Pushing her own limits: DYNAFIT athlete Clara Carste set herself a special challenge for summer 2026. On technically demanding routes, she set out to establish multiple Fastest Known Times (FKTs).
For Clara, this means setting ambitious goals, questioning her own limits, and taking on new challenges. At the same time, she wants to increase the visibility of women in mountain sports and show that extraordinary achievements don’t have to be driven by rivalry. Other female athletes are also there to support and motivate her throughout the project. Supporting and empowering each other is an important part of mountain sports for Clara, because you can often achieve more together than on your own.
Part 01: FKT on the Nordkette Traverse
The project kicked off on July 8, 2026, on the Nordkette Traverse right on her doorstep in Innsbruck. This technically challenging route leads over the Innsbruck’s Nordkette peaks and includes exposed ridges and several via ferrata sections.
Clara had set a goal of twelve hours and came in well under that:
- Date: July 08, 2026
- Distance: 32.67 km
- Elevation gain: 4,417 m
- Time: 10:11:23
She set the first documented women’s FKT on the Nordkette Traverse.
Part 02: FKT on the Jubiläumsgrat
On August 14, 2026, Clara took on her next challenge: from Hammersbach through the Höllental to the Zugspitze, across the five-kilometre-long, extremely exposed Jubiläumsgrat to the Alpspitze, and back down to the valley.
The technically demanding route is considered one of the most challenging traverses in the Northern Limestone Alps. A route that normally takes mountaineers 12 to 15 hours. The previous FKT, set by Anna Birzl, stood at 7:50:12 h.
Clara significantly improved the time:
- Date: 14.08.2026
- Distance: 27 km
- Elevation gain: 3,100 m
- Time: 7:16:19 h
Part 03: Watzmann Traverse
After setting FKTs on the Nordkette Traverse and the Jubiläumsgrat, Clara took on the Watzmann Traverse, one of the most demanding and technical ridge routes in the Berchtesgaden Alps. Her goal was clear: to reclaim the women’s FKT.
But this time, the conditions had other plans. Cold temperatures, a washed-out descent and difficult terrain made a record attempt impossible. Clara took on the 22.4-kilometre route with 2,260 metres of elevation gain and reached the finish in 4:18 hours.
The FKT remained out of reach that day. Still, Clara takes plenty from the attempt, and above all, even more motivation to come back. The Watzmann Traverse is not off the list yet.
Clara Carste – DYNAFIT athlete
Clara is a German trail and mountain runner from Hohenbrunn near Munich who now lives in Innsbruck, right in the heart of her alpine training grounds. She specializes in technically challenging mid-distance trail running and loves moving fast through the mountains. In summer, she runs in trail running shoes; in winter, she’s on touring skis.
Since 2026, she has been part of the DYNAFIT athlete team. Before that, she was a Trailhero for two years.
Her key achievements include:
- Rosengarten Schlern Sky Marathon 2025 (36 km): 2nd
- Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival 2025 (K35): 2nd
- Oberaudorf Trailfestival 2025 – Sudelfeldtrail (42.8 km): 2nd
- Grossglockner UltraTrail 2025 (37 km): 3rd
