Grüntalultra.
The Grüntalultra turns a 12.5 km loop of field and forest paths in Freudenstadt-Grüntal into an ultra: four laps, no time limit, no age-group classification. No single hill makes it hard. What does is meeting the same climb four times, the last of them beyond marathon distance, and that is what your preparation has to answer.
Grüntalultra 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The race takes place on Father's Day at Haldenstraße 10 in Freudenstadt-Grüntal, on a marked loop of field and forest paths. The format shapes the day: with no cut-off and no age-group classification, you measure yourself against the course and your own plan, and nobody pulls you from the race.
Every lap is built the same way. The first five kilometres stay quiet, with only a small swell at around 600 metres. Then comes the core of it: just under two and a half kilometres uphill at a little over five percent on average, with ramps touching almost ten. The high point sits at about 750 metres, and from there the path drops steadily through the second half of the lap to where it began.
Lightly hilly is a fair description of one lap. The course gets its weight from repetition, since about 200 metres of climbing per lap adds up to just over 800. The last time round the main climb starts at kilometre 42, and after that it is all downhill to the finish.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2 | 1.1 km | 3.9 % | 5.4 % | +43 m | — |
| km 4.9 | 2.4 km | 5.3 % | 9.5 % | +129 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 14.4 | 1.2 km | 3.8 % | 5.4 % | +44 m | — |
| km 17.4 | 2.4 km | 5.3 % | 9.5 % | +129 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 26.9 | 1.2 km | 3.8 % | 5.4 % | +44 m | — |
| km 29.8 | 2.4 km | 5.3 % | 9.5 % | +129 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 39.3 | 1.2 km | 3.8 % | 5.4 % | +44 m | — |
| km 42.3 | 2.4 km | 5.3 % | 9.5 % | +129 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 Grüntalultra.
Start under control
Plan four equal blocks of work rather than one 50 km distance. Use the first lap as reconnaissance: note where the ramps fall and decide where you will start walking, then stick to those points from the outset, even when they feel unnecessary early on. The quiet opening of each lap runs easily, and that is exactly where reserves disappear without you noticing.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided on the third and fourth main climbs, from kilometre 30 and from kilometre 42. That is where you find out what the earlier ramps cost you. With no time limit pressing, a brisk walk costs only minutes, whereas an over-cooked first ascent can cost you the second half of the day.
Spend what is left
The real trap is on the far side of the high point. The descent is gentle enough to let go on, and close to half the course runs downhill. Four drops of around 150 metres load the thighs more than they suggest on lap one, so keep your stride short and controlled there while you still feel fresh.
Training plan for Grüntalultra: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly five to seven hours, depending on your running ability and how much you walk. That makes it a steady aerobic effort, interrupted every twelve and a half kilometres by a climb lasting 15 to 20 minutes. The race asks for few hard surges and a great deal of endurance that holds up over many hours.
Train race pace
The key stimulus is climbing on tired legs. For your long runs, find a loop of about twelve kilometres with one climb in it and repeat it, so the format becomes familiar. Put the vertical deliberately in the later part of the session, because on race day the hardest moment arrives after some 42 kilometres. Repeating a loop also trains your head: seeing a ramp for the fourth time is a different task from discovering it.
Rehearse the course
Practise the opposite direction too. Long, gentle descents late in a session and regular strength work for thighs and calves prepare you for the repeated downhill load. Treat brisk uphill walking as a skill of its own, so that switching between running and walking stays smooth in the race. As the loop runs on field and forest paths, your long sessions belong on unpaved ground.
Arrive fresh
The date of 6 May sets the calendar: your base is built over winter, and the longest runs fall in March and April. Use them to rehearse eating and drinking, and divide your fuelling by laps, so that you know what you will take in on each of the four.
Courses
Download the Grüntalultra course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Grüntalultra 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 Grüntalultra.
How long is Grüntalultra?
Grüntalultra is 50 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 Grüntalultra have?
Grüntalultra has around 829 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Grüntalultra?
Grüntalultra is classified as Rolling, averaging 16.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 18% of the route is flat, 33% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 4% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Grüntalultra have?
The hardest climb of Grüntalultra starts at kilometre 4.9, runs for 2.4 km at an average of 5.3% and gains 129 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Grüntalultra a loop course?
Yes, Grüntalultra is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Grüntalultra course?
Yes. The Grüntalultra 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 Grüntalultra?
Preparation for Grüntalultra should account for 50 km, 829 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 Grüntalultra?
The pacing strategy for Grüntalultra should reflect 50 km, 829 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 Grüntalultra take place?
Grüntalultra takes place on May 6, 2027.
Where does Grüntalultra take place?
Grüntalultra takes place in Freudenstadt, Germany.
How do I register for Grüntalultra?
Registration runs through the organiser: neckarlauf.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
