12th Südtirol Three Peaks Alpine Run 2009
12. Südtirol Drei Zinnen Alpin Lauf - Corsa delle Tre Cime
Sexten/Sesto (ITA), 13 September 2009
In 2008, the Drei Zinnen Lauf in the Sexten Dolomites in South Tyrol was transferred to an alternative lower level route - a wise decision considering the hazardous weather conditions and the unseasonable snow on the course. More than 600 runners finished safely, with German Helmut Schiessl and Italy's Antonella Confortola claiming victory.
The 17.5km route with an overall elevation gain of 1350 metres starts in Sexten (Italian: Sesto), a very popular summer and winter sport resort at an elevation of 1320 metres. The town is very close to the Austrian border, and more than 95 per cent of the population speak German as a first language.
After a short lap through Sexten the route travels the first 3.5km on asphalt roads and another 3.5km on dirt roads along the Fischleintal (Fischlein Valley). You then face a steeper, 7km-long climb on mountain trails with an elevation gain of 1000 metres. You reach the highest point of the course (2528m) at the 14km mark. From there, it's mainly downhill. The finish is at the Three Peaks mountain hut (2405m).
The views of the world-famous Three Lavaredo Peaks (Italian: Tre Cime di Lavaredo, German: Drei Zinnen) are phenomenal.
You can pick up your personal clothing at the finish but you have to walk down to the valley. However, you can take a short cut and, thanks to a free bus service, you don't need to walk the last 4km.
Race report: 2009
Country: Italy (South Tyrol)
Venue: Sexten/Sesto
Date: 13 September 2009 (Sunday)
Distance: 17.5km (+1350m)
Start: 10.00 at Haus Sexten (1320m)
Finish: Drei Zinnen mountain hut (2405m)
Children's races (Mini Three Peaks Run): Saturday 15.00 at Haus Sexten; details on the event website
Race course: elevation profile, course map
Entries: online (in four languages, see event website) or by post, fax or e-mail; payment by bank transfer or credit card; entry limit: 1000 runners
Entry fees: 30 EUR (advance entries until 5 September); 40 EUR (late entries)
Race centre: Haus Sexten (Saturday 12 September from 10.00 to 12.00 and 15.00 to 20.00; on the day from 7.00 to 8.30)
You get: chip for timing, T-Shirt (Salewa), transport of personal clothing to the finish; finisher medal, pasta party (after the race at 14.30 in Sexten)
Prizes: first 10 M, first 7 F; every 50th finisher (50th, 100th, 150th, ...) gets a prize
Showers and changing facilities: yes
Presentation: 15.30 Conference Hall in Sexten
Number of finishers 2008: 559 men, 88 women, 5 juniors; 147 children
Event Website (in English, German and Italian): Drei Zinnen Marathon
Tourist information (in 5 languages): Hochpustertal/Sesto