CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail.
Trailrun S is the shortest running loop at the CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail in Rothenbuch: about six kilometres of forest paths and trails, climbing almost without a break through the first half and dropping sharply back to the start at the end. Preparing for it mostly means learning to run one long, even climb under control.
CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail 2026: Course, Route Profile & Map
From TSV Rothenbuch on the Heigenbrücker Weg the course heads uphill almost at once. The climb is no wall but a long, even ramp: about 85 metres of gain over nearly two and a half kilometres, never steeper than five percent. Shortly after kilometre three you reach the high point with nearly half the loop done.
From there the course stays high. For a good two and a half kilometres it gives up little height, interrupted by one small wave around kilometre four. Only at the very end does that change: over the last 600 metres or so the loop falls about 60 metres back to where it began, by far its steepest stretch.
The Silvestertrail is a year-end day in the forest, with or without a dog, and the programme includes hike and Canix variants alongside the runs. Food, drinks, toilets and parking are right at the TSV site. On the short course that means you can set off without a pack and be back there after a single lap.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.6 | 2.5 km | 3.5 % | 4.7 % | +85 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 CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail.
Start under control
The plan is simple and still hard to keep: control the first half, let the second half run. The ramp stays under five percent throughout, so there is no reason to walk, but there is also no point where too high a pace corrects itself. Find an effort you can hold to the top without your breathing tipping over.
Hold your rhythm
The trap is the shared start. Runs S, M and L are due to set off together, and over six kilometres any pace feels right in a crowd for the first few minutes. Because the climbing begins immediately, an overcooked opening is paid for well before kilometre two, not at the end.
Spend what is left
The race is decided on the stretch after the high point. This is where you can go faster than you did on the hill, and where those who still had air at the top pull away. The final descent gives back less than it promises: run it cleanly with short steps, because a few hundred metres offer little to gain from taking risks.
Training plan for CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 35 to 55 minutes. That is a sustained high aerobic effort with few breathing spaces, closer to a hard tempo run with a gradient than a race of separate surges. You can barely afford anaerobic excursions, because the longest push comes right at the start.
Train race pace
Your key session is the long, moderate climb. Two to three repeats of eight to twelve minutes on an even slope, deliberately below your maximum, give you exactly the feel for the ramp you need on race day. The last repeat should run as cleanly as the first. Follow it with an easy section where you pick the pace back up on rolling forest path, as the stretch after the high point will ask you to.
Rehearse the course
Because the loop opens with its climb, it also pays to practise the warm-up: a few easy minutes with short strides, then straight onto the hill. Warm up the same way at the TSV on race day. Once or twice a week, short steep descents at the end of a run prepare your legs for the finish.
Arrive fresh
The preparation falls in December, in the short days. Put your trail sessions into daylight and test shoes and clothing on forest paths beforehand, rather than trusting them for the first time on New Year's Eve morning.
Courses
Download the CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail 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 CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail.
How long is CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail?
CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail is 6 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 CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail have?
CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail has around 102 m of elevation gain over 6 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail?
CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail is classified as Rolling, averaging 16 vertical metres per kilometre. 15% of the route is flat, 51% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail have?
The hardest climb of CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail starts at kilometre 0.6, runs for 2.5 km at an average of 3.5% and gains 85 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4.
Is CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail a loop course?
Yes, CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail course?
Yes. The CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail 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 CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail?
Preparation for CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail should account for 6 km, 102 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 CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail?
The pacing strategy for CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail should reflect 6 km, 102 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 CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail 2026 take place?
CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail 2026 takes place on December 31, 2026.
Where does CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail 2026 take place?
CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail 2026 takes place in Rothenbuch, Germany.
Which distances does CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail offer?
CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail offers 3 distances — Trailrun S: 6 km; Trailrun M: 10 km; Trailrun L: 20 km.
How do I register for CROSSDOGs Silvestertrail?
Registration runs through the organiser: crossdog.de. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
