2026 Edition
Cross
Take your first steps in mountain running at the .msg Apuseni Marathon!
The cross route is designed especially for those who want to discover mountain running and for those who dare to run at a fast pace! It still starts from Șesu Cald, with ascents and descents through the forest, up to Stăuina Runcani, the furthest point and the only hydration point. From here follows a winding trail, the superb climb to Pietrele Mărunte, and then a fast descent to the finish!
A short, intense but super accessible run. Just what you need to fall in love with mountains and running!
Discover the Cros route
| Cross | Km total | Km difference | Elevation gain | Elevation gain between points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | 0 | 0 | ||
| PH Stauina Runcani | km4,8 | 4,8 | 82/-355 | 82/-355 |
| PC Pietrele Mărunte | km7,9 | 3,1 | 493/-355 | 332/-0 |
| Şesu Cald | km10 | 2,1 | 500/-500 | 7/-145 |
| PC Valea Tisa-Boului | km11,3 | 241/-898 | 12/-256 | |
| PC deasupra Stiolne | km14,7 | 591/-898 | 350/-0 | |
| PC Bocşeşti | km16,7 | |||
| PA2 Crucea Crencii | km17,8 | 9,4 from PA1 | 677/-1051 | 86/-153 |
| PC Pietrele Mărunte | km21,5 | 1189/-1051 | 512/-0 | |
| Şesu Cald | km23,7 | 5,9km from PA2 | 1190/-1190 | 1/-139 |
Description
Did you find the former start difficult with running uphill on Buscat? And also the last four kilometres of the final climb? Did you want to walk the picturesque path through the junipers on the Pietrele Mărunte like the runners in the longer distance races?
This year all these wishes came true! The route is even slightly shorter, but we can no longer pronounce the word easy when we refer to the elevation gain.
You start from Șesu Cald in the opposite direction, on the forest road that goes up to Muntele Mare, but you immediately turn left and descend on that route that you know stone by stone from previous years’ climbs!
After about 4km you will reach PC Valea Vadului, from where the cross country route splits off from the longer climbs and you will switch, a little over 1km, to a stretch of false flat, climbing adaptation that you can’t miss. You enter a new, very beautiful stretch of trail, a gateway to the Scarița-Belioara reserve, further away from civilisation.
We estimate that within 10 minutes you will all reach the PH Crucea Crencii, the only PH on the trail, it will be a crazy pace for both you and the PH volunteers. So, from PC Valea Vadului to PH Crucea Crencii you can say that you have a thinking mile in which you have to drag your soul as well.
Be careful at PC Valea Vadului, take it to the right, don’t continue on the long downhill paths!
At km 6.4 you will reach Stăuina Runcani and you will have already forced yourself into climbing mode. You will follow a winding path through the forest, passing the landmark noted by us on the map as Mijloc Pădure. You should know that until the PC Pietrele Mărunte at km 9.6 there is only ascent and any path that leads you to a descent or flat is only a Fata Morgana, a phenomenon or an illusion, far from the truth.
After crossing the forest. from the junipers you don’t have much further to go until the PC Pietrele Mărunte where the descent starts. You can also see the installations on Buscat, you don’t have long to the finish!
Maybe at the beginning the rocks and junipers will get in your way when overtaking, but then from the Colțul Rotund to the right you can speed up on the forest road. If you’ve been wanting a PB for the mile distance, now’s the time. You may not win the competition, but you can prove you’re better than before. Congratulations, you’ve made it to basecamp at the Finish!
You have run “in a mountain beat” on one of the most beautiful mountain running trails and we hope that in future editions you will be able to run longer distances!
We are waiting for you, year after year, with the love we have for all people who love and practice outdoor activities and who respect the cleanliness and quietness of the mountain!