SPORT 2000 Traunsee Mountain Marathon
The Sport 2000 Traunsee Bergmarathon is one of the most dramatic and memorable running events in Austria. The Raiffeisen full marathon begins at 3:00 in the morning — an extraordinary start that sends runners out into the Alpine night to ascend and descend the mountain terrain around Lake Traunsee. The FURAL half marathon from Gmunden to Ebensee follows at 5:00am, while the Innotech half marathon in the reverse direction begins at 8:30am. Those who set out at 3:00am are rewarded with the experience of running through the Alpine night and witnessing the sunrise over the Traunsee — one of the most spectacular sights in the entire Salzkammergut.
The Traunsee Bergmarathon has built a devoted following among runners who come from across Austria and beyond specifically to experience the unique combination of demanding mountain terrain, extraordinary scenery and the special atmosphere of running with headlamps through the pre-dawn silence. The climbs are genuine and challenging, the descents require focus and technique, and the reward at every turn is a landscape of extraordinary beauty. Athletes consistently describe this event as one of the most memorable running experiences of their lives — a race where the natural setting is as much a part of the experience as the competition itself.
Lake Traunsee is the deepest lake in Austria, its dark waters flanked by the dramatic cliff faces of the Traunstein and the green slopes of the Höllengebirge. The towns along its shores — Gmunden, Ebensee, Traunkirchen and Altmünster — each have their own character and charm, and the marathon passes through or near all of them in the course of its route. The combination of lakeside lowland running and genuine Alpine mountain terrain makes the Traunsee Bergmarathon a uniquely varied and satisfying race experience that rewards training and ambition in full measure.
From Hallstatt Hideaway, the start area in Gmunden is reachable in under thirty minutes — making this event perfectly accessible for active guests staying in the heart of the Salzkammergut. Whether taking on the full marathon, one of the half marathon distances, or simply coming to cheer on the runners as they pass in the early morning light, the Traunsee Bergmarathon captures the spirit of outdoor life in this extraordinary Alpine region at its very finest.
