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Vodno-Matka Trail Marathon
52km5231.6km31.618.7km18.7

31.6km

31.6km·1600m+
April 5
Skopje,
North Macedonia
itra·source

Race Pace Calculator · GPX Analyzer · Trail Finder

Other races: North Macedonia

Read

  • Types of Runs and What Each Workout Actually Trains
  • Hill Training for Trail Runners: Train the Descents
  • Downhill Running Muscle Damage: Why Descents Wreck Quads

31.6km · Race profile

Distance
31.6km
Gain
1600m+
FlatKM
44.2
Max
1045m
Min
546m

About 31.6km

31.6km is the 31.6km trail race at Vodno-Matka Trail Marathon 2026 (Skopje, North Macedonia). The race starts on April 5, 2026.

Race strategy

Hold a steady pace and save energy for every section.

  • Start easy and control your HR up to 17.4km.
  • Hold your race pace up to 29.3km, but stay in control.
  • All downhill to the finish: go all out!
  • Control your HR on the first climb, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 29.3km.
  • Start · 0.0km–1.7km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
  • Settle in · 1.7km–17.4km · Plus 1 more climb and 1 descent. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.
  • Work · 17.4km–29.3km · Climb of 311m, high point 1046m. Plus 1 more climb and 1 descent. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace.
  • Home · 29.3km–31.1km · Descent of 337m averaging 19%. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line.

Course

The course climbs 1600m+. With 51m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 52% of the distance is uphill, 43% downhill and 5% flat. The longest climb runs 6.2km at an average 6.8% grade (423m of vertical). The longest descent runs 4.1km at an average 12.2% grade (499m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 35.0% over 0.2km. The steepest descent drops at 24.1% over 1.1km. Surface: 84% trail and 8% road. Flat-equivalent effort: 44.2 FlatKM.

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 3.0km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 22 of 100), with 31% of the load in the first half: 0 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

  • Control your HR on the first climb, then run your race pace, and go all out on the final descent from 29.3km.
  • 19.9–23.9 km · 499 m D−, -12.3% · 7.1 km ahead → your pace
  • 29.3–31.1 km · 337 m D−, -19.3% · 0.0 km ahead → free

Weather

On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 4°C to 14°C, with around 10°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 36%. Heavy rain of 10.0mm or more falls on about 3% of days around this date.

Results

186 finishers completed the 2026 edition. Men's winner: Zlatko KARCHESKI (North Macedonia) in 2:48:19. Women's winner: Vera URDAREVSKA (North Macedonia) in 3:33:49.

This page has the full results and splits, a pacing and nutrition planner, a gradient matrix, an interactive elevation profile and historical weather for 31.6km.

Other distances of Vodno-Matka Trail Marathon 202652km (52.0km)·18.7km (18.7km)

Other editions of 31.6km2025

Official websitevodnomatka.mk