Írottkő Mountain Race

The Írottkő Hegyi Futóverseny, the Írottkő mountain race, is a long-established trail event in the far west of Hungary, set in the Kőszeg Mountains right on the Austrian border. Organised by the LAC Geschriebenstein club, it takes its name from the Írottkő summit, known in Austria as the Geschriebenstein, which rises to 884 metres and is the highest point of both Transdanubia and Burgenland. Every distance now starts and finishes at the football ground in Bozsok, a small village in Vas county, whereas the race centre used to sit up on the mountain. The event is part of the UTMB Index series and is listed by ITRA.

The flagship LIS Alpokalja Ultra covers 102 km with 3,406 m of climbing. It starts at 2 a.m., so the opening hours are run by headtorch through the forest before a long journey through the nature park villages on both sides of the border. Aid stations are located on the Írottkő, in Lockenhaus and in Rechnitz near the Vogelturm lookout tower; cut-offs apply at Rechnitz and then Lockenhaus, and the overall time limit is 17 hours. Runners can leave two drop bags, one for the Írottkő and one for Lockenhaus. The same course can be tackled by teams of two to five runners, with no fixed changeover points: each team splits the distance however it likes.

The Alpokalja Marathon + (55 km, 2,163 m of ascent) sets off at 8 a.m. with a 9.5-hour limit. It heads to Velem and Kőszeg, climbs back towards the Írottkő, drops into Austria towards Rechnitz (Rohonc) and climbs again to the summit, which it crosses at least twice, before returning to Bozsok. The Írottkő Trail (36 km, 1,409 m of ascent, 11 a.m. start, 6-hour limit) is a single loop via Velem and Kőszeg, through the Vörös Kereszt aid station and the Hörmann car park up to the summit. It is aimed at runners who have done shorter mountain races but are not yet ready for an ultra.

The 23 km (864 m of ascent, 4-hour limit), also starting at 11 a.m., takes in the steep climb to the Szent Vid chapel, the Borha spring, Kendig-tető and the Hörmann spring path to the top, then follows the border strip, crosses a stream at the head of the Sötét-völgy valley and reaches the Kalapos-kövek rocks before an easier descent to Bozsok, with two aid stations on the way. The 7 km Bozsok Trail (240 m of ascent) packs short, sharp climbs, descents and technical sections into a run through the autumn woods. Children's races over 500 m and 1,000 m are held in the morning.

Bibs are collected at the Bozsok football ground on the evening before or on race morning, and the organisers encourage runners to come the day before. Mandatory kit, checked at aid stations and at the finish, ranges from a cup and photo ID on the 7 km to a waterproof jacket, survival blanket and headtorch with backup lighting on the ultra. The course is marked in agreement with the national park and a GPX track is provided. Three designated car parks lie outside the village centre. The race focuses on cutting waste and uses compost toilets, a first for a sporting event in Hungary. On clear days the ridges look out as far as the Balaton Uplands and, on the Austrian side, the Rax and Schneeberg.