Sunday 24 August 2025
Held on the wooded Šmarna gora hill in the north-western part of Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, the Šmarna gora Race (Slovene: Tek na Šmarno goro) is one of the world's most prestigious mountain running events.
It's the final race of the WMRA Mountain Running World Cup and has attracted many of the best mountain runners on the globe.
Starting in the village of Tacen at the foot of the hill, the route is 10km long. It features 705m of ascent and 350m of descent, partly on narrow and technical forest trails. Be prepared for many slippery rocks and tree roots!
Roughly speaking, the course goes approximately 400 metres up, then 300 metres down, and then 300 metres up again.
The finish line is at the monastery which stands on the summit of Šmarna gora and which offers, weather permitting, excellent views of the Alps and of the Ljubljana basin.
Juniors (16-19 years) and seniors (60 years or over) run 5km (+405m, -50m).
Usually, the Šmarna gora Race takes place in October.
In 2025, it will be held on 24 August, one day after the Velika planina Race, an 8.5km uphill World Cup Race in the municipality of Kamnik, 27 kilometres from Tacen.
The Rekord Šmarne Gore (Šmarna gora Record), a short and steep uphill sprint race (1.8km, +360m) will take place, as usual, in October.
Map of the venue (blue: start; red: finish):
46. Tek na Šmarno goro:
Date:
- 24 August 2025 (Sunday)
Event website:
Number of finishers in the 10k mountain race:
- 2024: 98 (72 men and 26 women)
- 2023: 76 (55 men and 21 women)
- 2022: 90 (67 men and 23 women)
- 2021: 67 (51 men and 16 women)
- 2020: 78 (59 men and 19 women)
- 2019: 162 (127 men and 35 women)
- 2018: 133 (111 men and 22 women)
- 2017: 124 (101 men and 23 women)
- 2016: 108 (89 men and 19 women)
Archive:
Race report and photos:
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.