Why Western States matters
In 1974, a man without his horse set out on foot along a 100-mile trail through California’s Sierra Nevada, and reached the end in 23 hours and 42 minutes. That echo became the Western States Endurance Run: the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race, and a rite of passage for ultrarunners. From Olympic Valley to Auburn, the rule is simple: under 24 hours earns a silver buckle, under 30 a bronze. Its start line is reached through qualifying races and a lottery, so every place is a story.
Ultra Rocks is one of those qualifiers for 2028. Finish it, and the bridge leads from 114 kilometers of Carpathians to the Sierra Nevada.
Become part of the myths of Bucovina
Just before midnight, the bell rings in Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and the crown of Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB begins. A short loop through sleeping streets, then the wild takes over: moonlight on Pietrele Doamnei, the Moara Dracului gorge, the Slătioara Forest, where trees 300 to 400 years old have outlived every story told about them.
Dawn brings Rărău, and the whole crossing opens before you: Pietrosu Bistriței, Giumalău, the endless Northern Carpathians. A cold stream down to Zugreni, a double climb of Giumalău, the Transrarău road, and one last brutal ascent: RUNC.
Cross the bridge here, and two roads open on the other side. Finish with four Running Stones, and you stand a step closer to the UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix. Or take the other road: Ultra Rocks is a qualifying race for the 2028 Western States Endurance Run. Every kilometer leaves an echo; where it carries you is yours to choose.
Course route and elevation profile
Campulung Moldovenesc - Platoul Central
Along the race route, there are points where runners are provided food and drinks. Aid stations supply drinks and food for consuming within the aid stations. The organization supplies still water and electrolyte/sports drink for filling the mandatory water bottles/hydration packs and personal collapsible cups. The runner must make sure, when leaving the aid station, that they have the necessary quantity of food and drinks to keep them going until the next aid station.
To enter the aid stations, runners must wear their race-bib.
The race guide and the relevant pages on our website provide full list of aid stations and what kind of food/drinks runners may find there.
There are several medical stations along the route. These stations are directly linked to the command center. There is medical staff at the command center or on the course during the events. Medical stations are intended to assist any runner in need of medical assistance. It is up to a runner in need of assistance or injured to call for help:
By going to a medical station By calling the command center (phone number should be saved in mobile/cellphone) By asking another runner to call for help By using the SOS function on the LiveRun app (if applicable) Runners must provide assistance to any person in danger and alert the command center. If a runner is unable to call the command center, and only if it is an absolute emergency, runners may call directly one of the national security services (especially if you are crossing an area where only emergency calls are possible): local emergency number will be specified on the race guide. A number of unexpected events, including inclement weather events, could make you wait for help longer than expected. Your safety therefore depends upon the quality of the items that you have put in your pack. All medical, paramedical, first aid and guide staff, as well as any person appointed by the race direction are able to:
Remove any participant who is deemed unable to continue the event Demand any competitor to use any item of the mandatory equipment Evacuate any runners deemed to be in danger Refer runners to the most appropriate care facility A runner who is treated by a doctor or reached by the search and rescue staff will defer to the professional’s authority and agrees to accept their decisions. If a runner's state of health justifies treatment via intravenous drip, the runner shall compulsorily withdraw from the race. There is a medical center at the finish area available for runners with severe medical problems. Comfort care is based on the decision of the medical staff within the limits of care available. Runners must stay on the marked path, even when they sleep. All runners who voluntarily venture from the way-marked course are no longer under the responsibility of the organization.
| CP | CUT-OFF |
|---|---|
| Zugreni | Sat 09:30 AM |
| Rusca | Sat 01:30 PM |
| Valea Putnei | Sat 07:30 PM |
| Transrarau | Sun 02:00 AM |
| P. Mesteacan | Sun 06:00 AM |
| Campulung | Sun 07:30 AM |
| CP NUMBER | CP NAME |
|---|---|
| 03 | Slatioara |
| 08 | Rusca |
| 11 | Valea Putnei |
| 14 | Transrarau |
At the race-pack collection, each participant receives at least a 30-liter bag. After filling the bag with the items of their choice and closing them, runners can drop them off at the dedicated event area.
*For logistics reasons, UTMB World series events only accept the UTMB World series spare bags that are distributed during the check-In. Those bags are reusable, so we ask the runners who already have received one of those bags to reuse it each time they take part in a UTMB World Series event.
How to get your bags at the finish area: The bags are returned to either the runner or a family member or friend, only upon presentation of the race-bib. The bags must be retrieved no later than 2 hours after the end of the race.
For any runner that drops out of the race, the organization will take the bags to the finish area, as long as the runner’s withdrawal is registered with the race organizer. Because of logistical factors, the organization cannot guarantee that all bags are brought before the end of the race.
Only bags supplied by the organization will be transported. Poles are not allowed in these bags. As the items in the bags are neither checked nor controlled, the race organizer is not responsible for the items in the bags. We recommend not to put any valuable items in the bags. We advise runners to keep toiletries and spare clothes at their accommodation.
