24DS & SKYRUN Dlouhé Stráně

The 24DS & SKYRUN Dlouhé Stráně brings together two mountain races in the heart of the Jeseníky range in north-eastern Czechia. Both start and finish on the square of the Kouty resort in Kouty nad Desnou, a hamlet of Loučná nad Desnou tucked beneath the ski slopes. The event is run by Morava Flow, a non-profit sports association from Olomouc that also stages several relays and ultras across Moravia. The 24-hour format was launched in 2026 and takes place in early October, at the turning point between the resort's summer and winter seasons.

The common thread of both races is the Dlouhé Stráně pumped-storage hydro plant, whose upper reservoir, sitting at around 1,350 m, is the highest body of water in the country. The 24DS loop measures 14.4 km with roughly 819 m of climbing. From Kouty, at about 560 m, the route heads to the lower station, then packs nearly 600 m of ascent into just two kilometres before a short flat stretch and a final pull up to the reservoir dam. Runners may choose which side of the dam crest to follow, then drop back to the village on about 6 km of forest tracks. A good share of the climb is on tarmac.

The 24DS can be run solo or as a pair. The mass start goes off in late morning, and each participant then has 24 hours to complete as many laps as possible; when lap counts are equal, net time on course decides. Pairs keep one runner on the course at a time and split the laps however they like. Poles are allowed and no outside help is permitted on the course, but runners can set up their own crew in the event area. A charged phone, the GPS tracker issued by the organisers and the participant wristband are mandatory. From 6 pm, runners may choose the direction of the loop, provided each lap is completed in a single direction.

The SKYRUN is an individual race of 22 km with about 790 m of climbing, between 563 and 1,353 m above sea level. The first two kilometres follow a dirt track that can turn muddy after rain, then a road of around fifteen kilometres climbs past the lower reservoir to the upper one, with views across the Jeseníky ridges. The closing descent, roughly 6 km of forest trails strewn with roots and rocks, leads back to Kouty and makes shoe choice a real dilemma. Two aid stations are set up, at the 10 km mark and at 15 km near the upper reservoir car park.

The 24DS suits runners used to long efforts and managing sleep, while the SKYRUN is for trail runners comfortable on sustained climbs and fast descents. Bibs are collected on site, along with a timing chip and a GPS tracker for live follow-up. Throughout the 24 hours, a food corner offers hot tea, water, isotonic drink, coffee, fruit, pastries and open sandwiches, plus hot broth in the evening and overnight. The resort has accommodation, restaurants and a large paid car park, and runners not staying on site can use the showers at Pension Kouty.