Trailrunning in Reit im Winkl: my first time in an UTMB race

When I started trail running in Hamburg last year, I did it because of a youth memory: running in the hills of Salta, in the north of Argentina. Hamburg’s luscious nature is perfect for trail running but something is missing: mountains. At some point in May 2025 I ended up visiting Reit im Winkl, a small town in Bavaria at the border with Austria. I was never able to forget the hikes and runs there. So I returned in September to run the MountainMan Reit im Winkl. For me it wasn’t a matter of podium or trophies. I just wanted to experience for the first time, the energy of a UTMB trail run, above those mountains, so foreign to me yet so familiar at the same time.

Reit im Winkl: a Bavarian Alps trail running hub

I wrote extensively about Reit im Winkl and how I returned to trail run there. It’s a lovely town nested in the Chiemgäu Alps, in the Oberbayern region. It’s the last town before Austria. Towering in the distance there’s the magnificent Wilder Kaiser. I arrived as the last time, by bus.

I had booked the same place than last time: Liebertinerhof, a lovely Bauernhof with cows. And just like last time, Barbara from the accommodation was waiting for me at the bus stop with her jovial smile and greeting, ready to give me a ride to the Bauernhof, since it’s to the other side of the river Lofer. It feels great to be welcomed like this.

I went to this accommodation because of its strategic position for trail running in Reit im Winkl:

• it’s right next to the Lofer river, and I love to have water next to me
• there’s a Penny supermarket not too far, where I could get groceries
• every morning you can request fresh milk from the cows and fresh bread from the town’s bakery
• it’s very silent, so it’s a good space to break away from the city life of Hamburg.

Most importantly, it’s already halfway on one of the mountains, so you have immediate access to all the mountains on Blindau towards the south of Reit im Winkl, the lovely Klausenbachklamm gorge, the Zwerschenbergalm, and others. You’re already there. If you stay in the town you need to walk around 3 km only to get here.

Taper week: how I prepared for the MountainMan

A race starts way before the race day: it begins in the taper week before. During this week, I only worked (I’m lucky to work remotely), cooked and ate at the lunch break at the river—sitting at a special big flat rock I had designated as my lunch rock—and after work I would run. Sometimes to the border with Austria, go up the Heuchenberg mountain. Sometimes to the Wetterkreuz mountain on the north side, up the waterfall that offers a fantastic view of Reit im Winkl all the way to the Kaiser Gebirge. Sometimes to the Klausenbachklamm gorge and test its rugged wet and slippery surface. I checked the trail that was already marked, and also accessible in OutdoorActive. I was out there.

I ran always easy, nothing forced. At this point you won’t get any muscular or condition improvement. Most importantly, I ate. A lot. Lots of fresh food. And finally, the most important of them all: sleep. The silent and the mountain air really helps to get in a peaceful mood. That was all. No magical supplements, no magical routines. Just running a bit, eating, sleeping, reconnecting with nature. That helped me get in fantastic shape for the race day.

And more thing: I indulged myself for the first time with a Leberkässemmel. This is a slice of pork meat in a bread. Nothing more, nothing less. And Schweinbauch, braised pork also in bread. I don’t normally eat red meats in Hamburg, so this was incredibly delicious. I got both from Vinzenzmurr Metzgerei, in the middle of the town.

I was feeling well, but nothing could prepare me for that day in the trail. Only when you’re there, you really have a tangible feeling of what it entails.

The night before the race: Infoabend at the Sporthalle

The night before the race there was an Infoabend at the Sporthalle, the place where the race starts, on the west side of the town. The different race categories and stretches were explained, along with the route color markings, and cutoff times. I had chosen the 26 Km stretch, with 948 elevation meters, reaching an altitude of 1251 meters above sea level. The trail is available in OutdoorActive if you feel like following it.

The Bergretter, the mountain rescuers, were there to point out some last minute things about the required gear like the rescue blanket. One funny remark I remember is that the Bergretter pointed out that cows are harmless so no need to worry about them but those running with their dogs should ensure to keep them leashed so they wouldn’t run into the cows.

It’s so great to be at these events because you get to connect with other people with your same interests. There were also noodles for everyone, to ensure everybody had enough carbs for the run. I chose a delicious noodle dish with Pfifferlinge (chanterelle mushrooms) and of course, a Radler, beer with lemon. I walked back to the accommodation and slept early.

Race morning: trusting the mountains

The day of the race, Barbara from the accommodation drove me to the starting point at the Sporthalle. While we were on the car she asked why I was taking a jacket. I told her it’s only 160 grams of weight, and waterproof, and and… She wasn’t impressed and told me to leave it. And change my long tights to shorts because it was going to be warm.

