Albside - Up The Hill.
UTH50 is the long Saturday loop of Albside - Up The Hill: roughly 2,000 metres of climbing over Käsental, Heersberg, Steinberg and Tieringer Hörnle, with the two hardest ascents held back for the very end. Getting it right means preparing to power-hike steep ramps on legs that have already done most of a day.
Albside - Up The Hill 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish share the event area in Albstadt-Margrethausen, and the loop switches between trail, gravel and asphalt along the way. The first two kilometres rise steadily; after that the height comes in short, steep pieces. Just past kilometre 9 sits a half-kilometre that averages close to 20 percent. From kilometre 16.7 the course then gains about 200 metres in a kilometre and a half.
Through the middle the race settles down. After a low section around kilometre 22, two climbs bring you back up to roughly 900 metres. From there the loop stays high for about eight kilometres before a long descent drops it back into the valley.
UTH50 is decided in its final sixth. Shortly after kilometre 44 the biggest single climb of the day begins, gathering around 270 metres of ascent in under two kilometres. Another ramp from kilometre 47.7 has pitches above 30 percent, and only then does the trail run down into the event area, closing a loop that has taken in Käsental, Heersberg, the Steinberg aid point and Tieringer Hörnle.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 | 2.1 km | 4.7 % | 10 % | +100 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 3.3 | 0.9 km | 13.3 % | 20.9 % | +116 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 9.3 | 0.6 km | 19 % | 30.3 % | +109 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 16.7 | 1.5 km | 13.5 % | 31.5 % | +199 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 26.8 | 1.5 km | 11.4 % | 24.7 % | +171 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 28.5 | 0.8 km | 12.3 % | 22.6 % | +96 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 44.1 | 1.8 km | 15 % | 28.2 % | +274 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 47.7 | 1.1 km | 13.5 % | 34.2 % | +149 m | Cat. 4 |
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 Albside - Up The Hill.
Start under control
Close to 40 percent of the loop is steep, up or down, and barely a tenth is flat. So hike the ramps from the start, including the early ones you could still run on fresh legs. Every climb you run in the first half is one you pay for later.
Hold your rhythm
The long high section from kilometre 30 is where you set up the finish: run evenly, eat and drink, and resist the urge to make up time. Use the four aid points before hunger arrives, not after.
Spend what is left
The real trap is the descent before kilometre 44. Let it run and you reach the biggest climb of the day with burnt quads. Brake with control, take the last two ramps at a rhythm you can hold to the top, and save your running for the short drop to the finish.
Training plan for Albside - Up The Hill: 12-week build
Build the base
For a typical age-group runner, UTH50 takes something like six to nine hours. The effort is long and aerobic, but broken again and again by short, very steep pieces where your heart rate climbs even though you are walking. Your training has to cover both: hours on your feet and repeated steep hiking.
Train race pace
Because the hardest climbs sit in the final sixth, long runs with the climbing at the end are the most important single session. On weekend long runs, put the steepest hills deliberately into the last hour and practise a brisk hands-on-thighs hike there until it still feels strong when you are tired.
Rehearse the course
Downhill running matters just as much. Nearly a fifth of the course drops steeply, and the long descent before the final climb decides what legs you arrive there with. Build steep descents into your runs regularly so your muscles get used to the braking work.
Arrive fresh
The race falls in late April, which puts your build-up in winter and early spring. Still do the long sessions on a mix of trail, gravel and asphalt, and wear the mandatory kit on them so its weight and fit hold no surprises on race day. Test your fuelling on the same runs; over that many hours it shapes how the finish goes.
Courses
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Everything about Albside - Up The Hill.
How long is Albside - Up The Hill?
Albside - Up The Hill is 50 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 Albside - Up The Hill have?
Albside - Up The Hill has around 1,988 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Albside - Up The Hill?
Albside - Up The Hill is classified as Mountainous, averaging 39.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 11% of the route is flat, 26% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 19% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Albside - Up The Hill have?
The hardest climb of Albside - Up The Hill starts at kilometre 44.1, runs for 1.8 km at an average of 15% and gains 274 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Albside - Up The Hill a loop course?
Yes, Albside - Up The Hill is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Albside - Up The Hill course?
Yes. The Albside - Up The Hill 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 Albside - Up The Hill?
Preparation for Albside - Up The Hill should account for 50 km, 1,988 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 Albside - Up The Hill?
The pacing strategy for Albside - Up The Hill should reflect 50 km, 1,988 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 Albside - Up The Hill 2027 take place?
Albside - Up The Hill 2027 takes place on April 23, 2027.
Where does Albside - Up The Hill 2027 take place?
Albside - Up The Hill 2027 takes place in Albstadt, Germany.
Which distances does Albside - Up The Hill offer?
Albside - Up The Hill offers 4 distances — UTH50 Endurance: 50 km; UTH25 Trail Run: 25.9 km; UTH10 Gravel: 10.8 km; UTH5 Sprint: 4.7 km.
How do I register for Albside - Up The Hill?
Registration runs through the organiser: upthehill.run. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
