Leki Ještěd 24 Summer Running Weekend 2026

If a classic mountain run isn’t enough for you and you’re looking for a challenge that will test your physical endurance and strength of character to the absolute limit, Leki Ještěd 24 Summer Running Weekend is an event made for you. This isn’t an ordinary start – it’s a running festival and a titanic battle against time, gravity, and yourself in one of the most iconic mountain corners of the Czech Republic.

The main highlight of this summer weekend is the 24-hour ultra run. The rule is simple but brutal: competitors (running solo or in relay teams) have exactly one day to complete as many laps as possible on a course laid out on the steep and technical slopes of Mount Ještěd. Each loop is a massive dose of sharp climbs (including uphill sections by ski jumps and steep forest cut-throughs) and hair-raising, rocky descents that, after a dozen hours, punish every muscle.

When 24 hours are up, the clock stops, and you collect your hard-fought, unique medal won through pain, it’s time for well-deserved recovery and celebrating your success. The area around Liberec has plenty to offer in this respect:

Observation terrace on the summit of Ještěd: The futuristic, 94-metre TV tower resembling a spaceship is the symbol of the entire region. If during the race you only saw it in the fog or through a veil of sweat, climb up there (or drive) calmly after the event. The view from the top over the vast ranges of the Izera Mountains, the Karkonosze, and the territory of Poland and Germany is the best reward 🗼.

Absolute salvation at Wellness Centrum Babylon: After 24 hours of nonstop work on climbs and descents, your legs will need immediate resuscitation. The local wellness zone, styled like ancient Roman baths, is paradise on earth. Saunas, steam baths, oxygen caves, and warm-water pools will bring your muscles back to life 🌊.

A atmospheric stroll around Liberec: Visit the city centre and see the neo-Renaissance, fairytale town hall that looks as if it was transported straight from Vienna. The specialty cafés surrounding the square are the perfect places for a lazy Sunday afternoon with excellent coffee and a hefty slice of cake 🏛️☕.

A royal Czech feast for a gigantic hunger: A 24-hour run burns a gigantic amount of calories, so forget any diet. Head to a traditional Czech pub for some well-earned refuelling. Order a warming garlic soup (česnečka) with cheese and croutons, and for your main course a traditional, filling gulaš s knedlíkem or crispy fried cheese (smažák) with fries and tartar sauce. And, of course, a mug of local Konrad beer from the Liberec brewery or the famous Svijany beer, to raise a toast to surviving the day! 🍲🍻

Pack a few pairs of shoes to change into, a запас of spare batteries for your headlamp, prepare your mind like steel, and get to the start of the toughest weekend in the Czech Republic at Leki Ještěd 24!