Courses

„Tran Ultra Run“ will take place on May 9, 2026 in the territory of Tran Municipality (approx. 88 km west of Sofia, Bulgaria).

In brief

The routes will mainly be in the Ruy Mountain, with only the longest distance passing not only through Ruy but also through the Ezimirska and Greben Mountains.

The 14 km route climbs Mali Ruy Peak; the 23 km route: Ruy, Orlovets and Mali Ruy; the 43 km distance also climbs the three peaks and, in addition, passes through Rakitski Kamik Peak and reaches the Gorge of the Erma River. The longest distance, besides the already mentioned peaks, also reaches the villages of Petachintsi (Bogoyna), Bankya and Vrabcha via dirt roads and forest trails. Besides the peaks, the routes abound in places with incredible panoramic views.

Start / finish location

The start and the finish are located in the center of the village of Turokovtsi, not far from the town of Tran.

The four routes are loop courses, and all competitors start and finish in the village of Turokovtsi.

Competitors who finish after the time limit set for a given route will be marked with the code DNF in the final results.

Competitors who do not meet the intermediate control times (the so-called cut-off) on the routes “The Gorge Marathon” and “Erma Ultra” will also be marked with DNF in the final results.

Terrain

The race takes place in the physical-geographical region of Kraishte, which is characterized by diverse relief and a huge concentration of mountains.

The terrain is a perfect mix of soft trails and rocky sections, steep slopes and gentler forest areas, open and very scenic stretches, and wild valleys. And many peaks and wonderful panoramic views! Unlike the old routes of Tran Ultra Run, here the karst terrain is rather the exception. Another difference is that the area is much richer in water resources, and the routes pass by small rivers and streams; in several places there are also public drinking fountains (except on the 14 km distance).

First and Foremost: Safety

Preparing the routes of “Tran Ultra Run” is a process that never stops. The members of the Tran Tourist Association—the organizer of the race—constantly maintain the routes in the mountains around Tran. All routes of “Tran Ultra Run” will be marked with special race markings. We will inform you about this at a later stage.

Aid stations

At specific points along the routes there will be aid stations. At them, competitors will receive water and food. In addition, part of the organizing team will be positioned at key locations to help in case of need. You will find the locations of the stations in the detailed information for each route. Competitors should note that cups are not provided at the aid stations.

Security

Insurance will be arranged for each competitor. This is a mandatory condition for participation in “Tran Ultra Run”. The procedure for arranging such insurance requires the provision of three names and a Personal Identification Number (EGN). Everyone who wishes to register for the race fills these in the online registration form. Registrations take place here.

First aid

At specific points along the routes there will be first-aid teams, and at the start/finish point there will be an ambulance and a medical professional. A first-aid kit will be available at each aid station.

GPS track

We recommend downloading the GPS tracks/routes (in .gpx format). You will find them in the detailed information for each route. The exact tracks will be uploaded to this website no later than April 20, 2026. At the moment, those on the website may undergo corrections, which, however, will not substantially affect the distances and elevation gain/loss.

Mandatory equipment

• Backpack (only for competitors on the 43 km and 64 km route);
• Mobile phone (with a fully charged battery and switched on at all times);
• Aluminum foil;
• ID card;
• Insurance (issued by the organizers);
• Food with a caloric value of at least 500 calories;
• Water bottle (minimum capacity 0.5 liter; for 43 km and 64 km—minimum 1 liter). Please note that cups are not provided either at the start/finish point or at the other aid stations; without a container for water you will not be able to receive water from the aid stations!
• Headlamp (only for competitors on 64 km). This distance passes through a tunnel located near the Gorge of the Erma River, where there is no lighting and visibility.

Recommended equipment

•  Backpack (only for competitors on the 14 km and 23 km routes);
• Specialized (trail) running shoes;
• Functional lightweight clothing;
• Waterproof jacket (membrane);
• First-aid kit—gauze, bandage, adhesive tape, plasters, painkiller, antihistamine tablets, disinfectant;
• Poles;
• Sunscreen;
• Sun hat/cap;
• Sunglasses;
• Repellent (against mosquitoes, ticks, etc.).

In case of sudden changes in weather conditions, changes to the mandatory equipment are possible, and each participant will be notified via their email, the race website, and the “Tran Ultra Run” Facebook page!

Check out the courses of Tran Ultra Run: