Lake Bled 80K

Race strategy

Run hard on the first mountain, but save energy for the second.

• Big early climb with 1880m gain. Hold your pace, save your legs for later.
• 914m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• The finish is runnable. Save your legs to run it all the way.
• Long race. Control your HR and effort. Early mistakes cost the most.
• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 59.2km, then run your race pace.
• Start · 0.0km–1.8km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.8km–31.3km · Climb of 1875m, high point 2166m. 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. Hike the steepest pitches.
• Work · 31.3km–43.3km · Descent of 914m averaging 8%. This is where the race is built: steady, solid effort. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them.
• Fade · 43.3km–59.2km · Descent of 1320m averaging 10%. Plus 1 more climb. Your energy fades, and that's normal: hold a steady effort and stop counting the miles. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. Hike the steepest pitches. Your heart rate drifts down on its own: don't chase your early-race numbers, go by feel.
• Home · 59.2km–77.7km · 18.5km of runnable trail. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.

Course

The course climbs 3866m+. With 48m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 31% of the distance is uphill, 36% downhill and 33% flat. The longest climb runs 14.8km at an average 12.7% grade (1875m of vertical). The longest descent runs 13.6km at an average 9.7% grade (1320m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 33.6% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 36.4% over 0.3km. Surface: 72% trail and 24% road. Flat-equivalent effort: 108.7 FlatKM.

Summits

The highest summit on the course is Mali Stol (2187m), 31.3km from the start. Other named summits along the route: Potoški Stol (2017m). The course also passes close to Kamnitnik (1858m).

Poles

Trekking poles are strongly recommended: about 9.0km of the course is steep enough for them to pay off.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 41 of 100), with 36% of the load in the first half: 2 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 59.2km, then run your race pace.
• #1 · 31.3–43.3 km · 914 m D−, -7.6% · 34.4 km ahead → control
• #2 · 45.6–59.2 km · 1320 m D−, -9.7% · 18.5 km ahead → control

Weather

On race day, start temperatures have historically ranged from 8°C to 17°C, with around 9°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 39%. Heavy rain of 10.0mm or more falls on about 11% of days around this date.

Results

776 finishers completed the 2026 edition. Men's winner: Marcel Fabian (Poland) in 7:29:01. Women's winner: Sara Rebekka Faro Linde (Norway) in 8:40:16.