Transalpine PRESS RELEASE

*beware of the broken English!*

PRESS RELEASE
Munich, August 21, 2012

Starting signal for the 8th GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN in two weeks / longest distance in the history of this stage run

In two weeks, on September 1, 2012, 250 tag teams from all around the world will start the first of eight stages of the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN in Ruhpolding at 9 a.m. This year’s east route is incredibly demanding, since with its distance of 320 kilometers it is the longest run in the history of the Alpine classics. Top performance and, above all, stamina is needed for the 15,000 meters altitude difference. In average daily stages of 40 kilometers and 1,900 meters altitude difference the runners will reach the finishing line in Sexten on September 8.

International participants
GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN hasn’t lost its appeal even for this eighth time. This year, the run was already booked out six months before the start which is the earliest time so far. Among the 232 runners at the starting line most of them are from Germany, but Spain (79) and Austria (63) are also well represented. The Alpine classic is meanwhile very popular outside the European borders as well. Participants from Canada (13), Argentina (6), Australia (6), the USA (10), Israel (18) and many other countries bring international flair to this year’s east route over the Alpine main crest.

Mostly filled categories: Men, Master Men and Mixed
The runners are divided in five categories depending on their age and gender. The youngest participant is 22 years old and the oldest respectable 70 years. Especially well-filled with respectively around 30 % of the runners are the categories Men and Master Men (teams that are together over 80 years old) and Mixed (female and male participants of any age). The categories Senior Master Men (teams that are together over 100 years old) and Women are with respectively almost 10% less strong represented.

Former Alpine run world champion Helmut Schiessl at the starting line
One of the top favorites at this year’s GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN is Helmut Schiessl (GER) from the Salomon Trailrunning team, who will start together with his team partner Markus Kröll (AUT) in the category Master Men.
Schiessl is part of the absolute Alpine run world class. Last year this runner from Allgäu was successful at the Otego Pensulina Challenge and the Mt. Loyford Challenge. He also stood at the winner’s podium both at the Glacier 3000 and at the Three Peaks Alpine Run. In 2005, the 40-years old runner won the Alpine run world championship in Cauterts, France.
Kröll is one of the most successful Austrian Alpine runners. The Tyrolean already won the Alpine run ÖM twice (2007 and 2008).

About the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN:

The GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN has developed rapidly to one of the worldwide most popular trailrun events since its debut in 2005. The participants number is limited to 250 tag teams. The distance varies each year between the west route and this year’s east route.
The starting signal for the eight run will be given in Ruhpolding on September 1, 2012. The route leads over the Austrian towns: St. Johann in Tirol, Kitzbühel and Neukirchen at the Großvenediger as well as over the Italian stage towns: Prettau in Ahrntal, Sand in Taufers, St. Vigil and Niederdorf in Pustertal. On September 8, the runners will reach the finishing line in Sexten.

The event is organized by the Plan B agency (www.planb-event.com). The mountain school Vivalpin (www.vivalpin.com) is responsible for the distance; title sponsor is the brand GORE-TEX®. Their technologies can be found in many leading running and trailrunning brands (www.gore-tex.de).
All information is available at www.transalpine-run.com
If you need additional editorial information or images, please contact:
Katharina Münch / PLAN B event company GmbH
Tel. +49 (0)89 651299 48
Mobile. +49 (0)151 550101 48
e-mail. Katharina.muench@planb-event.com