Lechlauf.
At the Lechlauf in Weißenbach am Lech, the Beginner Trail is the shortest course with real mountains in it. The name is gentler than the running: two long climbs leave the valley floor, and the descent off the first is steeper than anything you ran on the way up. That makes your quads the main project in preparation.
Lechlauf 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop starts on the valley floor just under 890 metres and stays flat for about a kilometre and a half. Then the first climb sets in: by kilometre five you have gained a little over 300 metres at an average of nearly nine percent, evenly, with no shelves to recover on. At just under 1,200 metres the course tips straight over and loses almost 275 metres in barely more than a kilometre. That is over twice as steep as the way up.
Between kilometres six and eight the running is almost level, before the second climb arrives at kilometre 8.7. At 180 metres of gain it is smaller but less regular, with its steepest part right at the start. From the high point just under 1,100 metres the course drops briskly to kilometre twelve, then only gently, and a small swell after kilometre 14 takes one more bite before the last downhill leads back to where you began.
The Lechlauf spreads five courses across the Naturparkregion Reutte on this September day, and the Beginner Trail is the bridge between them. If you have so far run the flat loops in the valley, this is where you learn what the long mountain courses ask for, at a length that still fits into half a day.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.6 | 3.5 km | 8.7 % | 13.7 % | +303 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 8.7 | 1.9 km | 9.4 % | 18.5 % | +182 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 13.9 | 0.4 km | 3.7 % | 5.1 % | +13 m | — |
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 Lechlauf.
Start under control
Think of the Beginner Trail as two mountains with a flat middle, not as a 15 km run. More than a third of the course is steep, and there effort counts, not pace. On the first climb you can switch early from running to a brisk hike, because over three and a half kilometres that saves more strength than it costs time.
Hold your rhythm
The trap sits right behind the first high point. The descent to kilometre 6.3 is steep enough that braking on straight legs tires your quads for the rest of the race. Run it with short, quick steps and leave the seconds you could win there on the hill. The level kilometres afterwards are for recovering, not for catching up.
Spend what is left
Your race is decided on the second climb, above all on its steep opening stretch. Arrive with something in reserve and the gentle fall from kilometre twelve carries you home. Overspend in the first half and you will be walking the very kilometres where others are still running.
Training plan for Lechlauf: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 1:45 to 2:45 hours, depending on how much of the climbing you hike. The effort is aerobic, but your heart rate rises sharply on two long uphill blocks, and between them come sections where the muscles work harder than the lungs. Flat training alone will not prepare you for that.
Train race pace
The key moments are the two transitions: from steep uphill straight into steep downhill, and from a tired flat stretch into the second climb. For your weekly key session pick a hill with ten minutes of climbing and repeat it, running the descents with intent rather than jogging them. That teaches your quads the braking work waiting for you at kilometre five.
Rehearse the course
In the final weeks before the race your weekend long run should last about two hours and include two climbs with a flatter stretch between them. Practise hiking as a technique while you are at it: hands on thighs, short steps, even rhythm. Trying that for the first time on race day costs more time than it needs to.
Arrive fresh
The Lechlauf falls in mid-September, so your build-up runs through the summer months, when mountain days are easiest to plan. If you have no mountains nearby, use long stairs or ramps for the downhill work, and put your last hard hill session ten to fourteen days out, because steep descending takes longer to recover from than a tempo run.
Courses
Download the Lechlauf course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Lechlauf 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 Lechlauf.
How long is Lechlauf?
Lechlauf is 15 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 Lechlauf have?
Lechlauf has around 529 m of elevation gain over 15 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Lechlauf?
Lechlauf is classified as Mountainous, averaging 34.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 15% of the route is flat, 25% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 21% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Lechlauf have?
The hardest climb of Lechlauf starts at kilometre 1.6, runs for 3.5 km at an average of 8.7% and gains 303 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 3 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Lechlauf a loop course?
Yes, Lechlauf is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Lechlauf course?
Yes. The Lechlauf 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 Lechlauf?
Preparation for Lechlauf should account for 15 km, 529 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 Lechlauf?
The pacing strategy for Lechlauf should reflect 15 km, 529 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 Lechlauf take place?
Lechlauf takes place on September 18, 2027.
Where does Lechlauf take place?
Lechlauf takes place in Weißenbach am Lech, Austria.
Which distances does Lechlauf offer?
Lechlauf offers 5 distances — Beginner Trail: 15 km; Hobbylauf: 6.8 km; Hauptlauf: 11 km; Main Trail: 24.5 km; Ultra Trail: 51 km.
How do I register for Lechlauf?
Registration runs through the organiser: lechlauf.at. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
