Peaks like isolated islands
Ultra-Trail Małopolska. Małopolska at an express pace.
races / discover
If someone wants to get to know Małopolska quickly, the ideal way is to participate in the Ultra-Trail Małopolska long-distance running festival, UTM for short. The association with the most famous alpine race around Mont Blanc – UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) is not accidental. Runners will cover a similar distance (170 km) and elevation gain (+/- 9,000).
The peaks of the Beskid Wyspowy are isolated islands. You climb one of them and to climb the next one, you have to get off the first one. Does your watch say you’re at the top and you think you’re almost there? Not in the Beskid Wyspowy! You may find that you have to lose altitude and then climb up again. On Ultra-Trail Małopolska, in beautiful natural surroundings, everyone tested their physical and mental strength. I train in Małopolska – here are my favorite trails, places and running routes. Most often, I run in the closest Beskidy Mountains: Makowski and Wyspowy, as well as the Gorce Mountains. Here there are well-marked trails, beautiful views and excellent access. Half an hour by car from Krakow and I forget about smog, traffic jams and the multitude of responsibilities at work. I want more people to get to know the charms of these places – says the organizer, Paweł Derlatka from the 4 Alternatives Foundation.
The Ultra Trail Małopolska route starts in Beskid Makowski, runs through Beskid Wyspowy and Gorce, to return to Beskid Wyspowy and to the finish line in Makowski. On the way, he stops at shelters in Luboń Wielki, Stare Wierchy and Turbacz, and also visits the Lubań tent base. This is a typical Beskid running event, but due to the long route and kilometers to be covered not only horizontally but also vertically, it will constitute one of the most serious running challenges in Poland.
Raising social awareness in the field of environmental protection and taking responsibility for it are the assumptions behind the organization of the entire Ultra Trail Małopolska event. A personal cup should be a must-have for every runner, so as not to pollute the environment with disposable containers. Garbage cannot be thrown away on the route, only storage at nutritional points will be allowed. To make this easier, the organizer provides participants with garbage bags and bags for hygiene products. By accepting the rules contained in the Eco & Fair Play Rules – an annex to the Ultra Trail Małopolska Regulations, each race participant becomes an Ambassador of the Natural Environment. With its attitude, it protects the natural environment, cares for the maintenance of the landscape and the ecosystem, being aware that humans, like any living organism, are an element of the natural environment and are subject to its laws.
The Lesser Poland Voivodeship and the Rhône-Alpes Region with Chamonix (UTMB starting point) are partner regions. The Małopolska mountains are therefore a suitable arena for organizing a similar race in Poland.
Courses:
UTM 240 – Distance: 250 km Elevation: +/- 12880 m
UTM 170 – Distance: 172 km Elevation: +/- 8630 m
UTM 105 – Distance: 107 km Elevation: +/- 5720 m
UTM 64 – Distance: 65 km Elevation: +/- 4030 m
UTM 45 – Distance: 49 km Elevation: +/- 2750 m
Event website: ultratrailmalopolska.pl/en/
Photography: Mateusz Lewita