On June 8, hiking and light running lovers are expected at the Banca Transilvania Half Marathon within the msg Maraton Apuseni 2024! The Banca Transilvania Half Marathon is a beautiful event, which will be narrated along 23.7 km, in the rhythm of the mountain!
The vertical profile of the route resembles a wide open V, meaning that for the first half of the route we will be more on the downhill, and for the next half we will be more on the uphill, with a sprint to the finish line in Șesu Cald/Buscat.
How do you run the Banca Transilvania 2024 Half Marathon?
As a popular event for mountain runners in Romania and Europe, the half marathon is run in style! It is a distance that allows you to run lightly, without many accessories.
- First, find the running shoes that fit you best.
- To have a clear goal, register for the Banca Transilvania Half Marathon: https://maratonapuseni.ro/inscriere/
- Download the gps track to view the route profile and running areas
- Starting from a suitable physical base, start training for your target distance.
- Test different equipment options during your training.
- Let your friends know you are taking part in the race. Maybe some will decide to join you!
- Pick up your participation kit for the Banca Transilvania Half Marathon within the msg Apuseni Marathon 2024. It will contain: race number with timing chip, La Sportiva yellow T-shirt, Banca Transilvania Bandana, 1 day voucher at WorldClass, ProNutrition package, finisher’s medal
You will be equipped with the Banca Transilvania bandana edition In A Mountain Beat! - Place the competition number so that it is visible.
- Line up at the START and start slowly on the trail!
- Accelerate and decelerate as necessary.
- Smile at the photo points
- Sprint to the finish line!

Banca Transilvania 2024 half marathon trail
In terms of structure, as in previous editions, the trail of the Half Marathon is common to sections 1 and 4 of the marathon, linked together with a 2 km “gap” between the PC points above Știolne and PC Bocșești.
Start from Șesu Cald / Buscat on the blue variant ski slope. After 200m on the level line there is a high-speed descent to enter an uphill trail. After 5km you will reach the first checkpoint, PC Valea Vadului.
PC2 Valea Vadului is not far away, at km6.6. Turn right, across the water and then follow a path that climbs through the pasture, obliquely left into the ridge on Dealul Boinic. It then descends on the opposite side on a path that passes through the Zăpodie/La Zăpozi huts. Here you will discover a picturesque place with the first feeding point at km 8.4.
Turn slightly left and you reach the Valea Tisa CP. From here comes the new section, with the Boului Mountain surrounding, Follow the Tisa stream downhill and at km 11,3, leave the Tisa and climb to the PC above at Știolne, at km 14,7. The PC Tisa-Bo valley will take care of guiding you.
At the halfway point the hard part is just beginning! At the CP above Știolne descend to the Știolne huts and then run ahead to the right for another 1.2 km, on the level curve, to the Bocșești huts CP. We are at km 16.7 of the half marathon race where we will re-intersect the Marathon race route.
We will then cross about three marshy springs and reach a few more huts and a gater: PA2 Crucea Crencii, km17,8. There comes 4km of hard climbing to the Small Stones, which can take you an hour to reach the top. Turn left uphill to the Stăuina Runcanilor clearing, turn left into the forest, soon right again along a forest lane. You come out into a mountain hollow full of junipers, through which the path leads you to the Pietrele Mărunte CP, km 21.5. You have about 2 km to go to the finish.
Go downhill smoothly to the right, pass a wooden hut, reach the “military road” (Round Corner) and on it, on a smooth descent, you reach Finish. While the descent path from the PC Pietrele Mărunte does not allow much overtaking, being narrow, winding and rocky, the last kilometre – the military road, is a sprint.
Thus you will run one of the most beautiful mountain running trails in Romania and Europe, at the best pace, – at the pace of the mountain!
What happens after the race?
After crossing the finish line, you will receive the coveted finisher’s medal! Smile at the photographers and head to the rehydration and relaxation areas.
Together with the other runners, you’ll enjoy a well-deserved portion of traditional gulyas. Exchange impressions and cheer on the rest of the runners.
In a short while you will take part in the award ceremony and the runners’ raffle!
At the end of the day, you are invited to the paty and bonfire organised in the base camp.
Write your story about the Banca Transilvania Half Marathon
Hot on the heels of the race day, we’ll give you another tip: pick the best pictures of the race day and write a blog post or a post on facebook or instagram about this wonderful experience!
In a few years, you will fondly discover this moment that will create new emotions for you and maybe be an inspiration for others.
See you at START on June 8, 2024 at Buscat Ski & Summer Resort.