"I had to let out a cry of joy."

Reto Elsener from Hünenberg has been an enthusiastic Trophy runner since 2016.

Reto Elsener (46) took part in the Zugerberg Finanz Trophy for the first time in 2016. It was the ideal preparation for his first half marathon. He ran his first marathon last fall.

"Before 2016, I jogged once a week to clear my head," says Reto Elsener. Then he was motivated to run the half marathon in Lucerne at the end of October. "With this goal in mind, I completed every medium and long Trophy route." This increased his workload to two training sessions per week. "Today it's three. Unless someone asks me to go for a spontaneous jog together. I'm almost always available for that."

Last fall, the audio/video technician from Hünenberg ran his first marathon, alone. "I'm an enthusiastic participant in the virtual Swiss Marathonis Challenges, which were launched in 2020. You sign up for a challenge and tick off one challenge after the next. Last year, there were six runs of 5, 10, 15, 21, 30 and 42 kilometers. Wow, were those 42 kilometers mental! But when I reached the finish line, I was overwhelmed and had to let out a loud cry of joy." He is still happy today to be part of the marathon circle.

In July in Zermatt
Reto Elsener would have liked to take part in his first "real" marathon in Zermatt at the beginning of July. Now his thigh is pinching. "I've switched to the half marathon so that I can at least enjoy the beautiful second half from Zermatt to the Ryffelberg." Until then, he will run a few more Trophy stages. Perhaps also up the Zugerberg again, past the Verena Chapel, where he got married over 20 years ago. And then in Menzingen. "I grew up in Menzingen, so this route is something special." And he is looking forward to the start in Zug after the summer vacation. "The long Zug stage is my favorite route. It's so beautifully varied."

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