Photo: radioresita.ro
Hercules Maraton
Autumn on the wild ridges of the Cerna Mountains.
10 October 2026 · Valea Cernei ( Motel Dumbrava), lângă Băile Herculane, Caras_Severin
One of Romania's first mountain marathons climbs out of the Roman spa town of Băile Herculane and into the foliage-burning heights above the Cerna valley — a single thread of trail stitching 39 remote hamlets to a +2,300 m ridge. ITRA-rated, eligible for the national trail league.
Edition XV · 2026
A mountain marathon with Roman roots
Choose your distance
Four trails, one mountain
From a +2,300 m marathon across the high ridges to a 400 m run for the youngest. Every distance starts in the Cerna valley below Vânturătoarea.
- Flagship
Maraton
45,1 km
+2300 mStart 08:30Proba regina: tur complet al Varfului Arjana (1512 m), cu dubla traversare a crestei Muntilor Cernei, prin catunele Dobraia, Poiana Lunga, Bogaltin, Inelet, Cracul Mare si Prisacina. Punct maxim: Saua Ciumerna, 1480 m. Sectiunea cea mai grea: urcare continua de ~940 m pe 7 km dupa Bogaltin; coborare finala de peste 620 m. 9 puncte de control/revitalizare. Timpi limita: Bogaltin (km 17,8) 4h, Inelet (km 32) 6h30, finish 10h.
Semimaraton
21,4 km
+1100 mStart 09:00Traseu prin catunele Inelet, Cracul Mare, Prisacina si Dobraia, cu poteci suspendate deasupra Vaii Cernei si panorame spre Muntii Mehedinti si Cheile Prisacinei. Aproximativ 90% alergabil, cu o singura urcare tehnica de ~2 km prin padure si coborare finala rapida de peste 600 m. 5 puncte de control/revitalizare. Timpi limita: Inelet (km 8,5) 3h, finish 5h.
Cros
4 km
+180 mStart 09:15Cros de 4 km cu +180 m, accesibil incepatorilor. Start si finish la Motel Dumbrava, Valea Cernei.
- Kids
Cursa Copiilor
cursa copiilor
Flat & funStart 14:00Cursa cu obstacole dedicata copiilor, la Motel Dumbrava. Start sambata la ora 14:00.
The setting
From the Roman baths to the ridge
Băile Herculane is one of the oldest spa towns in Europe — its thermal springs steamed for Roman legionaries nearly two thousand years ago.
The race begins where that history is still in the stone: faded belle-époque baths, the Cerna river running cold beside the warm springs, the statue of Hercules in the square. Then the trail leaves the town behind and climbs. The route stitches together 39 remote hamlets — clearings, shepherds' paths and forgotten lanes — before it reaches the open ridge. You finish back in the valley, legs spent, and the thermal pools are right there. Few marathons send you from a Roman spa to a 2,300-metre crest and back in a single morning.
- Setting
- Valea Cernei · Cerna Mountains
- Town
- Băile Herculane, Caraș-Severin
- Heritage
- Roman thermal spa, ~2,000 yrs
- Route
- 39 remote hamlets
Why run it
What this mountain gives you
Marked course, aid stations on the climbs, mountain rescue on call. You bring the legs — the Cerna brings the rest.
ITRA points
The marathon and semimarathon are ITRA-rated, so your finish counts toward your international trail performance index.
National trail league
An eligible round of the Romanian trail-running league — race here and your result travels into the standings.
Autumn at its peak
Mid-October on the Cerna ridges: beech forest turning bronze and copper, crisp air, long light. The reason runners come back.
Recover in the springs
Finish in the valley and the thermal baths of Băile Herculane are a short walk away — the oldest recovery protocol in Europe.
The route
Where the trails run
Start and finish sit in the Cerna valley below Vânturătoarea bridge. Scout the terrain on the map below; the marathon climbs to the high ridges before returning to the river.
Race day
Schedule
Indicative race-morning timing — confirm the final programme in the technical guide on hercules-maraton.ro before you travel.
- 20:00
Vineri 09.10 - Sedinta tehnica (I), zona Cazinoului Baile Herculane
Participarea la una dintre cele doua sedinte tehnice este obligatorie. Tot aici se face validarea inscrierii si ridicarea kitului.
- 21:00
Vineri 09.10 - Sedinta tehnica (II), zona Cazinoului Baile Herculane
- 08:30
Sambata 10.10 - Start Maraton 45,1 km
- 09:00
Sambata 10.10 - Start Semimaraton 21,4 km
- 09:15
Sambata 10.10 - Start Cros 4 km
- 14:00
Sambata 10.10 - Start Cursa Copiilor
FAQ
Before you toe the line
How and when do I register?
Registration is online via racetime.ro (the event's registration partner). It opens on 15 July and closes on 23 September — there is a participant cap of around 800, so popular distances can fill before the deadline. Use the Register button on this page.
What does it cost?
Fees are tiered and rise as race day nears (all in RON). Early-bird in July: 100 lei for the 4 km Cross, 180 lei for the semimarathon/marathon. August: 120 / 200 lei. September: 140 / 230 lei. The Kids Race is 50 lei.
Which distances are offered?
Four: Marathon (43 km, +2,300 m, start 08:30), Semimarathon (21 km, +1,100 m, start 09:00), Cross (4 km, +180 m, start 09:15) and a Kids Race (0.4 km). The marathon and semimarathon are ITRA-rated.
Are there ITRA points, and is this part of a league?
Yes. The marathon and semimarathon carry an ITRA rating, and the event is eligible for the Romanian national trail-running league, so your result counts toward both your ITRA index and the league standings.
Where exactly is it, and where do I park?
The start and finish are in the Cerna valley near Băile Herculane in Caraș-Severin county — at Motel Dumbrava, below the Vânturătoarea bridge. Drive up the Cerna valley road from Băile Herculane; parking is in the start area. Allow extra time on a busy autumn weekend.
Can children take part?
Yes — the Kids Race is a 400 m loop in the start arena, with a medal at the finish. The 4 km Cross is the gentlest of the timed distances and suits older children and newcomers running with an adult.
What's the weather like in mid-October?
Autumn in the Cerna Mountains: crisp mornings, cool ridges and the chance of rain or mist up high. Pack mandatory mountain kit for the marathon and semimarathon — a jacket, and gear that can handle a cold, wet ridge. Conditions can change fast above the valley.
Meet us in the Cerna valley.
Registration opens 15 July and closes 23 September, capped at around 800 runners. Pick your distance, then let the autumn ridges do the rest.