mozart 100 by UTMB® - trail running experience between mountains, lakes and the city of Salzburg

As is so often the case, a successful business starts with an idea. When Josef and Claudia were on the flight back from the Ultra Trail in Costa Rica in 2011, they talked about what it would be like to bring a similarly professional running event to Austria. Claudia Kolussi, a team member from the very beginning, was, like so many others, convinced of the great idea right from the start.

Three months later, Josef Mayerhofer presented his idea to the city and province of Salzburg. The first mozart 100 race finally took place on 23 June 2012 with 250 participants, and ten years later more than 3,000 runners have already taken part in the running event, which has been called mozart 100 by UTMB® since 2022.

"We had a concept. There isno trail running event anywhere in the world that starts and finishes in the centre of a city - and Salzburg is known worldwide ," explains Josef Mayerhofer. "So race director Sepp Gruber immediately set to work looking for a route from the city of Salzburg into the surrounding SalzburgerLand that would be longer than a marathon." Josef looks back: "The mozart 100 route is something 'living' and is constantly evolving: for example, during the first five years, you had to run two loops to Fuschl am See and back. From 2017, the big loop was extended to the Salzkammergut - to the Zwölferhorn and the Schafberg on Lake Wolfgangsee and back again. A new section over the Filbling high above Lake Fuschl will be added in 2023."

"For me, it's the mixture of lakes, mountains, forests and meadows - the beautiful landscape of SalzburgerLand makes the mozart 100 by UTMB® a trail running highlight," Josef Mayerhofer enthuses. Although there are many trail running events in the high alpine region, such as the Eiger Ultra Trail, which is held between 2,000 and 3,000 metres in altitude, the advantage here in the foothills of the Alps is that the route is accessible everywhere and beginners also feel safe here.

In addition, the mozart 100 route is nevertheless challenging. This is because a considerable 5,400 metres in altitude are covered over 100 km. The route highlights are the Zwölferhorn, the Schafberg and running alongside the Fuschlsee and Wolfgangsee lakes. You almost always run in nature.

The proportion of guests from abroad is 70%. Many of the runners come mainly because of the beautiful scenery. In contrast to road races, where many participants are focussed on the time, trail running is often about the experience. Josef is enthusiastic: "Our trail runners also stop to take photos of the natural scenery in the region and take their impressions and views of the route home with them as souvenirs."

At trail running events, you often have to travel for hours by public transport to the actual competition after arriving at your destination. Not so in Salzburg. The highlights of the region can be run directly from the city of Salzburg. The central location and TOP accessibility are unique.

Claudia Kolussi reports: " For many, especially international trail runners, it's also about water. Many athletes from other countries are very enthusiastic about the natural water sources, streams and waterfalls along the mozart 100 route." She considers the phenomenal route over mountains, through forests and along the Salzkammergut lakes to be a particular highlight. Because trail runners don't like to run on tarmac. They enjoy the different characteristics of the route sections. The proportion of hiking trails, forest roads and much more on the mozart 100 trails is an impressive 84%.

Claudia Kolussi: "For me, it's the Filbling this year. You run up from Hof bei Salzburg in the Baderluck district and are rewarded with a fantastic view of Lake Fuschl, the Schober and over to the Schafberg, before heading back down into the Tiefbrunnau to Faistenau."

Josef Mayerhofer: "My favourite sections are the shore trail on the north side of Lake Fuschl and the trails up to the Zwölferhorn and the Schafberg."

He also points out that almost all participants "curse" the last climb up the Kapuzinerberg in the city of Salzburg - this is the last mountain of the entire route. Once this is done, the runners are immediately rewarded by the unique scenery at the finish: the finale goes right through Salzburg's old town via Mozartplatz and Residenzplatz to the finish at Kapitelplatz.

Claudia Kolussi says enthusiastically: "Many runners are switching from road running to the natural trail running experience. And any amateur runner who can run for an hour at a time can take part. The shortest distance in our competitions is 9 km with 300 metres of elevation gain on the City Trail. It continues with the half marathon - and all you need in terms of equipment is good shoes."

Trail running is also very popular with women, says Claudia Kolussi: "The shorter the competition, the more women there are at the start. For ultra-VA it's 15%, for half marathons it's 50%."

Josef Mayerhofer believes that it is a question of preparation. In his opinion, completing the race is the result of good preparation. "If you are well prepared, then there is a very high probability that you will make it. And I believe that if you can imagine it, you can set yourself the goal and you can achieve it. I think many people don't have enough confidence in themselves. One of our aims is to get people off the streets. We want to motivate them to get active and show them how beautiful it is to run in nature and, above all, how easy it is once you start exercising."

