HONGRIE · Zala County
VUT Vadlán Ultra Terep 53km: Hungary's Forest Grinder at the Keszthely Hills, Measured
Distance
53 km
Date
Droit d’inscription
20,000 HUF
€ / km
€0.98
Hungarian hardpack grinder: runnable trails, steady climbs, and a low-key endurance vibe.
VUT Vadlán Ultra Terep 53 km is a forest trail race held in October in Zala County, Hungary, in the Keszthely Hills near Lake Balaton. The course covers 53 km with 1,500 m of stated gain (28.3 m/km) — though GPX analysis suggests actual gain closer to 1,876 m (10m smoothed), a 25% discrepancy runners should factor into their preparation. The terrain is 90% forest, gravel, and dirt track; 10% asphalt, with dark forest soil that becomes slippery when wet. The course tips toward descent: 40.2% of the distance is uphill, 37.7% downhill, and the defining drop arrives before km 9 — a 4.29 km section hitting −41.3% maximum gradient. The average downhill gradient of −10.02% ranks 127th steepest of ~390 distances in the DTR database. Entry costs approximately €0.98/km (20,000 HUF at the early price — the most accessible distance in the VUT lineup). Budapest (BUD) is approximately 137 minutes by road. First run in 2018 and part of the IAU Trail Label-certified VUT event, the 53km drew approximately 56 finishers in 2025. It suits trail runners entering Hungarian ultra racing for the first time — a technically honest forest race at the accessible end of the VUT distance lineup.
Élévation et Terrain
Mètres totaux
1,500m
D+/KM
28.3m/km
Pour référence, le Tor des Géants 330 km a 73 D+/km.
Pente montante moyenne
9.3%
Pente descendante moyenne
-10%
Distribution du gradient de montée
| 2–5% | 6.9 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 7 km | |
| 10–15% | 4.1 km | |
| 15–20% | 2 km | |
| 20%+ | 1.4 km |
Profil de parcours
AnalysedDétail du terrain
| 40.2% | Montée |
|---|---|
| 22.1% | Plat |
| 37.7% | Descente |
Terrain
Ascensions
Principales montées
| 1 | 6.1 km · 244 m gain starts km 27 · avg 4% · max 28.8% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1.7 km · 205 m gain starts km 15 · avg 12% · max 35.8% |
| 3 | 7.2 km · 153 m gain starts km 2 · avg 2.1% · max 21.5% |
Principales descentes
| 1 | 4.3 km · 291 m drop starts km 9 · avg -6.8% · max -41.3% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 3.4 km · 194 m drop starts km 17 · avg -5.8% · max -32.9% |
| 3 | 6.2 km · 179 m drop starts km 37 · avg -3% · max -28.3% |
VUT Vadlán Ultra Terep 53km: Hungary's Forest Grinder at the Keszthely Hills, Measured
Why the VUT 53km Is Harder Than 1,500m Suggests▼
Q: How hard is the VUT Vadlán Ultra Terep 53km? A: More demanding than its listed 1,500m elevation suggests. GPX analysis puts actual gain closer to 1,876m, and the average downhill gradient of −10.02% ranks steeper than ~67% of European trail races. The opening section includes a −41.3% maximum pitch descent before km 9, on dark forest soil that gets slippery after rain.
Course Profile — A Forest Race That Turns Technical Before km 9▼
Q: Is the VUT 53km a UTMB or ITRA qualifier? A: The 53km is not independently ITRA certified. It holds a historical UTMB Index listing under the old name 'Ultra Terep 50.' The event carries an IAU Trail Label (2025 edition). The 108km distance is the ITRA-certified primary distance.
~€1/km for an IAU Trail Label Race in the Hungarian Countryside▼
Q: How much does the VUT 53km cost to enter? A: 20,000 HUF (~€47) until June 30, 2026 — approximately €0.98/km, making it one of the most affordable 50km+ trail entries in Central Europe. Entry rises to 25,000 HUF (~€58) from July 1, 2026.
Getting to Cserszegtomaj: Budapest, Lake Balaton, and Trail Running off the Tourist Map▼
Q: When does the 2026 VUT 53km take place? A: The VUT event runs October 2–4, 2026 in Cserszegtomaj, Zala County, Hungary. The exact 53km start time is not confirmed; the 108km starts at 06:00 on October 3. Confirm the 53km start time via the official site before booking travel.
Fichiers de course
Logistique
Aéroport le plus proche
Budapest (BUD)
Notes
Start: ~1–1.75 hrs to Vértes/Bakony region venues (Csákvár/Oroszlány area; TODO: verify) / Public transport: trains/buses possible but last-mile often needs taxi; car easiest / Accommodation: limited near start; Budapest base possible
