Saturday 5 October 2024

Tek na Šmarno goro - Šmarna gora Race - the downhill section (Copyright © 2016 Hendrik Böttger / runinternational.eu)

 

Held on the wooded Šmarna gora hill in the north-western part of Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, the Šmarna gora Race (Slovene: Tek na Šmarno goro) is one of the world's most prestigious mountain running events.

It is a World Cup Gold Label race and has attracted many of the best mountain runners on the globe.

Starting in the village of Tacen at the foot of the hill, the route is 10km long. It features 705m of ascent and 350m of descent, partly on narrow and technical forest trails. Be prepared for many slippery rocks and tree roots!

Roughly speaking, the course goes approximately 400 metres up, then 300 metres down, and then 300 metres up again.

The finish line is at the monastery which stands on the summit of Šmarna gora and which offers, weather permitting, excellent views of the Alps and of the Ljubljana basin.

Juniors (16-19 years) and seniors (60 years or over) run 5km (+405m, -50m).

For many runners, the Šmarna gora Race is the second mountain running event of the weekend. The first one is the Rekord Šmarne Gore (Šmarna gora Record) which takes place just 17 hours earlier.

 

Šmarna gora Race 2009 - David Schneider of Switzerland and Jonathan Wyatt of New Zealand (Copyright © 2014 Hendrik Böttger / runinternational.eu)

 

Map of the venue (blue: start; red: finish):

 

45. Tek na Šmarno goro:

Date:

  • 5 October 2024 (Saturday)

Event website:

 

Number of finishers in the 10k mountain race:

  • 2023: 76 (55 men and 21 women)
  • 2022: 90 (67 men and 23 women)
  • 2021: 67 (51 men and 16 women)
  • 2020: 78 (59 men and 19 women)
  • 2019: 162 (127 men and 35 women)
  • 2018: 133 (111 men and 22 women)
  • 2017: 124 (101 men and 23 women)
  • 2016: 108 (89 men and 19 women)

 

Archive:

Race information:

Race report and photos:

 

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