Granit Trailrun Kleinzell Training Plan & Preparation

Course & Elevation

The Ultra is the long loop of the Granit Trailrun, winding through the granite landscape of Austria's Mühlviertel around Kleinzell with roughly 1,526 metres of climbing and the same again of descent. Flat ground barely exists: only about ten percent of the route is level, while nearly a third of the distance is steep terrain, up or down.

The first half rolls through short, sharp climbs, at kilometre 7.5 and twice in quick succession around kilometres 10.5 and 11.3, each with ramps beyond 20 percent. The first real block arrives at kilometre 13: a 2.4-kilometre climb averaging ten percent, gaining 240 metres and pitching up to 27 percent at its steepest.

The course never lets go after that. At kilometre 25 a climb of just under a kilometre averages almost 13 percent for 100 metres of gain, and the finale is the hardest part of the day: from kilometre 33 a final 1.5-kilometre ascent gains 191 metres with sections as steep as 40 percent. Whoever still has legs there wins back minutes on the closing kilometres. The event itself is small and familial, with relay formats and even a dedicated firefighter classification adding to the village-festival character.

Pacing Strategy

This loop is a see-saw: only eleven percent is flat, while nearly a third runs steeply up or down. Ration your strength around the categorised climbs, not the many short ramps between them. The long ascent near kilometre 13 — a good two kilometres averaging ten percent for 240 metres of gain — is the first real test; take it controlled in the upper aerobic range.

The closing climb, with pitches up to forty percent, comes late and hits tired legs — this is where the race is decided.

The biggest trap is the start: the rolling granite trails tempt you to attack every rise, which you will miss in the finale. Run the technical descents actively but under control — with over fifteen percent of the course steeply downhill, falls and over-braking cost more than a cautious pace saves.

12-Week Preparation

Expect four to six hours on your feet for the Ultra, depending on your level. The effort is a long aerobic base load punctuated by constant spikes: almost nobody runs the ramps beyond 20 percent throughout, so efficient uphill hiking matters as much as running economy.

The race is decided on the two long climbs, at kilometre 13 and from kilometre 33. The first comes early enough to tempt you into attacking it, the second hits after hours in the terrain with ramps up to 40 percent. Build your training around climbing on tired legs: long trail runs that deliberately place the biggest ascents at the end.

Nearly a third of the course is steep, and half of that points downhill. Technical descending therefore belongs firmly in your programme; without it, your quads are empty long before the finale. Increase downhill volume gradually, because the eccentric load takes weeks of adaptation.

Add weekly hill intervals on steep gradients, including fast hiking, plus strength work for legs and trunk. Over four to six hours, fuelling becomes a performance factor in its own right: practise eating and drinking during long sessions so your stomach knows the routine. With the race set for early August, heat matters too, so schedule deliberate sessions in the warm part of the day during the final weeks.