The fifth edition of the "Tran Ultra Run," a mountain running competition, drew a large crowd of nearly 530 participants from across Bulgaria. This year, the event introduced four new routes, each offering a unique glimpse into the region's stunning natural beauty, panoramic views, and hidden corners of the Tran area.

The event is organized by the Tran Tourism Association with the support of the Tran municipality and numerous volunteers. Runners tackled some of the most impressive natural landmarks in the region, including picturesque mountain trails, meadows, and technical rocky sections.

In the shortest distance, the "Mali Ruy Trail" (14 km / 700 D+), which traverses the panoramic slopes of Mali Ruy and combines fast mountain trails with technical ascents, Veronika Mitovska emerged victorious among women with a time of 1 hour and 35 minutes, while Cvetelin Marinov took the top spot among men with 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The "Grebenet na Ruy" (23 km / 1300 D+) route led participants along the slopes of Ruy Mountain, past Shyli Kamik, and to the peak of Ruy, the highest point in the region. The winners were Gerghana Bojkova among women with a time of 2 hours and 45 minutes, and Kiril Nikolov – Dizela among men with 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The "Marathon Zhdreloto" (43 km / 2330 D+) took runners through Rakitski Kamik, Zhdreloto of the Erm River, and long technical descents and ascents characteristic of the Tran region. The fastest runners were Mariya Nikolova among women with a time of 4 hours and 56 minutes, and Jordan Todorov among men with 4 hours and 7 minutes.

The longest route, "Erm Ultra" (64 km / 3330 D+), offered a true ultra-marathon challenge, featuring the Vrachanski Waterfall, Garvanov Kamik, a tunnel over the Erm River, and some of the most beautiful and panoramic parts of Tran. The winners were Rositsa Stefanova among women with a time of 9 hours, and Petar Hristov among men with 7 hours and 14 minutes.

The three longest distances are part of the ITRA (International Association of Trail Running) calendar, allowing successful finishers to earn points towards their international ranking.

The new routes, varied terrain, and good marking received high praise from participants. The event is not just a sporting challenge but also a celebration of nature, active living, and the local community, bringing together runners, volunteers, and visitors amidst the beauty of the Tran region.

More information and results from the competition can be found at: https://transkotd.org/tran-ultra-run/klasirane/