SwissPeaks Legend Finish Time Predictor

SwissPeaks Trail - Legend covers 397 km with around 27,530 m of elevation gain, starting in Brigerbad, Valais, Switzerland. The overall cutoff is 159 hours.

Crew access is allowed at Belalp (15 km), Bettmeralp (29 km), Fiesch (life base) (51 km), Chaserstatt (58 km), Binn (71 km), Fleschboden (86 km), Giw (108 km), Eisten (life base) (120 km), Grächen - Zum See (129 km), Bluomatt (153 km), Grimentz (life base) (172 km), Evolène (191 km), Thyon 2000 (life base) (219 km), Lourtier (246 km), Prassurny (275 km), Col de la Forclaz - Plan Creux (293 km), Salvan (life base) (306 km), Barme (330 km), Chaux Palin (341 km), Morgins (life base) (351 km), Torgon (363 km), Taney (376 km) and Le Grand Pré (386 km). Drop bags are available at Fiesch (life base), Eisten (life base), Grimentz (life base), Thyon 2000 (life base), Salvan (life base) and Morgins (life base).

Checkpoint data approximate - verify against the current official race guide at swisspeaks.ch before your race.

The classic Riegel formula (T2 = T1 × (D2/D1)^1.06) was derived from road race data. It assumes distance is the only factor in fatigue - ignoring elevation, terrain friction, and ultra-specific physiological degradation. For mountain trail races, these factors dominate.

ITRA km-effort normalises trail races by effort rather than distance. A 50km race with 3,000m of gain has a km-effort of 80 - equivalent in effort to an 80km flat race. Our version also accounts for descent cost (loss_m / 150), because steep descents cause significant eccentric muscle damage (Minetti, 2002) that isn't free.

Ultra fatigue: Millet et al. (2011) documented progressive neuromuscular degradation in ultra-marathons - central fatigue, GI distress, and eccentric muscle damage compound over time. The fatigue exponent in our prediction scales from 1.06 (≤marathon) to 1.15 (>100km), producing increasingly conservative predictions as distance grows. The stepped exponents beyond marathon distance are TrailMath heuristics, not published constants - they represent a conservative extrapolation of Millet's qualitative findings, not empirically derived values.

Terrain multipliers are practical heuristics, not peer-reviewed constants. Technical trail is approximately 1.30× slower than road pace for the same flat effort - accounting for footplacement, rocks, roots, and lateral stability demands. These multipliers are applied relative to your known race's terrain, so comparing trail-to-trail or road-to-road eliminates the terrain effect and leaves only effort differences.

How to use this: Choose a known result you're proud of and that reflects your current fitness. A race from 6 months ago still works if your training hasn't changed significantly. The prediction gives a range - aim for somewhere between optimistic and conservative based on your training specificity for the target race.

ITRA. km-effort formula. International Trail Running Association. Riegel PS. (1977). Athletic records and human endurance. American Scientist. Millet GY et al. (2011). Neuromuscular consequences of an extreme mountain ultra-marathon. PLoS ONE. Minetti AE et al. (2002). J Appl Physiol. 93(3):1039-46.