June 7: Start of the 14th edition of msg Maraton Apuseni, 2025!

Over 2,400 runners are expected to join msg Maraton Apuseni on the 7^th of June, 2025! The msg Maraton Apuseni 2025 brings together people who share the same passions: running and the mountains! As the largest mountain running competition in Transylvania, Romania, the msg Maraton Apuseni promotes the region’s natural and cultural heritage, while also aligning itself with European priorities: inclusion for all and protection of the environment!

In June, Cluj will once again become an international trail running destination! Over 2,400 runners from all over the world are expected on 7 June at Buscat Ski & Summer Resort in Apuseni Mountains for the 14th edition of the msg Maraton Apuseni!

With great enthusiasm, the organizer – Cluj department of the Romanian Alpine Club, together with title sponsor msg systems Romania, technical partner La Sportiva and nutrition partner Pro Nutrition, are welcoming trail-runners and their supporters to get into the rhythm of the mountains, with race-ready trails, a sports expo in base camp, a DJ party, activities for the public and a super raffle for runners!

Founded in 2011, the msg Maraton Apuseni is a major community education initiative promoting mountain running, a discipline accessible to a wide audience. The event stands out in Europe because the ultra-marathon, marathon, half-marathon and mountain cross-country trails cross habitats of European Community interest, the Scărița-Belioara geo-botanical reserve, alpine gaps in the Muntele Mare massif, and sections flanked by molhașuri and rocky outcrops.

The msg Maraton Apuseni 2025 races: Idyllic, technical but also wild

The 14th edition already includes the traditional competition events, including three technical qualifying events for the UTMB World Series with ITRA – International Trail Running Association points depending on the difficulty of the event.

Ultramarathon (~66.1 km, D+ 3120m) – 3 ITRA points, UTMB 50K Qualifier
msg Marathon (~44.8 km, D+ 2531m) – 2 ITRA points, UTMB 50K Qualifier
Banca Transilvania Half Marathon (~23.7 km, D+ 1190m) – 1 ITRA point, UTMB 20K Qualifier
Garmin Cross Country (~10 km, D+ 500m)
Family Gerovital (~2 km) – non-competitive event

We are expecting a strong start this weekend, given that the start lists include strong runners such as: Ploșniță Adriana, Andrei-Grațian Sovereșan, Serghei Dzero, Cruciat Alexandru, Balan Nicolae, Ciorescu, Bartok Eniko, Octavian Andrei, Mitrica Leonard, Ingrid Mutter, Cristian Pop, Rosca Tudor, Daniel Attila, Torok Ibolya.

What is new in the 14th edition of the msg Maraton Apuseni?

For the first time in the history of the msg Maraton Apuseni, a person with a motor disability will be at the start of this demanding route. This is thanks to a special, adapted bicycle purchased by msg systems Romania, which Alex Tache will use to participate in the event.

The ultramarathon route has been reconfigured from 80 km to 66 km, making it more accessible to those transitioning to long-distance runs.

The Queen & King of The Mountain Challenge competition on the Stăuina Runcanilor – Vârful Pietrele Mărunte section will take place again this year! At the end, the titles of King and Queen of the Apuseni Mountains will be awarded!

The prize fund for the 14th edition is substantial: cash prizes worth 30,000 lei will be awarded to the top finishers in the OPEN categories of the ultramarathon, marathon, half marathon and cross-country race! In addition, the winners of the category rankings will be rewarded with prizes in products and experiences from the organizers and partners.

Two extraordinary raffles will be organized for the runners of the 2025 edition:

a raffle for adult runners supported by Garmin and other partners.
a raffle for children supported by Gerovital and other partners, plus the chance to win a ticket to the October raffle, supported by Christian Tour, with a holiday in Lapland, home of Santa Claus!

Tourist attractions along the routes: the Buscat area, the Scărița Belioara geo-botanical reserve, traditional villages in the Apuseni Mountains, the belvedere on Pietrele Mărunte.

The Schedule in Brief

Start times, awards, raffle and party:

5:00 START Ultramarathon
8:00 START Marathon
9:00 START Banca Transilvania Half Marathon
10:00 Garmin Cross Country Race START
12:30 START – Gerovital Family Race (0-3 years and 4-7 years)
13:00 START – Gerovital Family Race (8-10 years and 11-15 years)
14:30 Awards ceremony – Family Race
15:00 Gulyas Party by Buscat Ski Resort
17:00 Grand Award Ceremony – Ultramarathon/Marathon msg/BT Half Marathon/Garmin Cross Country Race and Participants’ Raffle
20:00 Campfire/DJ Party & Folk Evening

We look forward to seeing supporters, family members and media representatives at the START on Saturday morning according to the above schedule.

The detailed schedule can be found here: https://maratonapuseni.ro/en/official-program-msg-maraton-apuseni-2025/

Educational Impact in the Community

Educational activities implemented in preparation for the 14th edition of the Apuseni Marathon:

Educational reforestation on Mount Bocului, together with our trusted partners – the Mircea Luca School in Băișoara, the Băișoara Town Hall and the Muntele Mare Forest District.
Practical workshop supported by invited experts: Bártok Enikő – Winner of the 2024 Carpathian Circuit, Cornel Buliga – Ultramarathon runner and coach, and Lucian Clinciu – Organizer of the Piatra Craiului Marathon, initiator of the Carpathian Circuit.
Weekly training sessions for children, coordinated by Mister Nicu in Cluj-Napoca, where children can win stickers to enter the grand raffle for a holiday in Lapland!
Route reconnaissance, organized as effective mountain running training sessions coordinated by Răzvan Samoilă, Laurențiu Vezentan and Lenerat Denes.

Partners

The 14th edition of the msg Apuseni Marathon is made possible thanks to our partners and sponsors:

msg systems Romania – title partner
La Sportiva – technical partner
Pro Nutrition – nutrition partner
Banca Transilvania – half marathon partner
Garmin Romania X Garmin Cluj – cross-country partners
Farmec – Gerovital – Family race partner
SUBARU CLUJ, through Twin Motors
ITRA – International Trail Running Association – mountain running index partner
Circuitul Carpatilor – profile partner
World Class Romania – fitness and pre-race warm-up partner
Buscat Ski&Summer Resort – location partner
Izvorul Minunilor, Urusus Cooler, Torockoi – De Colțești, Adrenalin Park, ZuMont, Alpin Expe Mountain Shop, and many others
Băișoara Town Hall, Salvaspeo Cluj Mountain Rescue Service, Cluj County Council – institutional partners
RockFM, KISS FM, Cluj.com – Local Guide, Radio Cluj, Transylvania Mountain Festival, MTB Odyssey – media partners