Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf.
The Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf is a December winter trail run on the Räuberweg, a hiking loop around Spiegelberg in the Schwäbischer Wald. Its 57 km hold no single big mountain, just eight climbs spread across the whole day and very little flat ground between them, so your preparation has to cover endurance, sure footing and kit for frost at once.
Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf 2026: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at the Gasthof zum Goldenen Ritter in Vorderbüchelberg. The loop first gives away around 160 metres of height before the opening climb begins at km 6.5: just over two kilometres at a moderate average that still hides a ramp above 25 percent. A similar piece follows from km 20. Between and beyond them the course swings between roughly 350 and 550 metres of altitude and never stays at one level for long.
The hardest spot comes at km 31.5, where 750 metres rise at 14 percent on average. From here the climbs move closer together, at km 35.5, 41 and 49, and the last one ends only a little over a kilometre from the finish.
The race does not follow the officially marked hiking route everywhere; it leaves it in places. The organiser calls the ground alpine and warns of a small climbing section, and trail shoes are required. December adds the rest: earlier editions have run through snow and in temperatures down to minus 13 degrees. Three aid stations offer water, cola and seasonal food.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 6.6 | 2.2 km | 5.7 % | 27.1 % | +126 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 11.3 | 2.2 km | 4.6 % | 12.6 % | +103 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 19.8 | 2.1 km | 5.4 % | 27.9 % | +111 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 31.5 | 0.8 km | 14 % | 24.6 % | +105 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 35.6 | 1.5 km | 7.1 % | 21.6 % | +107 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 40.7 | 1.4 km | 5.2 % | 17.1 % | +75 m | — |
| km 49.1 | 1 km | 9.5 % | 15.7 % | +95 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 54.6 | 1.4 km | 5.2 % | 12.8 % | +70 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 Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf.
Start under control
Only about a tenth of the loop is flat, and no climb runs longer than a little over two kilometres. So there are neither long tempo stretches nor one mountain where you make up time. What counts is how often you can repeat the same effort: hike the steep ramps from the very start, even while they would still be runnable, and jog the gentler rises between them.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided from km 31.5 on. The steep ramp there arrives just as the legs are tired from constant braking, and the last 25 km still hold four more climbs. If you can hike it strongly and start running again at the top, the rest of the loop stays manageable.
Spend what is left
The trap sits right at the beginning. The downhill start feels free on fresh legs, but every hard step downhill, all the more on frozen ground, costs thigh muscle you need from halfway on. Eating is also easy to forget in the cold, so eat early and regularly: three aid stations across 57 km do not forgive a missed meal.
Training plan for Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners spend roughly six and a half to nine and a half hours out here. The effort stays aerobic but restless: many short, steep spikes alternating with descents, and hardly any steady running. Build your base with long runs on trails rather than tarmac, and grow them by time on your feet rather than by kilometres.
Train race pace
The key stimulus is climbing on tired legs. Put the hardest hills into the last third of your longest sessions and practise switching from a strong hike back into a run at the crest. Two longer sessions on consecutive days mimic the fatigue of the second half well. Downhill running is a fixed part of the plan, since nearly half the course falls and your thighs decide what is still possible after km 40.
Rehearse the course
From November, deliberately train outside in the weather race day may bring. Run on frozen and snowy forest ground, test your stride in well-treaded shoes, and find out which layers keep you warm while hiking slowly without overheating when you run. Eat to a schedule in these sessions so that you can manage food from a pack or vest with cold hands.
Arrive fresh
Because the race leaves the hiking route in places, practise following a track on your watch. For the climbing section and the ground described as alpine, core and arm strength help, as does sure footing on uneven ground deep into a long day.
Courses
Download the Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf 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 Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf.
How long is Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf?
Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf is 57 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 Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf have?
Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf has around 1,660 m of elevation gain over 57 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf?
Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf is classified as Hilly, averaging 29.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 11% of the route is flat, 33% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 13% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf have?
The hardest climb of Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf starts at kilometre 6.6, runs for 2.2 km at an average of 5.7% and gains 126 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf a loop course?
Yes, Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf course?
Yes. The Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf 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 Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf?
Preparation for Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf should account for 57 km, 1,660 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 Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf?
The pacing strategy for Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf should reflect 57 km, 1,660 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 Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf take place?
Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf takes place on December 13, 2026.
Where does Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf take place?
Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf takes place in Spiegelberg, Germany.
Which distances does Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf offer?
Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf offers 2 distances — Räuberweglauf: 57 km; Räuberwegläufchen: 26 km.
How do I register for Spiegelberger Räuberweglauf?
Registration runs through the organiser: ultras.prospectum.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
