Kilomètre Vertical de Fully

The Kilomètre Vertical de Fully sends runners almost straight up an old funicular line above Fully, Switzerland, typically in autumn. It is a vertical kilometer: 1,000 meters of climb packed into only 1.9 kilometers of running, with an average gradient of about 52%. The race begins near Belle-Usine at 500 meters and concludes at Les Garettes at 1,500 meters. Runners depart one by one against the clock, and poles are essential on a slope this steep. The route ascends in a nearly straight line through vineyards, meadows, and forest, featuring a short metal bridge and a tunnel of about 50 meters. Its old railway bed originated from a disused funicular once connected to the Fully dam, providing the race with a ready-made uphill track. The event evolved from a local ski-mountaineering training challenge into a draw for vertical-kilometer specialists, attracting over 500 runners in a past edition and hosting several world-best performances. Philip Götsch holds the men’s record at 28:53, Christel Dewalle holds the women’s record at 34:44, and Kílian Jornet is among the notable winners in Fully. Markers every 100 meters indicate the remaining climb, and the day concludes with a lasagna party.