Swiss marathon is a family affair for Mayo mother and daughter
Mayo AC runners Lucy and Colette Tuohy at the finish of the Zermatt Marathon in the shadow of the Matterhorn, the famous alpine peak.
Athletics: In November 2024, Mayo AC’s own Colette and Lucy Tuohy participated in the Frauenfelder half-marathon, a popular running event in Eastern Switzerland.
This mother-daughter duo hails from the remarkable sporting Tuohy family in Castlebar. Currently, Lucy's sister Suzanne is part of the Mayo LGFA squad, while brother Bob plays a key role in the Mayo team that has secured a spot in the All-Ireland Football final.
On July 5, they were back in southern Switzerland, this time in the Valais canton of Zermatt.
Zermatt is a stunning mountain resort famous for skiing, climbing, and hiking. Nestled at around 1,600 metres above sea level, the town sits in the shadow of the famous Matterhorn peak. That weekend, the area hosted a variety of running events, including an ultra-marathon, marathon, half-marathon, and Top 20 run, attracting over 2,000 participants.
Lucy and Colette chose to tackle the marathon. Starting in the breathtaking St. Niklaus, the Zermatt Marathon winds its way up to the stunning Riffelberg or Gornergrat, making it one of the most challenging and scenic mountain marathons in the world.
The marathon route connects the valley floor of the Mattertal to the high alpine terrain, culminating at 2,585 meters above sea level on the Riffelberg.
Along the way, runners traverse charming villages, follow mountain streams, and enjoy paths adorned with magnificent views and a magical atmosphere.
Lucy and Colette completed the marathon with impressive times of 5:48.34 and 5:48.39, respectively—truly a magnificent achievement!
As Colette remarked afterwards, it was “an enthralling experience.”
