Brut 80.
Brut 80 is an ultra trail for runners happy to find their own way: three loops leave the Domaine de Palogne for the Ardennes valleys along the Ourthe, and the only guide is the digital track on your watch. Preparing for it means steep ramps, rocky ground and a very long day in March.
Brut 80 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at the Domaine de Palogne, and the course comes back there twice, after about 19 km and again after about 61 km. That splits the day into a short opening loop, a long middle loop and a third of a little over 20 km. The race is billed as an 80 km ultra, but the three loops together measure close to 84 km.
Nearly 1,700 m of climbing add up, even though no climb asks for much more than 100 m. Repetition is what makes it hard: only about a sixth of the course is flat. The toughest ramp sits in the middle loop at km 32, barely a kilometre long, averaging almost 12 percent and reaching close to 20. Another nearly as steep follows at km 42. The climb with the most height gain comes right after your last pass of the Domaine, and around km 80 you gain another 50 m or so.
The ground moves between wide fields, the winding Ourthe and the Ardennes valleys, with technical climbs and rocky trails. On that terrain you read every junction off your own watch, because the race is run on the track alone.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2.3 | 1.6 km | 5.2 % | 12.2 % | +81 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 9.9 | 1.3 km | 8.3 % | 15.1 % | +108 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 21.3 | 1 km | 7.4 % | 16.7 % | +72 m | — |
| km 23 | 2.1 km | 4.2 % | 7.6 % | +89 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 31.9 | 0.9 km | 11.6 % | 19.8 % | +102 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 41.9 | 0.9 km | 9.8 % | 15.7 % | +86 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 61.7 | 2.1 km | 5.5 % | 11.9 % | +115 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 72.1 | 1.6 km | 4.4 % | 12.4 % | +70 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.
How to pace Brut 80.
Start under control
Plan the race by loops, not kilometres. The first 19 km and their two climbs are only a lead-in, since the middle loop is more than twice as long. Hike the steep ramps from the start: with peaks between 15 and 20 percent, running them saves little time and costs you for many kilometres afterwards.
Hold your rhythm
The day is decided between km 32 and km 61. That stretch holds the two steepest ramps, then keeps rising and falling with no long recovery. Overcook the climbs here and you lose your footing on the rocky descents, which costs far more time than the ramp ever gave you.
Spend what is left
The biggest trap is at km 61, when you are back at the Domaine de Palogne with around 23 km still to go. Set your mind on 84 rather than 80, or the hill near km 80 will catch you out. Check your watch more often as you tire, because every missed junction only makes the day longer.
Training plan for Brut 80: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group athletes should expect something like ten to 15 hours out here. The effort is mostly aerobic but far from steady: many short ramps put hard spikes into a very long run, and the downhills load your quads almost as often as the climbs load your lungs.
Train race pace
That sets the emphasis. Build long runs on hilly trails with many short climbs rather than one big hill, and place the steepest of them late in the session. Practise switching between a strong hike and running, because that is how the ramps at km 32 and km 42 will go. Add leg strength work and downhill running on tired legs, so that you are still sure-footed on the descents of the third loop.
Rehearse the course
With a race date of 13 March, your longest sessions fall in January and February. Look for rock and uneven ground where you can, since forest roads will not prepare you for technical climbs and trails. Use those runs to practise eating on the move as well: there is food at the aid stations, but your stomach has to accept it many hours in.
Arrive fresh
Navigation belongs in training too. Run unfamiliar routes on the track alone until you can spot junctions at speed and with a tired head, and check that your watch battery lasts a full day with navigation running. Plan at least one long run in loops around the same base, so you learn to head out again past it after many hours.
Courses
Download the Brut 80 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Brut 80 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 Brut 80.
How long is Brut 80?
Brut 80 is 80 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 Brut 80 have?
Brut 80 has around 1,678 m of elevation gain over 80 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Brut 80?
Brut 80 is classified as Hilly, averaging 20 vertical metres per kilometre. 18% of the route is flat, 37% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 6% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Brut 80 have?
The hardest climb of Brut 80 starts at kilometre 61.7, runs for 2.1 km at an average of 5.5% and gains 115 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Brut 80 a loop course?
Yes, Brut 80 is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Brut 80 course?
Yes. The Brut 80 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 Brut 80?
Preparation for Brut 80 should account for 80 km, 1,678 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 Brut 80?
The pacing strategy for Brut 80 should reflect 80 km, 1,678 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 Brut 80 take place?
Brut 80 takes place on March 13, 2027.
Where does Brut 80 take place?
Brut 80 takes place in Ferrières, Belgium.
How do I register for Brut 80?
Registration runs through the organiser: brutaalrunning.be. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
