Veitsch Border Relay Race

Ultra Alpin Marathon: in a class of its own

The Ultra Alpin Marathon – a well-known border relay race in a class all its own – takes place every year in St. Barbara im Mürztal / Veitsch. The most unusual aspect of this Border Relay Race is its stunning alpine backdrop: the Hohe Veitsch mountains.

The route demands that participants give everything they’ve got, as most of it runs along the border of the community of Veitsch: 54 kilometres in length and 2,200 metres above sea level, the marathon must be completed either solo or in a three-person relay. Only the first and last 1.1 kilometres of the route are paved; the remaining 51.8 kilometres are divided into gravel roads, forest tracks and marked alpine paths. The entire trail features yellow ground markings and sections of it are marked with ribbons, thus ensuring easy orientation. The start is at the JUFA Hotel Veitsch at 670 metres, while the highest point is near the Graf-Meran House at 1,860 metres above sea level. Starting at the JUFA Hotel Veitsch, the route continues over Hochreiter and Hubertushof to Pretalsattel and Eisnerkogel. The westernmost point is on Mount Rotsohl, after which you reach what is the probably most strenuous section via Rabenstein: The Teufelsteig (‘Devil’s Ridge’). This demands a great deal of strength, endurance and willpower from the runners. Once you have completed this section, you will reach the highest point at the Graf-Meran House. Across the high plateau, the path goes slightly downhill to Klein-Veitsch-Alm, where you can already hear the cheers of the spectators from far away. From the Karoluskreuz, the route continues to the Töschenkreuz to the Mirl-Bauer before taking a forest path and then an asphalt road to reach its destination. The spectators around the finish line create a great atmosphere, which gives the runners even more energy for those final metres. At twelve refreshment stations along the way, the runners receive tea, water, cola, a sports drink and bananas; at the changing stations, there are also home-made pastries. There is sufficient parking for spectators and participants. A special treat for the runners: The indoor swimming pool at the JUFA Hotel Veitsch can be used free of charge (two hours) after the event. At about 5 PM, the best Ultra Alpin Marathon performances will be honoured in an awards ceremony including a prize draw.

The next Border Relay Race will take place on 26 June 2021.

The marathon course consists of the three sections described below: Marathon: 54 km, 1st relay section: 16.5 km, 2nd relay section: 16 km, 3rd relay section: 21.5 km. You can find a detailed description of the registration, the refreshment stations and much more here: www.grenzstaffellauf.com