
The main race at the Augusta Raurica Lauf is a loop of two halves: six almost flat kilometres, then a long climb, and only after the high point does the course drop back to the Roman ruins at Augst. Doing well here is about managing the second half, not the first.
Start and finish are at the ruins of the Roman town of Augusta Raurica in Augst. Along the way the surface changes between asphalt, a riverside path and field and forest tracks. The first half stays almost level, rising and falling by only a few metres, with a small dip just after the second kilometre. This is where you build pace, but no lead that is safe for later.
At km 6 the section the race turns on begins. For almost a kilometre and a half the path climbs steadily, averaging around six percent with short ramps near 14 percent. No descent follows; instead a rolling stretch stays high until a second short ramp, just as steep, at km 8.8 leads to the high point of the loop.
The last two and a half kilometres shed more than a hundred metres in one go and carry you back to Augst. The organiser measures the loop at 12.15 km with 225 m of climbing, so you run a little more than the nominal twelve kilometres.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 6.1 | 1.4 km | 5.9 % | 14.3 % | +81 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 7.7 | 0.4 km | 3.2 % | 7.1 % | +11 m | — |
| km 8.8 | 0.5 km | 5.3 % | 14.8 % | +24 m | — |
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.
The flat first six kilometres invite you to go too fast. Run them at a pace that feels controlled, because the time you bank here is lost twice over on the climb if you start it with heavy legs.
The race is decided between km 6 and the high point just past km 9. Run the long climb by effort, not by your watch, and shorten your stride on the steep ramps. The rolling stretch afterwards is no rest: use it to recover your breathing, because the second ramp arrives before you feel recovered.
The trap sits at the top. Empty yourself completely on the way to the high point and you cannot use the long descent to Augst. The final two and a half kilometres are fast if you still have legs at the top and run downhill relaxed with a quick cadence.

Expect 50 to 90 minutes depending on ability. The effort comes in two parts: an even first half near threshold, then a longer climb with steep peaks that push you briefly into the anaerobic range, and finally a fast downhill run-in.
The ability that decides it is running a climb of six minutes or more in control after six quick kilometres, and still having strength for the descent at the top. A good key session is a tempo run that starts flat and turns into a longer climb, so you practise switching gears on tired legs.
Add hill intervals of three to five minutes on a moderate gradient and short, steep sprints that mirror the ramps near 14 percent. Also run downhill at pace regularly: the long descent to the finish loads the thighs, and runners who are not used to it lose time there.
The race is held on 8 November on mixed surfaces from asphalt to forest track. Do part of your training on field and forest paths so you are sure-footed uphill and down on loose ground, and choose shoes that work on asphalt and on natural paths alike.

Download the Augusta Raurica Lauf course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
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.
Augusta Raurica Lauf is 12 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
Augusta Raurica Lauf has around 184 m of elevation gain over 12 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
Augusta Raurica Lauf is classified as Rolling, averaging 15.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 32% of the route is flat, 31% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 5% is steeper than 6%.
The hardest climb of Augusta Raurica Lauf starts at kilometre 6.1, runs for 1.4 km at an average of 5.9% and gains 81 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Yes, Augusta Raurica Lauf is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Yes. The Augusta Raurica Lauf 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.
Preparation for Augusta Raurica Lauf should account for 12 km, 184 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
The pacing strategy for Augusta Raurica Lauf should reflect 12 km, 184 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
Augusta Raurica Lauf takes place on November 8, 2026.
Augusta Raurica Lauf takes place in Augst, Switzerland.
Augusta Raurica Lauf offers 3 distances — Hauptlauf 12 km: 12 km; Jogger 5,5 km: 5.5 km; Nordic Walking / Walking 5,5 km: 5.5 km.
Registration runs through the organiser: lvbl.ch. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.