Now, the days before it was raining and cold and I told her that the phone app forecasted low temperature for the day. She looked towards the mountains on the right, on the north side of Reit im Winkl. Still wrapped in clouds. It was as if she was looking far beyond the Wetterkreuz, which fittingly has “weather” in its name. She looked back to me and reaffirmed that it was going to be warm. I decided to trust her. She’s the local after all. No weather app can top her field expertise working daily at the Bauernhof. I thanked her for the ride and advice and headed into the Sporthalle.

Being my first time, I was excited about all the energy, the music that resounded outside, the people getting everything ready. I stood in line to have my required gear checked. If you’re missing a piece, like the rescue blanket, you need to either get it before the starting time or you’re not allowed to run. As far as gear goes, I was well equipped:

• Brooks Cascadia 18 trail running shoes, good balance of comfort while still feeling the terrain
• LEKI Ultratrail running poles, fantastic because of its weight of only 126 grams per pole, and the companion gauntlets that have a system to attach the head of the poles and not having to exert pressure with your fingers to hold them. This is fantastic to save energy
• Rab Veil 12L running vest, great because of its many pockets and several attachment points for the trail running poles—it includes two soft flasks for hydration and a whistle for emergencies
• Hydraid packs for hydration and electrolytes recovery, Dextro Energy packs for energy boost, and protein bars from ESN
• Odlo Merino 110 t-shirt with great breathability
• plus a waterproof cap by Odlo, The Falken sunglasses by NakedOptics with a fantastic viewing area, Compresssport socks, bandages, rescue blanket, portable cup, etc

All my required gear was there so I went to the starting line. It was exhilarating. I greeted some of the people I met the night before. And soon came the final countdown:

3

2

1

Go!

Starting and first climb up to Hindenburghütte

I felt like with additional force from all the energy of the crowd. The landscape images started following one after the other fast. We went in the direction of the Liebertinerhof where I was staying and we disappear in the mountains behind. The first ascend was going straight to the 1251 meters mark so it was difficult. At some point many of us lost the trail because for whatever reason it wasn’t properly marked. Thankfully having the trail in Outdooractive proved itself valuable, and we found the track.

The Verpflegungstationen, the refreshment stations, were really nice, full of warm welcoming people cheering for everyone. There was a lot to drink and eat and replenish energy, as well as live bayerisch music. One in particular after descending was offering Kaiserschmarrn, which is a Bavarian dessert made of shredded fluffy pancakes with powdered sugar, usually served with an apple compote.

Second climb and final descent through Klausenbachklamm

And then back up. The first climb was the 948 meters, and this second climb was about 700 meters. At this point is when you start losing strength and think that maybe if you had trained more, maybe if you actually lived in Bavaria and its mountains instead of flat Hamburg, maybe if you had lost more weight, maybe even if you hadn’t eat that Kaiserschmarrn minutes ago, maybe you would be better to climb this up. If the first climb was more like a ramp, this climb was some sort of staircase, much more steeper and next to a cliff.

Then came the final descend which wasn’t going to be easy; it was through the Klausenbachklamm gorge. This area is very technical and it paid off to have gone through it the days before. But after that, finally, the prairie of Reit im Winkl opened up, with the final stretch through the forest on the west side towards the goal.

Finish line moment

As I was approaching the goal, I heard the commentators saying in German:

• here comes… Elio Rivero from Hamburg!
• “Rivero” doesn’t sound like a typical northern German last name, isn’t it?
• agree, it sounds like from Spain, no?

As I reached the goal where they were I yelled in German: “ich komme aus Argentinien!” and they said loud on the speakers “oohhh Elio Rivero aus Argentina!!”, with that tiny yet lovely detail pronouncing the name of my country in Spanish. That made me happy.

I received very happy the finisher medal, my time was 4 hours and 9 minutes, which I was satisfied with, being my first race in the same year of starting running and considering I don’t have mountains to practice. After that, a hearty meal followed. I chose again the noodles with Pfifferlinge, and chatted for a long time with two guys, from United Kingdom and Austria.

Here’s a video recap of this fantastic UTMB MountainMan Reit im Winkl trail running competition:

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Leaving Reit im Winkl

The morning after, Barbara drove me again to the bus station. I said I might return in winter for that season’s edition with snow and ice, I kindly thanked her for everything and we said goodbye. I went into the bakery Kotter one last time to get a sweet treat for the way. Their Marmorkuchen is fantastic. As I was going out, a man was telling to his young son in German while pointing at me, “look, this man is a sportsman” and then came to me “I saw you yesterday at the finish line, well done, you’re from Argentina, isn’t it?”. That made me happy again. We talked for a while and he promptly said I should move there since I like Reit im Winkl so much.

I… would love that.