15° Tre Cime Alpin 2012
Sexten/Sesto (Italy), Sunday 9 September 2012
The Drei Zinnen Alpin Lauf is one of Europe's most attractive mountain running races.
In 2011, over 800 runners completed the immensely scenic and spectacular uphill course through the bizarre scenery of the Sexten Dolomites.
The route is 17.5 kilometres long. It includes 1350 metres of ascent.
The start is in the ski and holiday resort of Sexten (Italian: Sesto), situated at an elevation of about 1300 metres in a green valley in Italy's north-eastern corner. Most people in this region speak German as a first language.
At first, participants run 7km mildly uphill on asphalt and dirt roads. For the next 7km, the route climbs on mountain trails to the highest point on the course, which is at over 2500 metres above sea level. After a short but steep downhill section, the route climbs up again to the finish line at the Drei Zinnen Hütte (2405m). From the finish, there are stunning views of the famous Drei Zinnen (Italian: "Tre Cime di Lavaredo").
A helicopter brings personal clothing to the finish, so that runners can change clothes quickly and then take their time to indulge in the outstanding finisher buffet.
Participants must walk back down to the valley but they can take a short cut route, and then there's a shuttle bus to the pasta party and the award ceremony in Sexten.
In case of hazardous weather the event takes place on a shorter and safer route on the other side of the valley. However, within the last 14 years this has occured only once.
Race report, results and photos: 2011, 2009
Country: Italy
Venue (Map): Sexten·Sesto (Bolzano 111km, Innsbruck 140km, Venice 176km, Klagenfurt 193km)
Date: 9 September 2012 (Sunday)
Race distance: 17.5km (+1350m)
Start: 10.00 at "Haus Sexten" (1320m); (the children's races are held on Saturday at 11.00)
Finish: Drei Zinnen Hütte (2405m)
Entries: online or by fax or e-mail (until 6 Sep 2012; payment by credit card or bank transfer or cheque); late entries in the race centre until 8 Sep 2012 at 12 noon; no entries on the day; entry limit 1000 runners; entrants may have to provide a medical certificate at registration
Entry fees: 32/37/48 euros (until 30 Jun/1 Sep/8 Sep 2012)
Race centre: Haus Sexten (8 Sep 2012, 10.00-12.00 and 14.00-19.00; on the day 7.00-8.30)
You get: technical T-shirt; timing chip; transport of personal clothing to the finish; finisher medal; buffet at the finish; shuttle bus service (after the race); pasta party (after the race)
Prizes: first 8 men and 7 women; category prizes (?)
Award ceremony: 15.30 in Haus Sexten
Number of finishers 2011: 806; 200 children
Event website (in English, German and Italian): www.dreizinnenmarathon.com
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.