Koralm Trailrunning Event Training Plan & Preparation

Course & Elevation

The LONG course is the ultra format of the Koralm Trailrunning Event in Deutschlandsberg: 68 kilometres and around 3,150 metres of climbing in one big loop through South Styria, based at the Koralm-Stadtpark. The KTRE, running its fifth edition in 2026, is a small, grassroots trail event that turns the landscape around the Koralpe into its stage.

The defining feature of this race is how unevenly the climbing is distributed. Nearly all of it sits in the first half: a 492-metre ascent over 3.7 kilometres opens the day from kilometre 3.9, followed by a chain of further climbs at kilometres 14, 18.7, 23.6 and 28.5. At kilometre 34.2 the second major block arrives, 424 metres of gain in 2.8 kilometres with ramps up to 36 percent.

From roughly kilometre 40 the character flips. The course runs predominantly downhill and rolling back towards Deutschlandsberg, saving one final sting for kilometre 58.4, where a short climb with sections above 40 percent demands everything one more time. Pace the climb-heavy first half wisely and the long, runnable closing kilometres become terrain where you can genuinely shape your race rather than merely survive it.

Pacing Strategy

The key insight: the vert is front-loaded. Between kilometres 4 and 40 come seven notable climbs, including three category-2 ascents of up to 492 metres. Run this first section too eagerly and you'll have nothing left for the runnable second half. Take the early ramps consistently in power-hiking mode and keep your heart rate below threshold — you make up the time later.

As a loop the profile returns you to the start, but after kilometre 40 flatter and descending stretches dominate, where you can hold steady pace. The long climb at kilometre 34 (424 metres) is the last big hurdle and marks the decisive phase: whoever can still run here pulls away.

The trap lies in the front-loaded profile — too fast a start bites back in the finale without fail. Fuel regularly and ration your strength for the second half.

12-Week Preparation

Budget roughly 8 to 13 hours of effort for 68 kilometres with around 3,150 metres of climbing, depending on your level. The race has two distinct halves, and your preparation should mirror that split: a climb-intensive first half of repeated hiking efforts and a second half that is predominantly run.

The transition between those two worlds decides the race. Spend too much in the chain of climbs before kilometre 40, particularly on the opening ascent from kilometre 3.9 and the steep block at kilometre 34.2, and you forfeit the runnable final third, which is exactly where this course hands out its time gains. The short, sharp ramp at kilometre 58.4 lands after hours of fatigue and is worth rehearsing mentally in advance.

Train both demands specifically. Long mountain sessions stacking several climbs back to back replicate the repeated ascending of the first half; long runs that finish with sustained, brisk running on tired legs, ideally slightly downhill, prepare you to exploit the closing kilometres. The course also descends more than 3,000 metres in total, so regular downhill running to condition the quadriceps is not optional.

With the race in late August, heat becomes a real factor. Deliberately schedule some sessions in the warmth of the day during the final weeks and test your drinking and fuelling strategy in summer conditions. Place your biggest training weeks in June and July, then back off decisively in the final fortnight.