Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature.
At Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature, La MAC VI is a loop through the Vosges du Nord that starts and ends in Niederbronn-les-Bains and leaves little flat ground between its eight climbs. The steepest ramp comes at kilometre 10, the hardest climb not until kilometre 18, and that split is what your preparation has to be built around.
Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
This trail race starts and finishes at the Gymnase Omnisports in Niederbronn-les-Bains, a sports hall at a little over 230 metres and the lowest point of the day. Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature reaches its 19th edition on a Sunday in early April in the Vosges du Nord, with three aid stations on the loop and a small amateur field.
The first climb begins after 700 metres, a little over a kilometre long and steep enough to lift your pulse early. From kilometre 3 comes the longest of the day, gentler on average across its 2.3 kilometres but with single ramps above 20 percent. Two shorter pitches take you higher before the steepest section arrives at kilometre 10. There, around 105 metres of gain in 700 metres lead to the highest point of the race.
After that the character changes. Until kilometre 17 the course rolls along at around 500 metres with no long climb. Then it loses 150 metres in a kilometre and a half and turns straight back uphill: from kilometre 18 you gain 181 metres in 1.6 kilometres, the hardest climb of the day. Two more follow, the last ending just past kilometre 25. From there it is all downhill to the sports hall.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.7 | 1.4 km | 9.6 % | 19.4 % | +129 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 3.1 | 2.3 km | 7.7 % | 21.2 % | +180 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 6.2 | 0.6 km | 8.4 % | 19 % | +51 m | — |
| km 7.7 | 0.7 km | 10.8 % | 18.1 % | +78 m | — |
| km 9.8 | 0.7 km | 15.5 % | 26.4 % | +105 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 18 | 1.6 km | 11.3 % | 22.4 % | +181 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 20.5 | 1.3 km | 7.2 % | 17.7 % | +92 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 24.3 | 0.9 km | 8.2 % | 13.2 % | +73 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 Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature.
Start under control
Nearly half the course is steep, up or down, so there is no rhythm you could hold for 27 kilometres. Pace by effort rather than speed. More than half the climbing is behind you before kilometre 11, which is exactly where fresh legs are tempted to offer too much.
Hold your rhythm
The biggest trap is the ramp at kilometre 10. Hike it briskly rather than forcing a run: you gain few seconds and pay for them on the rolling stretch that follows. That stretch to kilometre 17 is the fastest part of the race, but do not treat it as a chase, because its end drops you straight into the hardest climb with no pause.
Spend what is left
La MAC VI is decided between kilometres 18 and 20. If you can still climb evenly here, you will have the strength to run the last climbs; if not, that is where the minutes go. Keep something in your quads too, since the long descent to the finish arrives when they are at their most tired.
Training plan for Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect to be out for three to four and a half hours. The effort is mainly aerobic but broken by short, hard spikes on every ramp, and the descents between them give your heart rate little time to settle. Steady runs on flat ground will not prepare you for this on their own.
Train race pace
Two places set the priorities. The ramp at kilometre 10 needs strength on very steep ground: do hill intervals of three to five minutes on the steepest slope you can find, and practise fast hiking as much as running. The climb from kilometre 18 asks for something else, the same work on tired legs. So put the vertical in the last third of your long runs instead of getting it done early.
Rehearse the course
There is almost as much descending as climbing, and the final two kilometres drop without a break. That takes legs that can absorb braking. Repeated steep downhills, plus squats and lunges as strength work, are the difference between running the finish and stumbling down it.
Arrive fresh
An early April date puts your key weeks in February and March, so schedule your longest run about three weeks before the race. Use it to test your fuelling too: three aid stations are not many for this duration, so practise what you carry yourself between them.
Courses
Download the Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature 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 Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature.
How long is Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature?
Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature is 27 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 Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature have?
Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature has around 1,094 m of elevation gain over 27 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature?
Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature is classified as Mountainous, averaging 40.4 vertical metres per kilometre. 11% of the route is flat, 20% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 24% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature have?
The hardest climb of Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature starts at kilometre 18, runs for 1.6 km at an average of 11.3% and gains 181 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature a loop course?
Yes, Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature course?
Yes. The Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature 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 Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature?
Preparation for Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature should account for 27 km, 1,094 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 Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature?
The pacing strategy for Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature should reflect 27 km, 1,094 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 Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature 2027 take place?
Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature 2027 takes place on April 4, 2027.
Where does Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature 2027 take place?
Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature 2027 takes place in Niederbronn-les-Bains, France.
How do I register for Les Vosgirunners Trails Nature?
Registration runs through the organiser: lesvosgirunners.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
