Ortisei/St. Ulrich (Italy), Sunday 4 September 2011

The Val Gardena Extrem Berglauf, a highly challenging uphill mountain running race in the Dolomites in northern Italy, features almost 1,500 metres of climbing over a 19.1-kilometre route.

The start is at an elevation of 1,210 metres in the ski and holiday resort of Ortisei in the Val Gardena, one of five valleys where most inhabitants speak Ladin as a first language.

Most of the course is not extremely tough but runners are well advised to save energy for the final 2.4 kilometres which are very steep with over 500 metres of vertical gain.

The finish line is at an elevation of 2,685 metres at the Toni Demetz mountain hut, situated spectacularly on a narrow saddle under the impressive Sassolungo (German: Langkofel, 3,181m).

A rich prize fund ensures strong competition at the front of the field. In 2010, the winners were Hannes Rungger of Italy (1:39:26) and Germany's Ellen Clemens (2:07:57).

Country: Italy

Venue (Map): St. Ulrich/Ortisei (Bolzano 35km, Innsbruck 109km, Verona 186km, Munich 269km)

Date: 4 September 2011 (Sunday)

Race distance: 19.1km (+1475m); nordic walking 2.4km (+509m)

Start (Berglauf): 10.00 on Piazza Rezia in Ortisei/St. Ulrich (1210m)

Start (2.4km nordic walking): 10.00 on Passo Sella/Sellajoch (2176m)

Finish: Rifugio Toni Demetz/Toni Demetz Hütte (2685m)

Entries: by post, fax, or e-mail (payment by bank transfer) or in person at the Tourist Information Centre S. Cristina (until 2 Sep 2011, 12.00); late entries on the day; entrants must provide a medical certificate at registration

Entry fees (Berglauf): 30 euros (until 2 Sep 2011, 12.00h), 35 euros (until 4 Sep 2011)

Entry fees (nordic walking): 25 euros (until 2 Sep 2011, 12.00h), 30 euros (until 4 Sep 2011)

Race centre: Piazza Rezia in Ortisei (3 Sep 2011: 17.00-19.00; 4 Sep 2011: 7.30-9.30); nordic walking: on the day at the start on Passo Sella (8.00-10.00)

You get: a gift souvenir, transport of personal clothing to the finish, lunch, bus service from Passo Sella back to the valley

Prizes: prize money to the top finishers, prize money for a new course record

Award ceremony: 14.00 at the Rifugio Passo Sella (Sellajochhaus)

Number of finishers 2010: 73 (Berglauf)

Event website (in German and Italian): gnred.valgardena.it

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information on this page.