People of all ages take part in endurance sports, like triathlons or Ironman competitions and mountain races.

Gigathlons

Some 10,000 athletes took part in the first Swiss gigathlon in 2002. This race was 1477 kilometers (918 miles) in length, and took seven days. The disciplines were swimming, mountain biking, cycling, inline skating/wheelchair and running, and most entrants competed as part of a team.

Of the 163 people who attempted the entire race as individuals, 65 made it to the finishing line.

Further gigathlons have been held each year, starting in 2004.

Other endurance competitions

Switzerland exploits its mountains and lakes to organise competitions combining different summer and winter disciplines.

The traditional triathlon disciplines are swimming, cycling and running.

In some events competitors use both racing and mountain bikes. In others they have to run in the mountains.

Swiss venues are part of international endurance competitions.

One of the most famous competitions is the Patrouille des Glaciers (Glacier Patrol), a 53 km (33 mile) high mountain race between either Zermatt and Verbier or Arolla and Verbier. The patrols, which may be military or civilian, male, female or mixed, consist of three people. The majority are from Switzerland, but a number of foreign patrols also take part. The record time, set in 2006, is just under six hours 19 minutes.