Freiburg Trailrun.
The Freiburg Trailrun heads straight from the city into the Black Forest, and the Kybfelsen-Trail is its shortest course: narrow paths, forest sections and steep climbs on a loop that packs all of its height gain into the first half. Preparing for it comes down to two skills, hiking hard uphill and then running a long descent cleanly.
Freiburg Trailrun 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop starts climbing after just half a kilometre. Five climbs line up over the first nine kilometres, separated only by short connecting stretches. At the top you stand at almost 790 metres. The second is the longest at nearly two kilometres and delivers 190 metres on its own. The last, from kilometre 8, is the sharpest: short, but twelve percent on average with ramps up to 25 percent, at a point when your legs have already met all the others.
From there the course runs downhill almost without a break. By kilometre 15 you have lost around 480 metres, and the final three kilometres lead back practically flat. The loop closes at the FT Sportpark Freiburg, which is both the finish and the base of the event.
The organiser simply calls this the Schwarzwald Trailrun, and that sums up the day well: out of Freiburg, into the forest, onto narrow paths. A good four tenths of the distance is steep, split evenly between up and down, and only about a sixth is flat. Long, even running is therefore mostly reserved for the end.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.5 | 1 km | 9.9 % | 16.5 % | +99 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 2.2 | 1.8 km | 10.3 % | 19.7 % | +188 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 4.2 | 1.7 km | 7 % | 17.6 % | +116 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 6.5 | 1 km | 7.6 % | 24.3 % | +78 m | — |
| km 8.2 | 0.9 km | 12.1 % | 25 % | +112 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 Freiburg Trailrun.
Start under control
The split here is simple and strict at the same time: the work sits in the first nine kilometres, and after that you manage whatever is left. Plan the climbs by effort rather than speed, and hike the steep parts instead of forcing them. The short connecting stretches exist to bring your heart rate down, not to gain places.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided on the last climb after kilometre 8 and in what comes immediately after it. Reach those 25 percent ramps with burning quads and you lose twice: once getting up, and again over the six kilometres of descent, where tired legs lose control on narrow paths.
Spend what is left
That descent is also the trap. It invites you to win back lost time, and in doing so wrecks your quads for the three flat kilometres at the end. Run it loosely with short steps so that you still have a pace left at the bottom. More can be gained on the flat than on the last stretch of downhill.
Training plan for Freiburg Trailrun: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group athletes take roughly two to three hours over the Kybfelsen-Trail. The effort is aerobic but far from even: the first half alternates hard uphill work with brief recoveries, while in the second half your muscles carry the load of running downhill.
Train race pace
The decisive part is the sequence of five climbs and the switch into the long descent. Build sessions that repeat climbs of ten to fifteen minutes with short breaks, ideally on gradients around ten percent. Fast hiking belongs in them: on ramps above 20 percent it is the quicker way up for most runners, and it takes practice.
Rehearse the course
The second focus is downhill running on tired legs. Put the descent deliberately at the end of a hill session, because the race places its roughly 480 metres of drop directly behind its hardest ramp. Leg strength work helps, but it does not replace practice on narrow forest paths, where every step has to be placed.
Arrive fresh
With the race on 17 April, your build-up falls in the winter months. Schedule regular sessions on hills and trails early rather than only collecting kilometres on the flat, and finish some hill runs with three flat kilometres at race pace. That teaches you how the end of the course feels after the descent.
Courses
Download the Freiburg Trailrun course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Freiburg Trailrun 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 Freiburg Trailrun.
How long is Freiburg Trailrun?
Freiburg Trailrun 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 Freiburg Trailrun have?
Freiburg Trailrun has around 645 m of elevation gain over 18 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Freiburg Trailrun?
Freiburg Trailrun is classified as Mountainous, averaging 34.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 16% of the route is flat, 16% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 21% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Freiburg Trailrun have?
The hardest climb of Freiburg Trailrun starts at kilometre 2.2, runs for 1.8 km at an average of 10.3% and gains 188 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 5 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Freiburg Trailrun a loop course?
Yes, Freiburg Trailrun is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Freiburg Trailrun course?
Yes. The Freiburg Trailrun 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 Freiburg Trailrun?
Preparation for Freiburg Trailrun should account for 18 km, 645 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 Freiburg Trailrun?
The pacing strategy for Freiburg Trailrun should reflect 18 km, 645 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 Freiburg Trailrun take place?
Freiburg Trailrun takes place on April 17, 2027.
Where does Freiburg Trailrun take place?
Freiburg Trailrun takes place in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
Which distances does Freiburg Trailrun offer?
Freiburg Trailrun offers 2 distances — Kybfelsen-Trail: 18 km; Schauinsland-Trail: 34 km.
How do I register for Freiburg Trailrun?
Registration runs through the organiser: freiburg-trailrun.de. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
