Öland Lighthouse Challenge.
The Öland Lighthouse Challenge runs from one lighthouse to another: the shared start is at Långe Erik, and the 100-mile finish stands at Långe Jan. In between lies an almost level line along the Kalmarsund coast, where duration, the night and steadiness decide your race rather than climbing.
Öland Lighthouse Challenge 2027: Course, Route Profile & Map
The 100 miles are a single line with no loops. From the Långe Erik lighthouse the course follows the Kalmarsund coast to Sandvik, then turns across meadows and through stretches of woodland and carries on south. Along the way you pass the finishes of the shorter distances: the 50 km ends at Djupvik, the 50 miles at Lindby. For you, each of them only opens the next section.
The terrain itself asks little. The course stays below 35 metres above sea level almost throughout, its highest ground comes roughly between km 70 and 80, and the whole distance adds up to barely more than 230 metres of climbing. There are no real climbs, only gentle undulation you will hardly read as gradient.
What makes it hard anyway is its length in one piece. The start falls on a Friday afternoon, so at 100 miles you run into the night and through it before the finish arrives at Långe Jan. Fuel comes from drink stations and energy depots along the route.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|
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 Öland Lighthouse Challenge.
Start under control
On a course this flat, no terrain sets your speed. No climb holds you back early and no descent pays anything back later, which is exactly why you have to set the intensity yourself: a pace that feels almost too easy for the first 50 km, and walk breaks planned from the start rather than dictated by your body later on.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided after Lindby. That is where the 50 miles end and your second half begins, probably already in darkness and after many hours on your feet. If you can still eat calmly and run evenly there, you gain more time in that section than any fast afternoon start could.
Spend what is left
The trap is the shared start. All three distances leave Långe Erik together, and along the coast towards Sandvik you will be pulled along by runners who are done after 50 km or 50 miles. Their pace is not yours. Hold your own rhythm from the first hour and use every aid point, even while you still feel fresh.
Training plan for Öland Lighthouse Challenge: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners should expect roughly 20 to 30 hours on this course. That makes it an almost purely endurance effort: because the course barely climbs, there are no spikes, only hours of steady low-intensity work in which fat burning, fuelling and muscular endurance matter more than speed.
Train race pace
The decisive phase is the second half after Lindby, run through the night with 80 km already in your legs. Prepare for it with back-to-back weekend runs and at least one long run that starts in the afternoon and carries on into the dark. That is where you rehearse the headlamp, eating while tired and running without the rhythm of daylight.
Rehearse the course
Flat ground loads the same muscles through the same movement for hour after hour. Build your long sessions mostly on level paths and farm tracks, backed by strength work for hips, calves and core, so your form still holds after 120 km. Plan a run-walk pattern on purpose and train it, rather than running every long session without a break.
Arrive fresh
Also rehearse your fuelling over many hours, using what you expect from drink stations and energy depots, and test stomach, shoes and clothing along the way so nothing is new on race day. With the race on 28 May, schedule your long sessions so the last big one falls a few weeks before.
Courses
Download the Öland Lighthouse Challenge course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Öland Lighthouse Challenge 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 Öland Lighthouse Challenge.
How long is Öland Lighthouse Challenge?
Öland Lighthouse Challenge is 160.93 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 Öland Lighthouse Challenge have?
Öland Lighthouse Challenge has around 236 m of elevation gain over 160.93 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Öland Lighthouse Challenge?
Öland Lighthouse Challenge is classified as Flat, averaging 1.5 vertical metres per kilometre. 95% of the route is flat, 3% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
Is Öland Lighthouse Challenge a loop course?
No, Öland Lighthouse Challenge is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Öland Lighthouse Challenge course?
Yes. The Öland Lighthouse Challenge 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 Öland Lighthouse Challenge?
Preparation for Öland Lighthouse Challenge should account for 160.93 km, 236 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 Öland Lighthouse Challenge?
The pacing strategy for Öland Lighthouse Challenge should reflect 160.93 km, 236 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 Öland Lighthouse Challenge take place?
Öland Lighthouse Challenge takes place on May 28, 2027.
Where does Öland Lighthouse Challenge take place?
Öland Lighthouse Challenge takes place in Byxelkrok, Sweden.
Which distances does Öland Lighthouse Challenge offer?
Öland Lighthouse Challenge offers 3 distances — 100 miles: 160.93 km; 50 miles: 80.47 km; 50 km: 50 km.
How do I register for Öland Lighthouse Challenge?
Registration runs through the organiser: olandrunning.se. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
