Running events Altipiano dello Sciliar

From half marathon to mountain run

Running is a popular recreational sport, which is enjoying increasing popularity. Visitors and guests of Altipiano dello Sciliar in South Tyrol find optimum conditions for this sporting activity in this holiday paradise. On the one hand, the high altitude offers the best conditions for effective training. On the other hand, a unique panorama offered the beautiful peaks of the Dolomites.

Every years some running events take place. On the Alpe di Siusi – the largest mountain plateau in Europe – and the surroundings, in the Altipiano dello Sciliar and in Val Gardena these are described below.

Alpe di Siusi half marathon

The Alpe di Siusi half marathon takes place on the first Sunday in July and had its first edition in 2013. Thus, in the year 2021 the eighth edition is imminent at again. 700 participants can start.

The half-marathon course starts at the Compaccio on Alpe di Siusi. It has his first increase to the Piz, North of the Alpe di Siusi and further increases to the Laranzer hut and Almenrosen hut at the southern part of the mountain plateau. The finish line is located at the Compaccio, the central place on the Alpe di Siusi. There is also the mountain station of the aerial cableway of Siusi allo Sciliar – Alpe di Siusi.

By this route of 21.195 kilometers 601 altitude have to overcome. The route of half marathon goes at an altitude between 1,831 and 2,049 meters above sea level. 

Its charm has the Alpe di Siusi half marathon by the unique landscape and the unique panorama of the Dolomites, offering the Alpe di Siusi. During the run, the athletes can compete with like-minded people.

Please note: In 2024 the Alpe di Siusi half marathon hold on the Sunday, 07/07/2024.

Marinzen run

The run to the “Marinzenalm” (Alpe di Marinzen) is another running event, which is traditionally organize on a Sunday late August of each year. For the first time the Marinzen run was organized in 1993.

The run starts in Castelrotto, one of three main villages in Altipiano dello Sciliar, South Tyrol and leads to the “Marinzenalm” South of Castelrotto. The starting point is located in Castelrotto, at an altitude of 1,050 meters above sea level; the finish line is on the Marinzen at an altitude of 1,502 meters above sea level. The course has a total length of nearly eight kilometers (7.954 meters) and leads through forest and meadow trails to the small, popular Alpe above Castelrotto.

Spectators, who don´t want to walk to Alpe di Marinzen can take the chair-lift. The valley station of the lift is near the consumer market (COOP) in Castelrotto.

Every year the run to the Alpe di Marinzen is a small running event those take part about 100 runners.

Mountain run “Schlernhex”

The mountain run “Schlernhex" is hold on the last Sunday in June and is a very difficult competition. Especially endurance and stamina are required in the mountain running. The biggest challenge is overcoming the nearly 1,600 altitude.

Start of the running event is the churchyard of Fiè allo Sciliar. The aim is the “Schlern house”/Rifugio Bolzano on the Sciliar.

The length of the complete route is 10.5 kilometers. Altogether 1,590 altitude meters have to overcome. Fiè allo Sciliar – the starting point of the mountain run “Schlernhex” - lies at an altitude of 880 meters above sea level, the Schlern house on a height of 2,450 meters above sea level.

Sky marathon Rosengarten Schlern 

The "sky marathon Rosengarten Schlern" is an absolute challenge for athletes. The number of participants at this running race is limited on 500 athletes.

The sky marathon Rosengarten Schlern has its special character by its very demanding route, which leads around the massif of the famous Catinaccio and to the Sciliar.

The sky marathon Rosengarten Schlern has a length of 44.7 kilometers, 2,980 meters in ascent and 3,083 meters in descent. The marathon is classified as a mountain marathon due to these differences and because the route goes exclusively through alpine terrain.

Starting point of the sky marathon is San Cirpriano, a fraction of Tires al Catinaccio. The starting point is on an altitude of 1,100 meters above sea level. The route of the marathon leads around the massif of Catinaccio which is mainly known for its unique red light at dusk, to the Haniger hut, Rotwand hut, Vajolet hut, Grasleiten pass hut, the Alpe di Tires (Denti di terarossa) to the Sciliar/Schlern. By the Schlern house/Rifugio Bolzano, it goes to monte Cavone/Tschafon, passing the monte Cavone hut and finally to the finish line in Tiers al Catinaccio.

The Grasleiten pass with an altitude of 2,630 meters above sea level is the highest point of the sky marathon. In addition, the Molignon pass and the Cigolade pass have to be master.

In addition to the described long route can choose a short route with a length of "only" 35.8 kilometers. It runs up to the Grasleiten pass as described above. From the Grasleiten pass the route continues to the Grasleiten pass hut, the Ciamin Valley and Lavina Bianca (Weißlahnbad) and finally the finish line in Tires al Catinaccio. In the uphill run, the short route have 1,908 meters and in the downhill run 1,935 meters.

Please note: In the year 2024, the sky marathon Rosengarten Schlern takes place on Saturday, 07/13/2024.

Dolomites SASLONG half marathon

With the "Dolomites Saslong half marathon", there is a further half marathon in the surrounding of Alpe di Siusi. Regional highlights of the half marathon are the Sella, Marmolada and the Sassolungo and Sassopiatto. This rock formation of Sassolungo and Sassopiatto forms the unique panorama on the eastern side of the Alpe di Siusi.

Starting point of this half marathon is a high plateau between the municipality of San Crestina (St. Christina) in Val Gardena and the Alpe di Siusi (at the hotel Cendevaves), called Monte Pana. Monte Pana is located at an altitude of 1,636 meters above sea level.

During the half marathon route, you pass first the Comici hut and the passo Sella (Sellajoch). Then you arrive the stone town, which has its name from the big stones lying in a rock fall zone. From here it continues – the Friedrich August way – to Sassopiatto hut (Langkofelhütte). On this section of the trail, you have a fantastic view over the Alpe di Siusi and to the Sciliar. From Sassopiatto hut, it goes finally back to the starting point of Monte Pana over Val Scura.

The path segment to the Comici hut is the largest effort at the beginning of the half marathon. If once reached this hut, the route to the Sassopiatto hut is at a constant altitude between 2,200 and 2,300 meters.

In total, 900 altitude have to overcome at the Dolomites Saslong half marathon.

The first edition of the Dolomites Saslong half marathon had organized in the year 2018. In the years before there was the Val Gardena mountain run.

Please note: 2024 is the sexth edition of Dolomites Saslong half marathon and will held on Saturday, 06/08/2024, maximum 600 athletes can participate.

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Image credits: © pavel1964 - stock.adobe.com

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