Tarcsa Trail.
The 7 km course is the shortest adult distance of the Tarcsa Trail in the Gödöllő Hills near Nagytarcsa. The loop puts its climbing into the first half and hands the height back downhill afterwards, so if you pace the way up to the high point well, the rest of the race is yours to run.
Tarcsa Trail 2027: Course, Route Profile & Map
After an almost flat first kilometre, the climb that shapes this race starts at km 1.1. For a good kilometre and a half the trail rises steadily, a short steep ramp included, and after a smaller second rise the high point arrives around km 3.5, close to 80 metres above the start. Up there the ground stays restless and rolling until km 4.
The second half is its mirror image. From km 4 the course falls almost continuously, broken only by short kickers, and loops back to where it started. That adds up to around 130 metres of climbing, enough that road-race pace does not carry over these seven kilometres.
The race runs on marked trails in the Gödöllő Hills and is chip-timed. There is one refreshment point on the course. The programme also has 15 km and 26 km courses, a 20 km team format and children's races over 400 m and 2,000 m, which makes the seven kilometres the entry point to the adult trail distances.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.1 | 1.6 km | 3.4 % | 11.5 % | +53 m | — |
| km 2.9 | 0.6 km | 3.2 % | 5.1 % | +19 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 Tarcsa Trail.
Start under control
The work on this loop is unevenly spread: the first four kilometres cost almost everything, the last three are mostly downhill. Run the flat opening deliberately easy, because the climb from km 1.1 comes early, before your heart rate has settled.
Hold your rhythm
The decisive stretch runs from km 1.1 to the high point. Hold an effort there that you can sustain all the way up, and take the steep ramp with short, powerful steps rather than forced speed. At the top you want enough breath left to accelerate straight away.
Spend what is left
The classic trap sits in the transition. Race the climb flat out and you arrive at the long descent on heavy legs, unable to let go exactly where this course gives time back. Over seven kilometres there is little room to recover that loss.
Training plan for Tarcsa Trail: 12-week build
Build the base
Depending on fitness you will be out for 35 to 55 minutes. That is a short, intense effort close to threshold, but not an even one: a long push uphill gives way to a fast downhill phase in which your legs work in a completely different way.
Train race pace
For the climb from km 1.1, hill repeats of five to ten minutes on steady gradients help. They teach you to hold a high effort without tipping into the red. Add a short steep section to these sessions so that switching to small, forceful steps feels familiar.
Rehearse the course
Downhill running matters at least as much. Three kilometres that mostly fall demand quick turnover and quads used to eccentric load. So run descents regularly on trails rather than only on tarmac, and run them straight after a climb, on pre-tired legs.
Arrive fresh
A dress rehearsal two to three weeks before 18 September shows you how hard you can afford to go uphill: climb at a controlled hard effort, descend briskly, both in one go. With only one refreshment point on the course, starting well hydrated also counts.
Courses
Download the Tarcsa Trail course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Tarcsa Trail 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 Tarcsa Trail.
How long is Tarcsa Trail?
Tarcsa Trail is 7 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 Tarcsa Trail have?
Tarcsa Trail has around 130 m of elevation gain over 7 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Tarcsa Trail?
Tarcsa Trail is classified as Rolling, averaging 17.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 19% of the route is flat, 39% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 4% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Tarcsa Trail have?
The hardest climb of Tarcsa Trail starts at kilometre 1.1, runs for 1.6 km at an average of 3.4% and gains 53 metres. 2 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Tarcsa Trail a loop course?
Yes, Tarcsa Trail is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Tarcsa Trail course?
Yes. The Tarcsa Trail 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 Tarcsa Trail?
Preparation for Tarcsa Trail should account for 7 km, 130 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 Tarcsa Trail?
The pacing strategy for Tarcsa Trail should reflect 7 km, 130 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 Tarcsa Trail take place?
Tarcsa Trail takes place on September 18, 2027.
Where does Tarcsa Trail take place?
Tarcsa Trail takes place in Nagytarcsa, Hungary.
Which distances does Tarcsa Trail offer?
Tarcsa Trail offers 3 distances — Tarcsa Trail 7 km: 7 km; Tarcsa Trail 15 km: 15 km; Tarcsa Trail 26 km: 26 km.
How do I register for Tarcsa Trail?
Registration runs through the organiser: ntse.hu. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
