Entry

We don't want your money, but we expect your dedication.

The Ultra Glaralpina is not a sanctioned race and we do not ask for an entry fee. But we can't accept every person who wants to run it. The start race is small, selected, and limited to 20 spots. It's our responsibility to review and verify runner applications to ensure you have the mindset and skillset necessary for a chance at success. We consider this safe-keeping, not gate-keeping. We appreciate your trust and understanding.

Application

Information about the application, review, and confirmation process.

All runners must submit an application to be considered for a start place. The application requires a runner's résumé covering relevant race and alpine experience, and a verified result from a 100-mile race completed within the past two years as proof of qualification. Applications open on 1 December and close on 20 December. We review every application individually between 20 December and 1 January. Selection is subjective — we assess the full picture and do our due diligence to verify each applicant meets the eligibility, experience, and qualification criteria. Where an application is unclear or incomplete, we will follow up directly. All applicants are notified of the outcome between 1 and 15 January. Accepted applicants receive a confirmation with next steps. If your application is unsuccessful, you will hear from us too — we just won't be able to tell you why. It's not something we can do fairly at this scale.

Capacity

Information about the race capacity and limits.

We're starting with 20 runners. It's our first edition, and we want to keep the field small enough to ensure we can provide safe passage to everyone on course. It also reflects permitting requirements and our commitment to keeping the environmental and community impact minimal. Start places are split equally between male and female participants — 10 spots each. Mountain ultras at this level are still male-dominated, and we want to do our small part to change that from the start.

Fee

Invest in your gear and crew, not our race entry fee.

There is no entry fee. We do this to give runners the chance to experience something that's hard to find elsewhere — not to run a commercial race operation. Keeping the fee at zero means keeping our costs low. There are no aid stations, no medals, no swag, no media, and no elaborate start or finish. What we provide is a well-designed course, a safe framework, and a small, committed group of people to make it happen. Runners should expect to invest on their end — in gear, crew logistics, travel, and accommodation. Some of that gear, like the GPS tracker or PLB you carry on course, will serve you well beyond this race.

Eligibility

Information about the eligibility criteria.

You must be at least 18 years old age on 31 December of the year of the race and physically and mentally fit. By registering, you automatically accept the race rules and regulations.

Experience

Information about the expected mountain running experience.

Runners must have the knowledge and experience to traverse high-alpine terrain safely and self-sufficiently in all conditions. This means managing your own physical and mental condition, planning and executing your own nutrition and hydration, and making sound decisions when things don't go to plan. Night navigation and technical terrain are part of the race — familiarity with both is expected. This experience should come from running challenging mountain ultras, mountaineering expeditions, or activities of comparable demand and exposure. We ask for one verified 100-mile qualifier, but a single race result tells us only part of the story. Runners with diverse experience across different environments, seasons, and conditions will be better placed for what this race asks of them.

Qualification

Information about the qualification requirements.

Runners must have completed a 100-mile ultra within the two years prior to applying. The application will ask for the race name, date, and a link to a results page confirming successful completion. We don't maintain a fixed list of qualifying races — but events like Hardrock 100, Barkley Marathons, or The Spine give a sense of the terrain, self-sufficiency, and difficulty we consider comparable. If you don't have a finish at an official 100-mile race but believe your past achievements warrant an entry, describe your qualification in the application and provide verifiable evidence — an FKT result, Strava track, or comparable documentation.

Gender Equity

Information about our gender equity policy.

Hard things are not and should not be gender-specific. Women are equally welcome and invited to challenge themselves here — and we back that with equal start spots for women and men. The same eligibility, experience, and qualification criteria apply to all runners. Female runners who have experienced a pregnancy in the past two years may use a qualifying result from up to three years prior to applying.

Deferral

Information about our deferral policy.

There's no entry fee, so there's nothing at stake financially if you can't make it to the start line. If life gets in the way, let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your spot to the next runner on the waitlist. You're welcome to reapply the following year.

Insurance

Information about our personal insurance policy.

Runners participate at their own risk. We do not assume responsibility for injury, illness, or incident during the race. Every runner must hold valid personal accident insurance for the duration of the event and emergency evacuation insurance covering high-alpine activities in Switzerland is highly recommended. We strongly recommend a REGA or AAA membership. Both cover helicopter rescue and emergency transport in Switzerland and are inexpensive relative to the cost of an evacuation without cover.