*All images used in this article were taken by Phil Pham as part of the Redbull project.
Ultra-runner and On athlete Florian Neuschwander is known for his epic challenges. This year alone he broke the record for fastest 50 kilometers on a treadmill (for tips on how to beat the dreadmill, read here) and completed a full marathon with an elevation of 2,000 meters in less than three hours (more on the benefits of uphill running here).
This time, as the name suggests, Florian ran from Laufen, Switzerland to Laufen, Germany. And if you’re thinking two towns with the same name is slightly confusing, the German word laufen literally means “to run.”
The name might be a tongue twister, but the mission itself was clear: 550 kilometers, 9,000 meters elevation, 7 days to execute.
Along the way, Flo was greeted by many runners who joined him for parts of his journey. Discover the details of the route and a Q&A below.
Stage 1: Laufen, CH to Zurich
On the morning of October 1, Flo began the first leg of his journey with an Alphorn send-off. This 100-kilometer stretch began with the smaller villages of inner Switzerland and finished at the On HQ in Zurich.
Stage 2: Zurich to Goldach
Day 2 involved a cross-town commute as Flo navigated the city streets of Zurich. With trams, fellow early morning joggers and electric scooters successfully avoided it was back to the trails.
102,5 Kilometers later, Flo reached Lake Constance, the meeting point of Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
Stage 3: Goldach to Oberstaufen
Joined by supporters, stage 3 was off to a great start. But by mid-morning heavy showers called for an early break.
By 14:00 the sun reappeared, and Flo was back out on the road, finishing day 3 at 56,7 kilometers near Oberstaufen.