Trail des Marcaires.
The Trail des Marcaires is the long way round the Munster valley: 65 km from Muhlbach-sur-Munster, past three lakes and never flat for long. Preparing for it means budgeting 3,300 metres of ascent so that the steepest sustained climb of the day is still one you can work, because it only arrives at km 51.
Trail des Marcaires 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The marked course is run semi-autonomously, so you carry part of your own supplies. It crosses the Munster valley past the Fischboedle, Schiessrothried and Altenweiher lakes and stays between 437 and 1,363 metres. Less than a tenth of the loop is flat, and more than half is steep, up or down. The race carries 3 ITRA points and an Index UTMB 100K rating, and the long course also hosts a relay.
A small warm-up hill leads to km 4.7, where the longest climb of the day begins: a little over five kilometres and more than 600 metres of gain, followed at km 10.4 by a short ramp averaging almost one in four. From there the race moves in big waves. The course drops deep around km 18 and again around km 31, and both times the climb back out goes above 1,200 metres.
From km 43 the climbs come closer together. The key one sits at km 51, where a descent delivers you to 1.6 km averaging just over 17 percent. The course stays high for a few kilometres after that, then sheds more than 600 metres on the way back to Muhlbach, finishing where it began.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 4.7 | 5.3 km | 11.9 % | 36.7 % | +625 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 10.4 | 0.6 km | 24.3 % | 39.5 % | +146 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 19.4 | 1.9 km | 14.2 % | 27 % | +267 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 32.1 | 1.2 km | 13.1 % | 26.5 % | +151 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 34.8 | 2.5 km | 13.5 % | 34.8 % | +340 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 43 | 1.3 km | 10.8 % | 14.2 % | +140 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 45.9 | 1.4 km | 11.6 % | 29.1 % | +160 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 51.2 | 1.6 km | 17.4 % | 26 % | +279 m | Cat. 3 |
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 Trail des Marcaires.
Start under control
More than 50 metres of climbing per kilometre and hardly a flat stretch mean this loop offers no pace you could simply hold. Around a third of the ascent also sits outside the big climbs, in the short rises between them, and those cost more than they look. So plan the race in hours and climbs rather than kilometres, and hike the steep ground from the start.
Hold your rhythm
The trap comes early. The long climb from km 4.7 meets fresh legs and can be run at first, yet behind the ramp at km 10.4 there are still more than 50 km to go. Climb above your level here and you pay on the steep descents after km 15, long before the second half begins.
Spend what is left
The day is decided from km 43. Because you carry part of your supplies, it is down to your own discipline whether enough has gone in by then. Only then can the climbs at km 46 and km 51 still be hiked evenly. Save some quads for the final descent as well: if all you can do is brake, a few kilometres there cost a lot of time.
Training plan for Trail des Marcaires: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners are out on the Trail des Marcaires for roughly 10 to 15 hours. It is an aerobic effort throughout, but never a steady one: long spells of brisk uphill hiking alternate with steep descents where the leg muscles work as brakes, and flat recovery is the exception.
Train race pace
Two places set the direction of your training. The long climb at the start demands discipline, while the steep ramp at km 51 demands strength with more than two thirds of the ascent already in your legs. So put the hardest climbing at the end of long runs, and practise hiking steeply and evenly for 20 minutes after several hours on your feet. Brisk uphill hiking belongs in every week, since on ground this steep a large share of your race is spent doing exactly that.
Rehearse the course
The descent shapes this race at least as much as the ascent, because the loop takes back every metre it gives you. Build steep downhills into your long sessions while tired, ideally on trails, and put two longer days back to back so your legs learn to climb and brake when already loaded.
Arrive fresh
With the race on 6 June, your longest sessions fall in April and May. Run them with the pack and the food you will carry on the day: semi-autonomous means weight on your back, and anything first tested on race day is an unnecessary risk over this many hours.
Courses
Download the Trail des Marcaires course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail des Marcaires dynamically
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Everything about Trail des Marcaires.
How long is Trail des Marcaires?
Trail des Marcaires is 65 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 Trail des Marcaires have?
Trail des Marcaires has around 3,304 m of elevation gain over 65 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail des Marcaires?
Trail des Marcaires is classified as Mountainous, averaging 51.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 7% of the route is flat, 17% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 28% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail des Marcaires have?
The hardest climb of Trail des Marcaires starts at kilometre 4.7, runs for 5.3 km at an average of 11.9% and gains 625 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail des Marcaires a loop course?
Yes, Trail des Marcaires is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail des Marcaires course?
Yes. The Trail des Marcaires 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 Trail des Marcaires?
Preparation for Trail des Marcaires should account for 65 km, 3,304 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 Trail des Marcaires?
The pacing strategy for Trail des Marcaires should reflect 65 km, 3,304 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 Trail des Marcaires take place?
Trail des Marcaires takes place on June 6, 2027.
Where does Trail des Marcaires take place?
Trail des Marcaires takes place in Muhlbach-sur-Munster, France.
Which distances does Trail des Marcaires offer?
Trail des Marcaires offers 5 distances — Trail des Marcaires: 65 km; Défi de Muhlbach: 34 km; La p'tite course des Marcaires: 12 km; Jung's Trail - minimes: 3 km; Jung's Trail - cadets: 5 km.
How do I register for Trail des Marcaires?
Registration runs through the organiser: traildesmarcaires.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
