Victory at the VIRGINIA ANVIL ULTRA TRI QUINTUPLE

Beat Knechtle finds history repeating itself once more. Following his solo triumph in the Swissultra, covering ten times the regular distance, he achieved another solo victory just a few weeks later in the USA, conquering the five-fold distance at the VIRGINIA ANVIL ULTRA TRI.

In the brisk morning chill, with temperatures hovering around 5°C, it was time to plunge into Lake Anna. Following the frigid swim, the journey continued with a grueling 180-kilometer bike ride through Lake Anna State Park, featuring almost 1000 meters of elevation gain. Finally, the day concluded with a marathon that included uphill and downhill segments. This demanding triathlon was repeated for five consecutive days, each with a strict time limit of 17 hours to complete the Ironman course. After a total of 76 hours and 31 minutes of relentless effort, the goal was achieved.

Reichenau Marathon

The first Reichenau Marathon took place on September 30, 2023.

With a start in Switzerland, then around the UNESCO World Heritage Reichenau Island through the Wollmatinger Forest and Constance back to Switzerland.

Beat Knechtle in conversation with Emma Beddington for The Guardian

Dr Beat Knechtle has conducted much of the research on age and ultramarathons; the 59-year-old Swiss GP is also an ultra-athlete himself. It’s a lot to do with experience and mindset, he says: “Experience, starting slow, going slow, focusing on the aim … younger athletes always tend to want to achieve a place, a podium, a time. The older ones like me say the first aim is to finish, and finishing means preparing and going to the race knowing it takes, for example, 5 or 10 or more days.” Knechtle has just completed a terrifying-sounding “deca iron”, which is 10 triathlons in 10 days; he was the only finisher (the professional triathlete who came second gave up after seven days).

Swiss Championships in Brugg

Beat Knechtle finished third in the 6-hour race behind runners Benjamin Bollin and Marc Graf.

In addition, he also took third place in the senior category.
  

On the third weekend of September, the traditional Brugg running weekend took place in Geissenschachen, where Swiss Ultra Running Swiss Ultra Running hosted the Swiss Championships in various long-distance running disciplines.

The three main events were the 5th Swiss Championships in 6-hour running, the 11th Swiss Championships in 12-hour running and the 4th Swiss Championships in 48-hour running.

321 full distances: Ultra-triathlon legend says “Stop”

Grzegorz Banaś about Beat Knechtle on akademiatriathlonu.pl:

There is no athlete who has completed more full distances than Beat Knechtle. The ultra-triathlete recently won his last competition and retired from this sport. He leaves behind several unofficial world records.

The entire article can be found at the following link: https://akademiatriathlonu.pl/beat-knechtle-emerytura/?fbclid=IwAR1mfRQ35DL6jTMjPN5fSReZiJzimnsCCJoR-77leESfmG2_Zb7CB1hDXEk

220 km Tour - 50th Lake Constance Cycling Marathon

For 50 years, the Lake Constance Cycling Marathon has been organized by members of the cycling club RV Altenrhein (CH) on a voluntary basis - by cyclists for cyclists.
This event is an integral part of the Swiss Cycling Top Tour, which brings together the most beautiful cycling marathons in Switzerland.
The goal of the marathon is to offer experienced, intermediate and beginner cyclists a sportive experience in the middle of the landscape of Lake Constance.

6-hour race in Buchs

Beat Knechtle finished second at the 6-hour run in Buchs behind the Hungarian Peter Knapig and in front of the Swiss Marc Graf.

The running course is about 1.2 kilometers long and leads over footpaths and forest paths around the outdoor swimming pool in Buchs. One marathon corresponds to 35 laps. The course is flat throughout. About three quarters are paved; one section is gravel and one section is a natural path through the forest. About half of the course is in the shade (forest). The running course is illuminated during the night. The running course is officially measured by Swiss-Athletics course measurer (SLV).

Victory in Deca one-per-day Swissultra 2023

Beat Knechtle finished first at Swissultra 2023 in Deca one-per-day in 164 hours, 39 minutes, and 54 seconds.

From 20.08. to 17.09.2023 a wide range of ultra triathlon distances is offered in the town of Buchs in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley (Switzerland).

The one-per-day variant involves completing a long-distance triathlon every day: 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42.2 km running. For the Deca it is ten days in a row. The start is always at 7 am; finish the following day at 3 am (20 hours time limit).

321 long-distance triathlons in 26 years

Beat Knechtle finished his last ultra-triathlon after 321 long-distance triathlons in 26 years, winning at Swissultra 2023.

Video: https://www.facebook.com/100063644286664/videos/beat-knechtle-wins-the-deca-one-per-day-on-his-retirement-completing-his-321st-l/6953793937987967/