Hardangervidda Marathon.
The Hardangervidda Marathon covers just over 43 kilometres of mountain terrain near Eidfjord and has two walls: one straight after the start, the other just past halfway, shortly after the route has passed close to the finish. Preparing for it mostly means preparing for that second climb.
Hardangervidda Marathon 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From the start the course climbs at once, and from kilometre 1 it turns properly steep: almost 400 metres of ascent packed into a short stretch. After a high stretch around 1,150 metres the route falls away sharply by kilometre 9, then steps back up to nearly the same height. From kilometre 14 it drops 400 metres to the valley in one go.
At kilometre 19 you are only a kilometre and a half from the finish as the crow flies. This is where the half marathon peels off and the marathon turns away. After a calm valley stretch the second wall starts at kilometre 23, with 350 metres of ascent in little more than two kilometres. You stay high on rolling ground until about kilometre 31, then head down to just over 800 metres. One last ramp at kilometre 35 costs a little over 100 metres, and the closing kilometres run downhill.
This is mountain terrain and very little of it is level: only an eighth of the distance runs flat. The finish sits close to the start but over 100 metres higher. The event is capped at 500 participants across both distances, so once the courses split at kilometre 19 the field gets thin.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 | 0.9 km | 6.2 % | 10.7 % | +57 m | — |
| km 1.1 | 1.9 km | 20.6 % | 42.3 % | +392 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 4.8 | 1.3 km | 4.9 % | 11.9 % | +62 m | — |
| km 9.1 | 1.2 km | 4 % | 10.2 % | +47 m | — |
| km 11.4 | 0.6 km | 11.7 % | 19 % | +73 m | — |
| km 12.5 | 2 km | 7.7 % | 17.7 % | +151 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 22.9 | 2.3 km | 15 % | 34.4 % | +349 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 35.5 | 1.2 km | 9.3 % | 21.1 % | +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 Hardangervidda Marathon.
Start under control
Plan this race backwards. At over 20 percent the first wall is a walk for nearly everyone, and that is how to treat it: hike evenly, ignore whoever is pulling past and top out breathing calmly, because more than 40 kilometres still lie ahead.
Hold your rhythm
The marathon is decided between kilometres 23 and 31. The second wall arrives with around 800 metres of ascent and nearly as much descent already in your legs, and the rolling ground above it is the last long stretch that can still be run. Getting back into a running stride up there gains more time than any descent.
Spend what is left
The trap comes earlier, from kilometre 14. The 400 metres down to the valley run easily, and every hard stride there is missing from your quads later. Then your head gets involved: you nearly pass the finish, the half marathon turns off, and the second wall is still to come. So take that descent deliberately easy, and eat in the valley before it steepens again.
Training plan for Hardangervidda Marathon: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly five and a half to eight hours. This is no steady run but a mix of long hiking stretches on the climbs and running on the descents and rollers. The effort stays almost entirely aerobic as long as you do not turn the two walls into hard intervals.
Train race pace
The key ability is climbing steeply three hours or more into the day: hiking a long ramp cleanly with 700 metres of descent already in your quads. So put the steepest climb of your long runs in the final third rather than at the start, and keep running afterwards instead of heading home. Two long sessions on consecutive days rehearse the second half well.
Rehearse the course
Two targeted stimuli sit alongside that. Hiking intervals of 15 to 20 minutes on very steep slopes make the walls predictable, and an inclined treadmill will do if you have no such hill. Almost 1,450 metres of descent demand prepared quads: strength work for the braking load, plus regular long downhill runs, especially on tired legs.
Arrive fresh
Train off-road as often as you can, not just on tarmac, and practise eating and drinking over several hours, because a deficit cannot be made up in the closing section. With high points around 1,150 metres, altitude itself is not a separate training task. As the race falls at the end of August, your longest weeks belong in July, leaving enough time to recover before the start.
Courses
Download the Hardangervidda Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Hardangervidda Marathon 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 Hardangervidda Marathon.
How long is Hardangervidda Marathon?
Hardangervidda Marathon is 43.4 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 Hardangervidda Marathon have?
Hardangervidda Marathon has around 1,538 m of elevation gain over 43.4 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Hardangervidda Marathon?
Hardangervidda Marathon is classified as Mountainous, averaging 35.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 13% of the route is flat, 26% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 15% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Hardangervidda Marathon have?
The hardest climb of Hardangervidda Marathon starts at kilometre 1.1, runs for 1.9 km at an average of 20.6% and gains 392 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Hardangervidda Marathon a loop course?
Yes, Hardangervidda Marathon is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Hardangervidda Marathon course?
Yes. The Hardangervidda Marathon 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 Hardangervidda Marathon?
Preparation for Hardangervidda Marathon should account for 43.4 km, 1,538 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 Hardangervidda Marathon?
The pacing strategy for Hardangervidda Marathon should reflect 43.4 km, 1,538 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 Hardangervidda Marathon take place?
Hardangervidda Marathon takes place on August 28, 2027.
Where does Hardangervidda Marathon take place?
Hardangervidda Marathon takes place in Eidfjord, Norway.
Which distances does Hardangervidda Marathon offer?
Hardangervidda Marathon offers 2 distances — Marathon: 43.4 km; Half Marathon: 21.2 km.
How do I register for Hardangervidda Marathon?
Registration runs through the organiser: xtremeidfjord.no. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
