The "Ultra-Alpin-Marathon" is an atmospheric 56-kilometre up-and-down trail race in Austria, held at the end of June on the eastern edge of the Alps.

Last year's event saw almost 700 participants. Most of them took part in the relay race for teams of three runners. The ultra marathon had 119 finishers.

The route features 2200 metres of ascent and 2200 metres of descent.

The start and the finish are at an elevation of 670 metres in Dorf Veitsch, a village which looks back on 400 years of mining industry. Nowadays, it's a popular base for hiking and skiing. The village is close to the railway line from Vienna to Graz, Austria's second largest city.

The race travels along the border of the municipality of Veitsch (hence the name of the event).

Participants run uphill to the 5.5km-long, grassy limestone plateau of the Hohe Veitsch, and then down again on the other side. The highest point on the course is at 1860 metres.

The race follows trails and dirt roads through forests and mountain pastures. Just the first and the last 1.5 kilometres are on asphalt roads. Along the route, there are 12 well-stocked feed stations.

In the relay, the first team member runs mainly uphill (18.5km), the second runs up and down (16km), and the third mainly downhill (21.5km).

The second section offers the best views but it's also the most technical part of the route, and it includes the steepest climbs.

In 2009, Walter Krenn (42) led the ultra runners home in a time of 4:30:32. First woman was 54-year-old Edith Pekovsek  in 5:35:06.

Country: Austria

Venue (Map): Dorf Veitsch (83km from Graz, 123km from Vienna)

Date: 26 June 2010 (Saturday)

Race distance: 56km; Relay (18.5+16+21.5km)

Start time: 9.00

Start and finish: Hallenschwimmbad (public swimming pool) in Dorf Veitsch

Entries: online or by e-mail, post or fax; payment by bank transfer; late entries on the day

Entry fees (individual runners): 32/34 EUR (until 21 June/late entries)

Entry fees (relay teams): 90/96 EUR

Entry fees (relay teams, first member runs 56km): 92/96 EUR

Race centre: Public swimming pool in Veitsch (25 June 17.00-20.00, on the day 7.00-8.30)

You get: T-Shirt, photo service, prize raffle; bus service for relay runners; free entry to the public swimming pool

Prizes: trophies to the first 3 in each category

Showers and changing facilities: yes

Presentation: ca. 17.00

Number of finishers 2009: 695 (119 individual runners, 192 relay teams)

Event website (in English): ultraalpinemarathon.jimdo.com

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