Ultra-runner Sophie Woods has set a new record for completing the Via Alpina, a challenging 2,000-kilometer (1,243-mile) trail network across the Alps. Woods finished the trek in 29 days, surpassing the previous fastest-known time by six days.

The Via Alpina route traverses eight countries, including Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and France, before concluding on the Mediterranean coast in Monaco. The course involves an elevation gain equivalent to climbing Mount Everest 12 times.

Woods, a 42-year-old from New Zealand, began her run on July 4. She and her support team navigated numerous obstacles during the journey, including two heatwaves, storms, a swarm of horseflies, and wildfires that necessitated a five-kilometer detour with significant additional climbing.

"I am ecstatic but knackered," Woods told BBC Sport. "The last couple of days I did on one and a half to two and a half hours of sleep to really push at the end. That tipped me over the edge a little bit."

The previous record for the Via Alpina was set by British runner Jake Catterall in 2024, who completed the route in 35 days. The Via Alpina is considered one of the world's most arduous and technical endurance challenges, with only a small number of runners having attempted it under formal timing.

Woods described moments of doubt, stating, "There were a few points where I felt like I don't know how I'm going to get to the finish of this. I never wanted to stop but the enormity of the task was overwhelming at times."

Fueling her run for 15 to 18 hours daily, Woods consumed a combination of McDonald's meals, pasta, and energy gels. Her husband, George, friend Zoe, and their dog Nila provided support throughout the course.

"The first week was horrendous - everything was swollen, everything was sore. I was sure I was going to pull 15 million muscles," Woods recalled. "Week two wasn't great either and then week three, I felt like I was getting fitter. It was like I was eating mountains for breakfast."

The summer's heatwaves have also contributed to widespread wildfires across Europe. Woods cited the proximity to wildfires as a significant concern, stating, "I've been close to wildfires before and they are terrifying. I didn't want to put myself, my crew or anyone in danger by going through the fires."

Woods acknowledged that the route planning required flexibility. "We had a rough plan of what it [the route] was going to look like, but there was quite a lot of winging it along the way. All of our calculations were out. Every day was longer and higher than we had calculated."

Woods' achievement follows a strong year for women in ultra-running, with Rachel Entrekin setting a record in the Cocodona 250 in May. Woods stated that after a challenging fertility journey, including IVF, she desired a significant change in her life, leading her to pursue the Via Alpina challenge with the record as an initial goal.

"I didn't want to be running for more than 30 days - 30 days is enough," she said. "I knew that I was strong and capable. But this has taken it over and beyond that."

Following her record-breaking feat, Woods plans to rest. "I intend to spend quite a lot of time on the couch and watch Netflix - and eat some vegetables," she added.