About 3000 participants were present in the natural amphitheatre of Șesu-Cald – Buscat Resort, Saturday – 27th May 2023, at the long-awaited msg Marathon Apuseni 2023, edition no. 12! About 1400 registered runners and about 350 accompanying persons for the little ones, started the races on the new trails, to the applause of the present supporters and more than 200 volunteers involved in the arrangement and supervision of the trails and base camp!
Under the already established slogan #InRitmulMuntelui, the 12th edition proved once again that passion for sport can animate a community and bring a remote place in the heart of the Apuseni Mountains on the world trail-running map with participants from 13 countries!
After an extraordinary tour de force to establish and mark new ITRA – International Trail Running Associations certified trails for the 2023 edition, the organizers of the Romanian Alpine Club – Cluj Branch and its partners were impressed by the collaboration of the competitors and their motivation to promote mountain running for all, through the Romanian Carpathians, especially through the picturesque Apuseni Mountains!
Key Facts of msg Maraton Apuseni 2023:
- 200 volunteers
- 1500 supporters
- 1637 trail runners
- Ultramarathon: 47 runners
- Marathon: 189 runners
- Halfmarathon: 497 runners
- Cross: 284 runners
- Family: 620 runners (270 kid runners + 350 accompanying adult runners)
Race Results:
The msg Maraton Apuseni 2023 technical races – ultramarathon, marathon and half marathon Banca Transilvania – are part of the UTMB World Series pre-qualification series and are rated with ITRA – International Trail Running Association points. The marathon is also part of the Carpathian Circuit, a circuit with its own ranking system for runners. The short events – the Garmin Cross Country Run and the Decathlon Family Run – are designed to develop the next generation of runners and to promote outdoor sport!
The good day was known from 00:00 in the morning when, by torchlight, the most difficult race started: the 89 km ultra marathon with D+ 4350 m!
The results were not long in coming, with the best runners crossing the FINISH line in admirable times!
Ultramarathon | msg Maraton Apuseni 2023 |(~89 km, D+ 4350 m) – 4 ITRA points
Ultra Men
- 1: Dan Alexandru Cruciat – 10:56:21
- 2: Marius Mihai Iorga – 11:49:14
- 3: Cosmin Pasca – 11:59:53
- 4: Andrei Slusarciuc – 12:25:13
- 5: Matei Graur – 12:27:22
Ultra Women
- 1: Mihaela Irimia- 13:10:56
- 2: Ada Camenita – 13:57:27
- 3: Diana Surubaru – 14:17:18
- 4: Irina Stoica – 15:08:41
- 5: Ana Tohanean – 15:46:26
Marathon | msg Maraton Apuseni 2023 (~44.4 km, D+ 2400m) – 2 ITRA points
Marathon Men
- 1: Nicolae Balan – 4:39:56
- 2: Harsan Paul – 4:41:49
- 3 : Bogdan Ibanescu – 4:48:58
Marathon Women
- 1: Viorica Malai – 5:27:08
- 2: Ionela Dobrita – 5:55:01
- 3: Ioana-Maria Azimi-Anaraki – 6:11:01
Half marathon Banca Transilvania (~23.2 km, D+ 1110m) – 1 ITRA point
Half marathon Men
- 1: Gyorgy Szabolcs – 2:02:59
- 2: Pop Cristian – 2:05:09
- Cristian Han – 2:05:38
Half marathon Women
- 1: Ibolya TOROK – 2:23:05
- 2: Madalina Ioana Amariei – 2:28:48
- 3: Ramona Zota – 2:38:56
Garmin Cross (~11.7 km, D+ 614m)
Although for amateurs, a mountain cross seems more difficult than an asphalt one, every year more and more competitors come to this event. It’s a fun run and a training run for the technical challenges that new mountain runners have in mind! Congratulations to all
Family Decathlon – Family Team Race
The already traditional Family Decathlon race of the msg Maraton Apuseni 2023 had a separate program with a separate podium. The appetite for sport grows as children are present at the events. That’s why we are glad that the mountain running movement for children and families is gaining momentum. This year 270 children accompanied by 350 accompanying adults took the start of the race. In addition, the sports department of the school in Băișora was present with a group of 10 students, to show them that there is also the possibility of a sports career!
Community involvement
As every year, nothing could happen without organizers, volunteers, partners and runners lining up. Although the most spectacular day is race day, it must be communicated that the preparation for such a competition starts many months in advance. We thank and congratulate all those who contributed in one way or another to the 12th edition of the msg Apuseni Marathon.
The most visible impact, of course, remains the media impact through the interaction with the registration platform, the media social pages of the event, partners and runners, the official website and the image gallery.In addition, we invite you to follow the stories from the competition, directly from the route of our runners, which give us hope that Romania becomes one of the main centers of trail-running in Eastern Europe.
Special thanks also to the Săgagea – Orăști – Poșaga de sus Compound for their openness, involvement and for organizing the traditional food point at Izvorul Belioarei!
This edition could be organized thanks to the extraordinary support of our partners, with special thanks to the Cluj County Council and the Alba County Council who gave their support for the approval of the new trails, according to ITRA – International Trail Running Association standards!
- Official Partner – msg Romania
- Technical Partner – La Sportiva
- Race Partners – Banca Transilvania, Garmin și Decathlon
- Speicalized Partners – Zumont, Mountex, AlpinExpe, Adrenalin Park, World Class, Stihl Romania
- Partners: SKarp, Biatonrun, Muntii Nostri, Ture cu caiacul, Tata Vlad, Marty Restaurants, Elf’st, Transylvania Mountain Festival, Centrul Educațional Joaca, Vaxicum, Izvorul Minunilor, Fabrica de Științe, Cluj Treasure Hunt, CERT Transilvania, Farmec
- Venue Partners – Buscat Ski & Summer Resort
- Institutional Partners – Consiliul Județean Cluj, Consilul Județean Alba, Salvamont Cluj, Salvamont Alba, Jandarmeria Cluj, Jandarmeria Alba
- Media Partners – Rock FM, Radio Cluj, Cluj.com
- Organizer: Clubul Alpin Român Filiala Cluj
Get ready for msg Maraton Apuseni 2024! Stay in touch!
