of the race and continue to run on their own responsibility, without claiming any services from the organizer. Participants who are clearly running behind the tail runner may be taken out of the race by security personnel. The first-aid posts on the course are authorized to do so. If the race is continued despite instructions, any liability on the part of the organizer is rejected.

Finish

The finish line for the Aletsch Half-Marathon is on the Bettmerhorn mountain, at an altitude of 2,700 m. The finish line for both the Marmot and “Gletschi” races is at the Bachtla Sports Centre.

Finisher shirts 2022

Every runner crossing the finish line at the Bettmerhorn will receive an attractive finisher shirt in recognition of their achievement. 

First-aid service

A first-aid service is provided by the local Samaritan Association in Betten-Bettmeralp at the route posts and at the start and finish line. In emergencies, the nearest route marshal must be informed immediately.

First-aid posts at km 5.6, 9, 12, 14.2, 17.5, 20, 21.1

First-aid emergency number: 144 / Emergency number: +41 27 928 41 42

Information stand

This is located in the upper station of the Bettmeralp aerial cable car (start line).

Insurance

Participants must arrange their own insurance. The organizer does not assume any liability whatsoever. For reasons of safety and fairness in sports, participants are not permitted to leave the course prescribed by the organizers.With their registration, the participants confirm that they have the required insurance and have completed the necessary training in preparation for the race. During online registration there is an option to take out cancellation insurance. Those who cannot start in the Aletsch Half-Marathon have no claim to a refund of the starting fee.

Late registrations

Possible if the limit for the number of participants has not yet been reached.

Lost property

For lost property, please contact our partner:

Aletsch Arena AG / Infocenter Bettmeralp
T: +41 27 928 58 58
E: info@aletscharena.ch

Luggage

Luggage can be handed in at the basement of the goods shed (upper station of the Bettmeralp aerial cable car). Please make a note of your pallet number. The luggage will be taken to the tennis hall (Bachtla Sports Centre) and stored on the tennis court next to the cloakrooms.

Massages

Massages are offered at the Bachtla Sports Centre.

Personal data/pictures

In registering for the Aletsch Half-Marathon, runners agree that films, photos and interviews can be made during the event without any entitlement to remuneration. The personal data of the runners can be used for marketing purposes and also passed on to third parties. At the same time, the event organiser undertakes to only process personal data in accordance with the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act.

Photos

You can order your personal photo from our partner www.alphafoto.com.

Race abandonment

If you abandon the race, report to the nearest medical post, Any staffing costs incurred by not reporting will be charged to you.

Race bib distribution

As a participant in the Aletsch Half-Marathon, you can collect your race bib on the day before the race. Otherwise, the race bibs for all categories can be collected on the morning of the race. The distribution point is located at the upper station of the Bettmeralp aerial cable car. 

Race bib distribution:

Saturday, 22 June 2024
When: 4 – 6 p.m.
Where: Upper station of the Bettmeralp aerial cable car

Sunday, 23 June 2024
When: from 7.30 a.m.
Where: Upper station of the Bettmeralp aerial cable car

Prize money

There are special prizes for the top three runners in each category. Special bonuses are awarded to any men or women setting new course records. Important: runners need to be actually present at the award ceremony. Otherwise they will forfeit their prize.

• Total prize money:
  CHF 10,000

• Race winner (Men/Women):
  1st CHF 250
  2nd CHF 200
  3rd CHF 150
• Route record (Men/Women):
  CHF 600

Rankings

Rankings will be published on the websites www.aletsch-halfmarathon.ch or www.datasport.com directly after the race.
Rankings will not be sent out by post.

Refreshments

The company Sponser is the official refreshments partner of the Aletsch Half-Marathon.

On a mountain run, adequate refreshment is the most critical success factor after systematic physical preparation. The somewhat cooler mountain air compared to the lowlands means that you may be inclined to drink less and this can have dire consequences for the final few kilometres. This is because the mountain air leads to a greater loss of fluids even though the temperatures are not as high as in the lowlands. With this in mind, drink at every opportunity and eat solid food very early on in the race.

The company Sponser is the official catering partner of the Aletsch Half-Marathon. The drink offered by Sponser quickly replaces lost fluids thanks to its isotonic composition and provides the body with energy and the most important minerals that are lost through sweating.

• Isotonic Red Orange + Citrus (drink at finish line)
• Competition Orange (drink for during the race)
• Cereal Energy Bar “Strawberry”
• Liquid Energy Plus 40g Sachet

There is a first-aid service at all stations. There are also 7 refreshment stations in total along the route. Drinks and food are distributed in the following order: 

Kilometre	First Aid	Water	Tea	Isoton. Drinks	Energy Bar Gels	Bananas	Cola Bread
5.6	x	x	x	x	x	x
9	x	x	x	x	x	x
12	x
14.2	x	x	x	x	x	x
17.5	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
20	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
21.1	x	x	x	x	x	x	x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Registration

Booking for 37th Aletsch Half Marathon

The number of participants in the Aletsch Half-Marathon is restricted to 2,700 runners. If you would like to take part in the most beautiful mountain run in Europe, you need to register as soon as possible.
If the registration and/or mutation takes place without an additional fee, this will be requested at the start number issue, surcharge CHF 10.00 for registration or mutation.

Late registrations after the above dates are only possible if the maximum number of 2,700 runners has not yet been reached. 

Registration

Start groups

The starting field for the Aletsch Half-Marathon is divided into different blocks. Runners are allocated to one of the seven groups depending on the finish time expected or a finish time already achieved. The individual groups are phased to start at different times. Runners in the Aletsch Half-Marathon can only run in the start group allocated to them by the organisation team. 

Start times

Content:
The starting field of a maximum of 2,700 runners is divided into seven start blocks. Start times will be staggered. The block you are allocated to depends on the time you submitted on registration. This may be a time you are personally expected to achieve or a finish time you already achieved for the Aletsch Half-Marathon. Important: the start time given for your start block is binding for you! You can only run in the group allocated to you by the organisation team. 

Start times of blocks and categories:

• Nordic Walking: 10.30 a.m.
• Half-Marathon:
  Block 1: 10 a.m.
  Block 2: 10.05 a.m.
  Block 3: 10.10 a.m.
  Block 4: 10.15 a.m.
  Block 5: 10.20 a.m.
  Block 6: 10.25 a.m.
  Block 7: 10.30 a.m.

Timekeeping

The company responsible for timekeeping is Datasport. The running time is recorded by a timing chip. This means that the time starts to run for each participant as soon as he or she passes the start line and ends on crossing the finish line. 

Toilets

Toilets are available at the start line, all along the start zone, and at the finish line.

Transferring a start number

The change of registration must be reported via this form. A fee of CHF 10.00 is charged. The costs will be charged to the person who takes over the starting place.

Transport

The Swiss Runners Ticket is valid from a place of residence in Switzerland to the running event location and back. Free use of the aerial cable car from Betten lower station to Bettmeralp or from Mörel-Filet to Riederalp is also included. Please note: the return ticket is only valid in combination with your race bib. Both need to be presented during an inspection.

Valuables

Valuables can be deposited before the start at the luggage storage office in the goods shed (upper station of the Bettmeralp aerial cable car) and collected from the finish tent on the Bettmerhorn (max. 1 C3 envelope).

Venue Dates

2024 => 22 /23 June

2025 => 28 /29 June

2026 => 27 /28 June

2027 => 26/27 June

Walking aids

Walking aids in the form of walking sticks are prohibited. Disregard of this instruction leads to disqualification. This does not apply to registrations in the Nordic Walking category.