The Trail Ostrava is the first race of the Trail Running Cup, an annual series of multi-terrain running events in the Czech Republic.
The event takes place in the steel city of Ostrava, the third-largest city in the country with a population of about 300,000.
Situated in a vast coal mining area in the Czechia-Poland border region, Ostrava is a fascinating place to visit for its truly impressive industrial heritage.
Runners can choose to take part in either the 5k or the 10k race.
Both are single-loop races that begin and end at the Trojhalí (Triple Hall), a complex of historic industrial buildings in the redeveloped Nová Karolina area, site of the former Karolina coking plant:
The 5k route, which runs mainly along the River Ostravice, is largely flat. The route includes a loop around the Slezskoostravský hrad (Silesian Ostrava Castle).
The 10k is much more challenging. The difference between the lowest and the highest point on the course is 85 metres. The first three kilometres are mostly flat, but then the route goes uphill and across the imposing Halda Ema slag heap:
Halda Ema is a captivating place that features its own microclimate. The slag deep inside the hill is still burning, so the surface on the summit is always warm. The hill even produces its own clouds of smoke.
On the way home to the finish, the route visits another unsual sight — the monument to the liberation of Ostrava in 1945:
Map of the venue:
The Trail Ostrava will not form part of the Trail Running Cup 2020.
Trail Ostrava 2019:
Date:
- 27 April 2019 (Saturday)
Race distance:
- 5km
- 10km (+200m/-200m)
Number of finishers:
- 5km: 69
- 10km: 86
Race information:
Event website:
Last update: 3 March 2020
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.