Thüringen Ultra.
The Thüringen Ultra is a 100 km circuit from Fröttstädt that crosses the Rennsteig twice on field, forest and meadow paths. It is settled past halfway, on the longest climb of the day, so your preparation has one main job: legs that can still climb after 55 km and still run once they are over the top.
Thüringen Ultra 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The circuit starts just under 300 metres above sea level and gives you ten kilometres before the climbing begins. Three climbs then come in quick succession, and the middle one from km 18.5 is the steepest of the day, with ramps up to 17 percent. By km 25 you are at almost 700 metres and you stay up there: for more than 20 km the course keeps rising and falling, with its highest ground around 760 metres at km 41. It then drops some 300 metres of height by km 54.
That is exactly where the longest climb begins, a little over six kilometres and 350 metres of gain back up to about 730 metres. From there you descend to km 66, two short ramps at km 68 and km 77 break your rhythm, and from km 80 the course sheds almost 200 metres through small counter-climbs on the way back to Fröttstädt.
The running is on field, forest and meadow paths in the green heart of Germany, and the circuit crosses the Rennsteig twice. There are 16 refreshment points along the way, one every six kilometres on average. Early July brings the race's 19th edition, with two-person and four-person teams sharing the same total distance alongside the solo runners.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 10.1 | 1.8 km | 6.8 % | 12.3 % | +122 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 18.5 | 2.4 km | 8.3 % | 17.4 % | +194 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 23.2 | 2.2 km | 6.9 % | 10.2 % | +154 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 35.7 | 1.4 km | 5.7 % | 8.5 % | +79 m | — |
| km 38.5 | 1.5 km | 4.1 % | 6 % | +59 m | — |
| km 54.7 | 6.2 km | 5.6 % | 10.9 % | +351 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 68.3 | 1.3 km | 7.4 % | 11.7 % | +92 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 77.3 | 0.8 km | 8.3 % | 11 % | +64 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 Thüringen Ultra.
Start under control
Plan the circuit in three sections rather than kilometre splits. The first 25 km pack in three climbs and the steepest ramps of the day: walk those ramps from the start, even if they feel runnable on fresh legs. On the rolling high ground to km 47 you settle into your long-haul rhythm, and the short rises there are no reason to hold pace.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 47 and km 61. First comes 300 metres of height lost, then straight into the longest climb, gentle enough on average to run in stretches. Run the descent hard and you arrive at the bottom on tired thighs, and those six kilometres up become a walk.
Spend what is left
The bigger trap is that more of the course goes down than up. It feels like recovery, yet it spends the muscles you need from km 80, where the course eases gently towards the finish. Those last 20 km are only fast for runners who can still run. If you meet relay runners out there, their pace says nothing about yours.
Training plan for Thüringen Ultra: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 11 to 15 hours depending on your form. This is a long aerobic effort broken up by recurring climbs, with no steady pace ever taking hold: running and walking alternate all day. So the goal of your training is not speed but a pace you can still produce after ten hours.
Train race pace
The key session recreates the climb from km 54.7: put a continuous ascent of around 300 metres into the final third of your longest runs, with a sustained descent before it. That teaches you to find a rhythm again after downhill running, and shows you how much of it you can run and where walking is faster.
Rehearse the course
Downhill resilience matters just as much, because more of the course goes down than up. Schedule regular runs with plenty of descent and finish them on flat kilometres, which is what the run-in from km 80 asks of you. Practise brisk uphill walking on steep slopes too, since you will be walking ramps of up to 17 percent on race day anyway. And because the race runs on field, forest and meadow paths, your long sessions belong on that kind of ground rather than on tarmac.
Arrive fresh
With the race in early July, your longest runs fall in May and June. Use them for fuelling as well: with 16 stations you pass one roughly every 45 minutes, and your eating and drinking rhythm for a day this long should be tested beforehand.
Courses
Download the Thüringen Ultra course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Thüringen Ultra 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 Thüringen Ultra.
How long is Thüringen Ultra?
Thüringen Ultra is 100 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 Thüringen Ultra have?
Thüringen Ultra has around 1,935 m of elevation gain over 100 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Thüringen Ultra?
Thüringen Ultra is classified as Mountainous, averaging 19.4 vertical metres per kilometre. 19% of the route is flat, 33% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 6% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Thüringen Ultra have?
The hardest climb of Thüringen Ultra starts at kilometre 54.7, runs for 6.2 km at an average of 5.6% and gains 351 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Thüringen Ultra a loop course?
Yes, Thüringen Ultra is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Thüringen Ultra course?
Yes. The Thüringen Ultra 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 Thüringen Ultra?
Preparation for Thüringen Ultra should account for 100 km, 1,935 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 Thüringen Ultra?
The pacing strategy for Thüringen Ultra should reflect 100 km, 1,935 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 Thüringen Ultra 2027 take place?
Thüringen Ultra 2027 takes place on July 3, 2027.
Where does Thüringen Ultra 2027 take place?
Thüringen Ultra 2027 takes place in Fröttstädt, Germany.
Which distances does Thüringen Ultra offer?
Thüringen Ultra offers 3 distances — Thüringen Ultra 100 km: 100 km; 2 x 50 km Staffel: 50 km; 4 x 25 km Staffel: 25 km.
How do I register for Thüringen Ultra?
Registration runs through the organiser: thueringenultra.de. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
