Up to 100 kilometers: 1,400 runners will take the starting line in Oybin

In the tri-border region where Saxony meets the Czech Republic and Poland, about 1,400 runners will compete in a special race this weekend. Instead of running on paved roads, the “O-See Ultra Trail” winds its way through the heart of the Zittau Mountains Nature Park. Because the 25-kilometer and 50-kilometer distances are also hosting the European Championships this year, interest has been particularly high, as Marc Plüschke from the O-See Sport club explains. Athletes from 21 countries have registered.

100-kilometer route and runners paired with dogs

The program also features three additional long-distance races—16 kilometers, 75 kilometers, and 100 kilometers—as well as several shorter runs open to children and teenagers. A special highlight is scheduled for Sunday. On that day, runners will compete in pairs with their dogs over either 3 kilometers or 6.5 kilometers. Members of the club came up with the idea for this unusual competition, and it has since become a fixture of the program in Oybin.

Running event launched in 2019

The club has been organizing the O-See-Ultratrail, which starts and finishes in Oybin, since 2019. The routes wind through the sandstone cliffs of the Zittau Mountains and cover up to 3,450 meters of elevation gain. Following its debut in 2025, the 100-kilometer distance will be part of the event for the second time in Germany’s smallest low mountain range. This year, 75 participants have registered for the race.