Vertical Races

Practical information and calendar of vertical kilometers
Emoji running-shoe
62
Races
Photo credits:

RbbrDckyBK

Vertical limit

Have you ever seen those impressive images of vertical races? 📈 Men and women launching themselves at “walls” sometimes angled at over 50%! The latest addition to foot races, not the least fun 😌.

The vertical challenge was born in Italy 🇮🇹. Under the pretty name of Skyrunning, literally running in the sky 🌄, it was in Cervinia (Aosta Valley) where the first kmv took place, on August 20, 1994. In 2011, the discipline integrated into the Skyrunner World Series and then more specifically into the Vertical Kilometer World Circuit in 2017 📚. The races are held over short distances: 1km, 3km, 5km depending on the difficulty level… The discipline is very demanding and will require explosive thighs 🔥. Needless to say, the vertical km is mainly run in mountains, and sometimes even on ski jump ramps! ⛷ It is also for this visual aspect that the vertical kilometer discipline has experienced such a boom internationally 🌎. The brand Red Bull greatly contributed to it with its Red Bull 400 in Courchevel... Also know that stair races are part of it too 🎽. The Tower Run brings together races taking place in the tallest buildings in France 🇫🇷. You can also visit the Eiffel Tower with a new perspective, by participating in the Vertical of the same name! A race obviously unique in the world 🌍. The enthusiasm across the Atlantic for the kv is enormous: the prestigious buildings of the States are waiting for you! Bear in mind, such races are not to be taken lightly and require appropriate preparation and optimal form... Especially to hit a record! 🤩

Other benchmark events to look for in the vertical kilometer, which is mainly run in the summer? In Switzerland 🇨🇭, the Fully Vertical Kilometer is run over 2 kilometers, with sections at 60 degrees! 🌡️ Not 40, not 50, but a full 60 degrees! Let's also mention the Vertical of Grand Serre, the K2 of Villaroger-les-Arcs, the BEI K3 (Italy)... This last race offers its competitors the mere 3000 meters of positive elevation over less than 10 kilometers of course… We let you imagine the slope! 😨 The Challenge Montcalm, the Trail du Cagire, the Chartreuse Trail Festival 🥃 or the Trail des Passerelles du Monteynard offer, among all their events, vertical kilometer races, “kv” for insiders! And there are more and more... Runners between sky and earth… 🙈

Pay your climb! 🍻

Should it rain or snow

Calendar of vertical races

Find at a glance the calendar of vertical races