Since the year 2001 in the saxonian town of Radebeul there is the Spitzhaustreppen-Laufwith 397 stairs. In the middle of 2004 now one of the main organizers of this event, Christian Hunn from the Radebeuler Treppenlaufteam visited the Mount Everest - Exhibition in Leipzig .Then he had a brilliant Idea: with small adaptions of the existing course atthe lower turnaround you reach an altitude of 88,48 meters. This 100 times and you have the height of Mount Everest ! And the total distance a 100 times up and down gives you a double - marathon !
The worldwide first Stair-Ultra with 39700 stairs was born.
On April 16, 2005 it happened -at 16 hours this fascinating event was started. 28 single climbers, among them 2 women and 7 teams of three ( each member at least 25 and at most 50 rounds ) headed down the staircase for the first time. In this special moment none of the climbers found time to have a look at the town of Radebeul, the river Elbe behind and on the left in the background at Dresden. Four hours later 5 tourist groups started, where each member hat to do just one round - so especially during the night hours there was some life on the scene in the pittoresk vineyards of Radebeul !
The Radebeuler Treppenlauf-Team did a very good job organizing this premiere event ,supported by the German Red Cross and the Technical Help Unit. At the two supply stations on the course there was always drink and food and in a special tent for athletes there was additionally warm food, extrahot tea and coffee. Fortunately the two emergency cars were not needed ; all the time there were guards on the course who informed the crew of the next emergency car whenever they noticed a "strange behaviour" of a runner so that he was checked if a pulse or as in most cases some muscular problem was the reason ! Of course there were facilities to sleep and a massage-service all through the 24 hours of this great race.
Within that 24 hour time limit 1 woman and 11 men succeeded in completing the full distance of 100 rounds - the winner Kurt Hess from Switzerland couldn´t get enough and remained on the course for all the time - he managed to complete another 33 rounds ! For his first 100 he needed 17 hours, 9 minutes and 42 seconds, whereas Ulrike Baars from Dresden had reached virtually the peak of Mount Everest after 19 hours, 30 minutes and 48 seconds !
a personal report is following :o)
