Piglione Vertical

The Piglione Vertical is an uphill-only mountain race from the village of Piegaio-Trebbio to the south summit of Monte Piglione, in the municipality of Pescaglia, in the heart of the Apuan Alps. It is organised by the AICS Val di Turrite association, with the support of the municipality, the same team that has been staging the Piglione Trail for several years. Created in 2026, this vertical kilometre takes place at the beginning of October, two weeks before the trail, and works both as a race in its own right and as a warm-up for those who take on both events.

The format is simple: about 6.5 km with 930 m of climbing and no descent to manage. The start is given at 8.30am in front of the Teatrino di Trebbio. The first 500 metres, on tarmac, string out the field before the route enters the hamlet of Convalle, whose stone stairways lead up to the church above the houses. The course then joins the path known as the sentiero dell'Indiano and follows it all the way up to the pass at Foce, home to the only aid station, at around 4.5 km. That leaves roughly 1.5 km of final climbing to the south summit of the Piglione and the finish line.

The sustained gradient and mountain terrain, with steps, rocky paths and steep sections, make this a race for well-trained runners who are comfortable on rough ground and have a head for heights. Poles are allowed provided they are carried from start to finish. The time limit is 2 hours 30 minutes, with no other cut-offs, and the field is capped at around a hundred runners, keeping the event on a human scale. The course is marked with yellow tags, arrows and orange paint dots.

Monte Piglione, which rises to just over 1,200 m, offers wide views from its ridges over the Apuan peaks, the Serchio valley and, on clear days, the Tyrrhenian coast. Pescaglia is a scattering of small stone villages clinging to wooded, chestnut-covered slopes, linked by old mule tracks. After the effort, runners head back down to Piegaio, and the Festa della Zucca, the pumpkin festival, carries the morning on around the table.

Bibs are collected on race morning, from 7am to 8am, at the Teatrino di Trebbio opposite the start line, on presentation of an ID document, a medical certificate for competitive sport and a signed waiver. Compulsory kit includes a water supply, a personal cup or bottle, since no disposable cups are handed out at the aid station, a charged mobile phone and trail shoes; a survival blanket, whistle and windproof jacket are recommended. To get back, two waymarked walking routes return to Piegaio, or a shuttle waits for runners at the Curva del Cristo, about 3.5 km from the finish. Parking is along the road climbing from Piegaio-Trebbio towards Lucese, and showers are available after the race.