9th Soltn Mountain Half Marathon
Jenesien/San Genesio (Italy), Sunday 27 September 2009
Alto Adige (South Tyrol), Italy's northernmost province in the Alps, is home to a large number of running events in beautiful settings.
The "Soltn" multi-terrain half marathon is held on the Salten plateau high above Bolzano, South Tyrol's chief town.
The start and finish are at an elevation of 1226m. The highest point on the course is at 1514m. Overall, the race travels 520m up and 520m down.
Most of the course is on trails, only the first 2km are on asphalt roads.
The hilly route runs through woods and meadows and offers many fine views of the surrounding mountain scenery.
The start/finish area is on a football pitch near the village of Jenesien (Italian: San Genesio) almost 1000m above Bolzano (although just 10km up the road).
Interestingly, more than 97 per cent of Jenesien's inhabitants speak German as a first language whereas 73 per cent in Bolzano are speakers of Italian.
In 2008, the winners were South Tyrol's elite runner Renate Rungger (1:24:00) and her younger brother Hannes Rungger (1:14:42).
Country: Italy
Venue (Map): Jenesien/San Genesio (10km from Bolzano, 126km from Innsbruck, 165km from Verona)
Date: 27 September 2009 (Sunday)
Distance: 21.1km (+520m, -520m)
Start time: 10.00
Start and finish: Fussballplatz (football pitch) above Jenesien (1226m)
Entries: online, or by fax or e-mail (until 24 September, 19.00); payment on the day; late entries on the day from 8.00 to 9.00
Entry fees: 20 EUR (advance entries), 25 EUR (late entries on the day)
Race centre: at the start (on the day from 8.00 to 9.30)
You get: a present, pasta party
Prizes: vouchers to the first 10 men, 5 women and 2 juniors; presents to the first 5 in the categories; prize money for a new course record
Showers and changing facilities: yes
Presentation: 14.00
Prize raffle: 15.30 (prizes: Honda scooter, TV, mountain bike, digital camera, ...)
Number of finishers 2008: 189
Event website (in German and Italian): www.jenesien.net/berglauf/