Exceptional running races Europe

[u/nuu2137]

Hi guys.

Putting my racing calendar together and wonder whether to include any exceptional/weird/untypical running events.

Last year I did some trail ultra runs including one in Dolomites, night half marathon, local run in Slovakian Tatras and retro Eroica bike race in Italy.

Do you have any races that you will always remember?

[u/Arcadela]

Athens Authentic Marathon - The myth, the history, the finish and great organization.

[u/Beginning-Town-7609 → u/Arcadela]

They ran out of food last year and substituted bananas and coke(!); talk about a formula for gas buildup! Otherwise great race even with the grade midway. Run at the start through the first third was through an area that has clearly seen better days and is in desperate need of bulldozing. The subway pass for several days was nice.

[u/witchiligo → u/Arcadela]

Isn't the elevation killer though? I'm scared to even consider running the authentic one

[u/Arcadela → u/witchiligo]

It's not the race to run the fastest time you possibly can, but it's very runnable. I had a strategy/pace for different parts of the race (because of elevation) so I was thinking more about reaching the next milestone than about reaching the end. And the last 10k is downhill so if you paced the first 32k well then you are just flying in that final stretch.

[u/nuu2137 → u/Arcadela]

Awesome

[u/elkourinho → u/Arcadela]

Its nothing short of awe inspiring finishing at kallimarmaro

[u/heroofcanton73]

3 lander marathon. Starts in Lindau Germany, goes through Austria into Switzerland and finishes in Bregenz in Austria. It's well organised, free transport to the start by train or ferry and very picturesque. There are people and bands lining the streets, well stocked aid stations and you finish at the local running track. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[u/Matterhornchamonix → u/heroofcanton73]

Where do people generally stay who run this in Lindau ? Or Bregenz ?

[u/heroofcanton73 → u/Matterhornchamonix]

You can stay in either as it's a very quick and cheap train journey between the two. We stayed in Bregenz near where the expo is held. Getting there we flew to Memmingen which was dirt cheap (less than £50) and then got a train to Bregenz which is an hour away and cost €25.

[u/Matterhornchamonix → u/heroofcanton73]

Cheers not sure if do this next year or not or another but thank you :)

[u/Beginning-Town-7609]

Volcano Trail Run in Iceland! Half the fun is getting there which requires a terrain truck with a snorkel!

[u/Virtual_Opinion_8630 → u/Beginning-Town-7609]

Only 12km right?

[u/Beginning-Town-7609 → u/Virtual_Opinion_8630]

Yes—longest 12 clicks I’ve ever done. Plus, I was taken in by the scenery and stopped to take some pics, got behind and got lost for several minutes!

[u/TheLordFlash]

Marathon du Medoc. Fancy dress, wine, fantastic atmosphere. Definitely one to get done at some point

[u/nuu2137 → u/TheLordFlash]

Sounds interesting!

[u/Der_genealogist]

Dreiländerlauf from Switzerland through France to Germany or 3-Länder-Marathon on Bodensee (Austria-Germany-Switzerland)

[u/sharkinwolvesclothin]

Any interest in find your own route type racing? There's orienteering proper where you actually have to know how to navigate with a paper map and compass - Jukola night relay is the largest race here. Here's the start from 10 years ago when the start signal was given by an overhead fighter jet pass https://youtu.be/ArpKAtnlIk0?si=G7hzxRPTupRJcXX0

Orienteering is quite hard - you need to be able to find a specific one meter rock in a thicket and stuff. There are also formats where you need to know something about navigation but not that much, like rogaining, fell running, and so forth.

[u/planinsky → u/sharkinwolvesclothin]

Regaining does need the same navigation skills + planning ones. But there's not the pressure to find all the milestones 

[u/sharkinwolvesclothin → u/planinsky]

Well, sure, but you don't usually need to be as good at it. This will depend on the rogaining race ofc but they are generally on the level that you'll find the controls if you know the basics, whereas orienteering races hide the flags at way tougher spots.

[u/Lurking_Sessional]

Not a long run by any means, but my personal favourite is the New Year’s Eve run in Madrid - San Silvestre Vallecana. 10k long street party, immaculate vibes. Going to run it for the 3rd time in a few days. 

[u/nikkiruns32]

Loch Ness Marathon in Scotland is absolutely beautiful. Highly recommend!

[u/slackmeyer]

Gran Trail Courmayeur 100k, starts at 10 pm in the middle of a beautiful mountain village, something like 24,000' of elevation gain over 65 miles, the most gorgeous views I've ever seen during a race.

[u/Virtual_Opinion_8630 → u/slackmeyer]

How hard was this? Elevation over the distance looks insane

[u/slackmeyer → u/Virtual_Opinion_8630]

It was on the level of what a mountain 100 mile race in the States would be or harder. Things were steeper and more technical everywhere and the aid stations were spread out and had very little compared to American aid stations. And starting at 10 pm is difficult for a lot of people.

[u/Cent_patates]

MK6 - Marseille Cassis

10k up with 300m of elevation, 10k down through the Calanques national park.

Provided the weather is good, it's a great race. Registering opens somewhere in Q1 and you got go fast as it's limited to 20 thousand bibs. The race usually takes place on the last weekend of October

[u/OceanNaelae]

Sierre - Zinal in Switzerland ! A fun 31km (2000D+) little trail in the Alps, with some good vibe !

[u/Think-Cabinet-7987]

https://rimirigamarathon.com/en/

[u/FatIntel123 → u/Think-Cabinet-7987]

Run it in May. How you liked it?

[u/Think-Cabinet-7987 → u/FatIntel123]

I’ve ran 6km distance twice. The city is beautiful, especially old Riga. Mid/end of may in Latvia can be very sunny actually although I’ve experienced some rain too. I like how the run is including both professional runners and people who maybe don’t run so often.

[u/Simple-Aioli-9574]

I’ve been doing similar research. Looks like there are some pretty awesome races through the Julian Alps, but transportation and accommodations are my biggest question marks.

[u/No-Explorer3644]

There is one in tromso, which has a fantastic bridge cross