13th Race "Along the Valley of the Cardinals"
This 23.4km road race in Croatia follows a hilly and scenic route through the Žumberak, a delightful region of steep wooded hills, vineyards, small plots of farmland, and isolated villages.
Although it's a relatively small race with about 100 finishers many strong runners from Croatia and neighbouring countries have attended the race in the past.
The event is staged in the village of Krašić, 50 kilometres south-west of the capital Zagreb. Start and finish is on the elongated main square - a nice place to hang around in one of the pavement cafes and watch village life.
After about two kilometres you pass a wonderful (but half derelict) Greek Catholic church, built on a little islet. Then, the route winds up and down through the hills and a series of tiny villages.
The first loop (about 8 kilometres) brings you back to Krašić. The second loop follows a completely different route. The course is not traffic-free but traffic is very limited (apart from tractors).
Krašić is an important Croatian pilgrimage centre. The race is held in honour of two cardinals and two bishops who were all born in the area and whose birthplaces you will pass on the route.
One of them, cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, born on 8 May 1898 and beatified by the pope 100 years later, had been archbishop of Zagreb during World War Two. He was imprisoned by the communist regime for five years and then put under house arrest in Krašić until his death in 1960.
Country: Croatia
Venue (Map): Krašić (Zagreb 50km, Ljubljana 122km, Nagykanizsa 185km, Graz 228km)
Date: 9 May 2009 (Saturday)
Start: 16.00
Race distance: 23.4km
Start and finish: on the main square in Krašić
Entries: by e-mail; payment on the day until 15.00 in the primary school
Entry fees: 50 HRK (ca. 6.80 EUR)
You get: T-Shirt, medal, results list; a warm meal with traditional live music after the race
Prizes: first 3 M/F; category prizes (prizes are not cumulative)
Free bus from Zagreb to Krašić: 12.00 from the car park at the basketball centre 'Dražen Petrović' (Andrašecova ulica); return after dinner
Number of finishers 2008: 86
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.