
The MARATHON at the Koralm Trailrunning Event starts with its hardest test: from Schloss Wolfsberg the course climbs almost without a break to the summit cross of the Große Speikkogel at 2,139 metres, 1,300 metres of it before the Koralm ski area at kilometre 12.9. Across 51 kilometres it gathers around 2,420 metres of ascent, most of it in the first third. The point-to-point route then heads mostly downhill to Deutschlandsberg on a net descent.
The KTRE trail marathon runs point to point across the Koralpe: 51 kilometres with around 2,420 metres of ascent, from Schloss Wolfsberg in Carinthia over the main ridge to Deutschlandsberg in Styria, finishing about 160 metres lower than it starts. The Koralm crossing is the heart of this race and what sets it apart from the loop formats of the event, which holds its fifth edition in 2026.
The course asks its biggest question immediately. From the start it climbs over the Raucheck and then follows the lift line through the Koralpe ski area: 1,300 metres of gain to the first aid station at kilometre 12.9, and on to the highest point of the whole event, the summit cross of the Große Speikkogel at kilometre 16. Most of the day's climbing is done inside that first third.
What remains is the other half of the equation. Over the Hühnerstütze and the Moschkogel the route reaches the Weinebene at kilometre 24, then crosses the Handalm to the Parfußwirt at kilometre 35.3, where it joins the MIDDLE course. The long, descent-heavy stretch to get there gives back more than 900 metres and taxes the quads. From kilometre 40 one more climb of around 210 metres leads up to the Scheidsberg before the final downhill drops into the Klause and the last two kilometres roll gently along town paths to the finish in the Koralmpark.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.1 | 4.6 km | 15.2 % | 34.9 % | +694 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 7.9 | 1 km | 10.3 % | 22.7 % | +103 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 10.1 | 0.8 km | 8.5 % | 19.5 % | +68 m | — |
| km 11.6 | 3.3 km | 16.5 % | 40.7 % | +536 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 15.2 | 1 km | 7.3 % | 14.3 % | +71 m | — |
| km 20.4 | 0.8 km | 21.6 % | 30.4 % | +162 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 24.2 | 0.7 km | 13.9 % | 26.9 % | +100 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 42.4 | 1.7 km | 14.1 % | 30.7 % | +240 m | Cat. 3 |
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.
The marathon is shaped in the first hours: from the gun the course climbs almost continuously to kilometre 16, packing roughly two thirds of the day's elevation into the first third of the distance. Walk these long ramps under control from the start, because too hard an effort costs you the whole second half.
Once the Große Speikkogel is behind you the profile flips to a net descent. Between the Weinebene and the Parfußwirt there are more than 900 metres of continuous downhill, and that is where the race is decided: spend yourself on the climb or bomb the descents carelessly and you lose time and substance in the finale.
The late climb from kilometre 40 comes when the legs are empty and decides the closing phase. Run the downhills clean and metered so you keep strength for that last pitch and the run-in. Build your aid-station time into the plan: the cut-offs are 11:00 at the ski area, 13:00 at the Weinebene, 14:45 at the Parfußwirt and 16:00 at the Moser.

Plan for roughly 6.5 to 11 hours over these 51 kilometres with around 2,420 metres of climbing, depending on your level; the finish closes nine hours after the 08:00 start in Wolfsberg. Few races are this asymmetric: one very long strength-driven climb at the front, then hours of predominantly descending running at the back. That sequence should dictate your preparation.
The ascent to the Große Speikkogel runs for 16 kilometres and around 1,600 metres with no real recovery in between, and it determines what reserves you carry over the top. The real examination starts afterwards: the descent-dominated remainder, with well over 2,500 metres of total downhill, reliably grinds down unprepared quadriceps, and the climb from kilometre 40 lands precisely in that fatigue.
Make eccentric durability your headline emphasis: regular descent running, moderate at first, then long and brisk, supported by strength work for thighs and trunk. For the ascent, train sustained blocks of 500 to 800 metres of continuous climbing at your race hiking effort. The most specific session for this profile is a long trail run that front-loads one big climb and finishes with an extended running section on tired legs.
Late August means summer heat is likely, especially on the long descents into the valley, while the summit ridge above 2,100 metres can be markedly colder and windier. Acclimatise with deliberate training in warm conditions during the final weeks, rehearse your fuelling under realistic circumstances, and pack to the organiser's mandatory kit list.

Download the Koralm Trailrunning Event course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
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.
Koralm Trailrunning Event is 51 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
Koralm Trailrunning Event has around 3,014 m of elevation gain over 51 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
Koralm Trailrunning Event is classified as Mountainous, averaging 48.8 vertical metres per kilometre. 8% of the route is flat, 17% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 24% is steeper than 6%.
The hardest climb of Koralm Trailrunning Event starts at kilometre 1.1, runs for 4.6 km at an average of 15.2% and gains 694 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 1. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
No, Koralm Trailrunning Event is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Yes. The Koralm Trailrunning Event 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.
Preparation for Koralm Trailrunning Event should account for 51 km, 3,014 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
The pacing strategy for Koralm Trailrunning Event should reflect 51 km, 3,014 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
Koralm Trailrunning Event (KTRE) takes place on August 21, 2027.
Koralm Trailrunning Event (KTRE) takes place in Deutschlandsberg, Austria.
Koralm Trailrunning Event offers 3 distances — MARATHON: 51 km; MIDDLE: 26 km; SHORT: 9 km.
Registration runs through the organiser: koralmtrailrunningclub.at. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.