• The half marathon starts in Koppl. From the Nockstein, runners have a fantastic view of the city of Salzburg.
• The light trail starts in Fuschl am See and runs along the north side of Lake Fuschl.
• The marathon starts in St. Gilgen.
• The ultra trails with Schafberg and Zwölferhorn start in Fuschl am See.

Josef Mayerhofer explains: "For the starts in Fuschl am See, Koppl and St. Gilgen, the runners will be transported to the start locations by bus from the city of Salzburg. All competitions lead to the finish at Kapitelplatz next to Salzburg Cathedral."

"Of course, there is always a great atmosphere and a lot of excitement before the start. We keep the participants constantly informed about how long it will take. Deputies from the local bands often play too. But actually, all trail runners wait for the horn or trumpet that announces the GO. And then it starts slowly. The first thing most people do is reach for their running watch." says Claudia Kolussi, who also has a tip up her sleeve.

Claudia Kolussi: "There are many refreshment stations along the route that are looked after and supported exclusively by people from the region. The mozart 100 is therefore also a strong event for the region." Josef Mayerhofer adds: "Of course, there is always potential for optimisation. But the event is also becoming better known and bigger in the region. In 2023, there will already be over 3,000 participants at the start. There are just as many participants at the start of the 100-kilometre trail as there are at the Salzburg Marathon, for example. This is because more and more runners are switching from road running to a more natural running experience."

"In all shorter events up to the marathon, there is enough time to reach the finish line. The finisher rate for the marathon and the shorter events is 100%. The runners are usually very well prepared," says Claudia Kolussi.

Josef Mayerhofer explains: "There are so-called cut-off times for the 100 km and 80 km, but this does not apply to the other events. 100 km are relatively demanding. With a duration of 22 hours over 105 km and 5,400 metres of altitude difference, the average running speed is around 5 km/h. That is remarkable. The Ultra Trail starts at 5.00 a.m. and the finish must be reached by 3.00 a.m. the next day at the latest. This is mainly to protect the participants themselves. If someone is already close to the closing time, then it's usually better if they don't do it."

He continues proudly: "We've never lost anyone on the course, because there are shuttle services throughout the race for participants who have to give up. But even at 100 km, the rate of finishers is still around 85%, which of course also depends on the weather, but last year we had very good, dry weather."

Josef Mayerhofer explains to us that a trail runner walks a lot. "Especially when it's uphill, such as on the Schafberg, the Zwölferhorn, the Nockstein or the city mountains in Salzburg. You could say that 90% of trail runners go uphill. This is because the effort required is less when walking at a brisk pace and the time lost is not particularly great. Poles are also a great help on these sections, both uphill and downhill, they help to overcome difficult passages."

An event such as the mozart 100 by UTMB® represents good added value for a region. Claudia Kolussi: "Many runners travel with friends and family, as the Fuschlseeregion invites you to spend a few days on holiday or sightseeing before or after the competition. The accessibility of the city of Salzburg from Fuschl am See or St. Gilgen is also very good."

Josef Mayerhofer: "You can expect 4-5 overnight stays per participant, including company, which represents a five-figure increase in total. This emphasises the relevance of the trail running event in terms of overnight stays and added value for tourism in the Fuschlseeregion and the city of Salzburg."

Claudia Kolussi looks to the future: "Yes, of course, our dream would be to have our own mozart 100 route that is signposted all year round in the Fuschlseeregion. Because trail runners, but above all our participants, don't make any noise or mess. But we still have to convince landowners and neighbours of this."

The organisation team of the mozart 100 by UTMB® consists of 3 people: Josef Mayerhofer, Claudia Kolussi and Sepp Gruber. The latter is primarily responsible for planning the route and coordinating the volunteers. On the day of the event, the team grows to 200 helpers.

They mainly come from the local clubs. They do the work on behalf of their club, which in turn receives financial support from the organiser.

mozart 100 by UTMB® has been part of the UTBM World Series since 2022. The competition is part of the group of companies responsible for the Ironman events, among others. The UTBM World Series organises around 35 events worldwide, with participants collecting Running Stones by taking part in the individual events. The number of Running Stones depends on the length, e.g. the mozart 100 Ultra Trail has 3 Running Stones. A Running Stone is also a lottery ticket for a place in the Chamonix competition, the UTBM competition organised in the last week of August.

More information: https: //mozart.utmb.world/