Dreaming of Switzerland!

It may seem a long time away, but on 8th August there is a 19km Junior Mountain Race at the very popular Sierre Zinal race in Switzerland, which is part of the Skyrunner series, at 31km for the full distance. A few Wharfedalers will be going out again and I am contemplating saving some cash and going out for the Junior Race, which would be the greatest experience of my life. I'm waiting to find out costs etc to see whether it's feesable, so at the moment it's just a dream! I also feel as though I could do well, despite running against people a few years older, as an Englishman who, isn't our best runner by any means, finished 5th last year just 9 minutes off the win. So at 19km (12.5 miles), the course reaches an altitude of 2000m (6000'). This is a hell of a climb, considering you only set off from 555m (1700'). The equivalent of the climb at Ben Nevis in a Junior Race? That's unheard of over here, but what a great opportunity this is. I really hope I can pull it off!