3 Santi Trail.
The 3 Santi Trail climbs from Nave to the little church of S. Antonio, the sanctuary at Conche and the hermitage of Sant’Onofrio, then drops all the way back down, a little over 1,100 metres of ascent in 18 kilometres. Preparing for it means taking the long final descent as seriously as the steep climb to Conche.
3 Santi Trail 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The first kilometre and a half is flat asphalt. Then the course turns into the woods and the first climb goes up at nearly 17 percent for almost two kilometres. After a short dip you reach the church of S. Antonio and the first aid station at km 4.5, by which point the main climb is already under way. A little over four and a half kilometres averaging close to 14 percent lead to the sanctuary of the Madonna della Misericordia at Conche and on past Monte Conche to the high point, just under 1,120 metres. Individual ramps touch about 30 percent.
The top does not settle the day. Almost 300 metres of height go again on the way down, and then a third, far gentler climb leads to the hermitage of Sant’Onofrio at km 12, the last aid before the finish. Just beyond it the longest descent of the race begins: the final five and a half kilometres lose around 750 metres, with a little asphalt again at the very end.
Apart from its two ends the loop stays on mountain paths and in woodland, which is why trail shoes are expressly recommended. Church, sanctuary and hermitage give the route its structure, since each of them hosts an aid station. ASD 3 Santi Nave stages the race in its 13th edition and caps the field at 350. L’Eremitica over 47 kilometres, La Santella and the Sentiero delle Cascate share the same day.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.1 | 2 km | 16.8 % | 28.7 % | +327 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 4 | 4.6 km | 13.9 % | 32.4 % | +635 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 10.6 | 2 km | 6.9 % | 14.1 % | +135 m | Cat. 4 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace 3 Santi Trail.
Start under control
Almost all the climbing sits in the first eight-odd kilometres, and the flat stretch before it is too short to bank anything. Use the asphalt to warm up. Once the woods begin you will be hiking fast rather than running for most of the way up, and it pays to do that from the first steep metres, not when your thighs start to burn.
Hold your rhythm
The climb to Conche takes the most time, but the race is decided after Sant’Onofrio. Reach the high point at your limit and you have no legs left for 750 metres of descent, braking harder with every stride. The third climb is a useful test: at just under seven percent it is the only one you can run throughout. If you cannot, the second one was too fast.
Spend what is left
There is no aid between Sant’Onofrio and the finish, so take what you need there for the last six kilometres. April here can mean anything from minus five to plus 30 degrees, and on a warm day pacing the long climb includes drinking early at every station.
Training plan for 3 Santi Trail: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 2:45 to 4 hours depending on form. Hardly a kilometre is flat, and a good two thirds of the course is steep, up or down. That makes this no steady effort at running pace but a long alternation of fast hiking under a high aerobic load and descents that mainly tax the muscles.
Train race pace
The climbs ask for something flat running never builds: brisk walking on slopes of 15 percent and more. Add longer hill intervals that grow from ten to 20 minutes, and in your long sessions put two climbs back to back with only a short break, because that is how the first and second follow each other here. The climb to Conche takes many runners about an hour, and that time on a slope needs to feel familiar.
Rehearse the course
Descending on tired legs matters just as much. Where you can, finish long runs with several hundred metres of continuous downhill after the legs have already climbed, and build the volume slowly, since the damage from braking only shows days later. Eccentric strength work such as slow step-downs and lunges supports this in the preceding weeks.
Arrive fresh
With an April date the preparation falls in winter, so the vertical has to be collected in the cold months on trails, stairs or an inclined treadmill. Do at least one long run with exactly what you will carry on race day, meaning mountain clothing, trail shoes, water and food, because a range from frost to real warmth calls for a decision you have already tested.
Courses
Download the 3 Santi Trail course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for 3 Santi Trail dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about 3 Santi Trail.
How long is 3 Santi Trail?
3 Santi Trail is 18 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does 3 Santi Trail have?
3 Santi Trail has around 1,110 m of elevation gain over 18 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of 3 Santi Trail?
3 Santi Trail is classified as Mountainous, averaging 61.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 3% of the route is flat, 18% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 33% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does 3 Santi Trail have?
The hardest climb of 3 Santi Trail starts at kilometre 4, runs for 4.6 km at an average of 13.9% and gains 635 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is 3 Santi Trail a loop course?
Yes, 3 Santi Trail is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the 3 Santi Trail course?
Yes. The 3 Santi Trail course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for 3 Santi Trail?
Preparation for 3 Santi Trail should account for 18 km, 1,110 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for 3 Santi Trail?
The pacing strategy for 3 Santi Trail should reflect 18 km, 1,110 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does 3 Santi Trail take place?
3 Santi Trail takes place on April 11, 2027.
Where does 3 Santi Trail take place?
3 Santi Trail takes place in Nave, Italy.
Which distances does 3 Santi Trail offer?
3 Santi Trail offers 4 distances — 3 Santi Trail: 18 km; L’Eremitica: 47 km; La Santella: 10 km; Sentiero delle Cascate: 7 km.
How do I register for 3 Santi Trail?
Registration runs through the organiser: 3santitrail.it. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
