Rodopi Classic 100 Miles

Rodopi Ultra Trail (ROUT) is a new approach to trail running races, introducing a new vision on the ultras, the adventure running, by putting athletes and their skills in serious challenge, and assessing their experience gained by long practice of the sport. ROUT is calling only experienced trail runners, requiring their maximum of physical and mental endurance. "Rodopi Ultra Trail" was created to provide an opportunity for those who consider themselves dedicated in both trail running and adventure. 

ROUT forwards the philosophy of self-sufficiency and the simplification of procedures: minimal external assistance, assessing the situation themselves struggling, empowerment with the release of issues related to safety, skills and insight (few aid stations, no mandatory equipment, remote and fully uninhabited areas, narrow paths lost in dense vegetation along of the remnants of a abandoned country a century ago! ROUT is to be considered as the future of endurance and adventure events. 

The course numbers 162 kilometers (100 miles) and wanders the vast forests of the Rodopi mountain range, one of the biggest ranges of the Balkan peninsula. ROUT follows paths that were closed for many decades, as people left these mountains for a new life. Although the country has been deserted, the traces of their civilization are scattered among the dense forest. Then the forest covered up everything, but kept a slight hint of human presence, making the human soul to shudder at the thought of it. 

The ROUT came to highlight the Rhodope Mountains, this unique area of Greek territory, offering “pilgrims” of adventure running a strong challenge. All devotees of trail running have the opportunity to experience the virgin nature of the Rhodope and realize that this area needs to direct its investiture at National Park and why should these paths, a corridor to the history, to relive and tell everyone the chronicle of this forgotten place.