Challenge Accepted!

As the sun barely peeked over the Swiss Alps, painting the sky with hues of cold blue and icy silver, I found myself standing at the starting line of La Diagonela, skis at the ready, beard not quite knowing the frosty fate it was about to endure. With temperatures plummeting to a bone-chilling -19°C, progressing to a „warmer“ -10°C, this wasn’t just a race; it was a battle against the elements. And oh, did my beard know it! By the end of the race, it had transformed into a peculiar icicle exhibit, showcasing the kind of facial hair not even the wildest of Vikings could dream up.

La Diagonela is not for the faint of heart. Spanning a grueling 55 km through the heart of the Engadin Valley, it’s a testament to endurance, willpower, and the strange joy we endurance athletes find in our own suffering. The race features intense diagonal uphill sections – a personal favorite of mine. It’s on these climbs that I feel like a king, conquering each slope with the grace of an Alpine ibex. But every king has his Achilles‘ heel, and mine is double poling. As much as I thrive on the uphills, the extensive double poling sections are my kryptonite, a fact I was painfully reminded of as the race wore on.

This year, I faced La Diagonela again with less-than-ideal preparation, particularly in the double poling department. The realization hit me hard, about two hours in, when my „batteries“ decided they had enough, embarking on an unscheduled power-saving mode. What followed was a mental tug-of-war, a test of determination as I willed myself to push through the fatigue, the cold, and the creeping doubt.

The journey was made even more challenging as the grip on my skis began to betray me. The snow, which had started off as my ally, providing good grip and gliding conditions, slowly turned into an unpredictable foe. A pit stop at the waxing service in Zuoz became an unexpected morale booster, a brief respite in the midst of battle.

So here’s to La Diagonela, to frozen beards and icy challenges, to uphill battles and double pSo here’s to La Diagonela, with its frozen beards and icy challenges, to the uphill battles and double poling dilemmas that test our mettle. These races encapsulate why we cherish endurance sports: not merely for the physical endurance they demand but for the stories they gift us, the laughter shared over frosty beards, and the pure joy of pushing beyond our perceived limits. As I crossed the finish line at La Diagonela, a flicker of doubt about next week’s Marcialonga—a formidable 70 km challenge—briefly dimmed my spirits. Yet, in the resilient spirit of an endurance athlete, my resolve quickly mirrored Dory’s optimistic „Oh look, a race,“ dispelling any second thoughts. The hesitation was fleeting, and the enduring athlete within me eagerly anticipated the next adventure. With my skis waxed, spirits lifted, and beard braced for the cold, I’m set to embrace whatever lies ahead with renewed vigor.