Bjelasica Trail from August 7th to 9th in Kolašin: More than 700 runners from 32 countries arrive at Bjelasica

The Bjelasica Trail event will be held from August 7th to 9th, and this year's edition will bring together more than 700 runners from more than 30 countries, who will compete in five races, including a children's race.

Along with their entourage, families and friends, more than 1.500 people will be staying in Kolašin during the race weekend, according to the organizers. They will also be joined by volunteers, who, the organizers explain, are the backbone of every edition of the Bjelasica Trail.

There are five distances on the program, each with its own audience. The 12-kilometer course is intended for recreational runners and those trying trail running for the first time, and can be walked or run. The 23-kilometer course is for those who already run, but don't want to spend the whole day on their feet or simply like faster and shorter courses. The longest courses, at 40 and 60 kilometers, are intended for experienced runners who want to try their hand at serious challenges or perhaps improve their times from some of the previous editions. The organizers also remind us of the importance of the children's race, which "builds the base of future runners that we will see in the coming years."

"The trails are a little different this year compared to the previous edition - no less challenging, full of natural beauty, and we believe that they will live up to all expectations, both for those coming for the first time and those who have already run here. The fact that we sold out all distances was a sign to us that we should not change the concept, but rather improve it, and runners will certainly feel this through their experience on the trail," said the organizers.

Interest in the Bjelasica Trail is growing every year and is adequately balanced. The event has a strong domestic base, but also support from regional and global trail enthusiasts. Most participants, as expected, come from Montenegro, but there are also competitors from Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, Turkey, Poland...

The organizers are particularly pleased with the fact that many people return once they discover the beauties of Bjelasica and recognize the dedication of the entire team.

"The cooperation we have established with the Vodno Matka Trail from North Macedonia and the domestic Prokletije Trail also means a lot to us. These are not just agreements on paper - through these races, experiences are exchanged and the audience is broadened. When three such events are connected, runners get a reason to tour the entire region, and together we all become more visible on the trail map of Europe," they explain.

The organization, according to previous experience, is much more demanding than it seems from the outside. The races last one weekend, while the preparations take a whole year – from obtaining permits, marking and security, to hiring medical teams, organizing accommodation, food and transportation. The bulk of the work, they say, falls on more than 80 volunteers, without whom this event would not exist.

"The essence of this event is people - both those who run and all those who, with a smile on their faces, from early morning until dark, provide support. Such an event cannot be organized from the side - coordination with everyone who is part of the city and the mountain is needed. We cooperate with the Municipality of Kolašin, the Tourist Organization, the Biogradska Gora National Park, security services, medical teams, local caterers and accommodation facilities, because without that it is not possible to accommodate such a large number of people during one weekend," explain the organizers of the traditional Kolašin event.

They remind that, when it comes to the part of the race that passes through the National Park, everything must be agreed in advance and in accordance with the rules that apply to protected areas. The marking is temporary and is removed immediately after the race, waste is removed from the course, and the rule is simple - the course after the race must look as if no one has passed through it.

"We are particularly pleased that this year we have the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, as well as private companies with whom we share the same values."

The organizers emphasize that the significance of the event is enormous, because this year they will host participants from 32 countries in five races. As they state, each competitor becomes an ambassador of Bjelasica and Kolašin, conveying impressions of the natural beauties of northern Montenegro. They especially emphasize that the success of the event is also visible through the development of the local running community, which today also brings together national team members.

The contribution to extending the summer tourist season and the local economy is, they claim, concrete and measurable.

"Kolašin hosts more than 1.500 people during the race weekend - runners, their families, friends and teams. Most come from other cities and countries, so we estimate between 1.300 and 1.600 overnight stays, and direct spending on accommodation, food, trade, transport and local services between 180.000 and 250.000 euros. When indirect effects are included, such as the engagement of local suppliers, caterers, transporters, technical teams, photographers and printers, the total contribution of the event to the local economy is around 350.000 euros," Bjelasica Trail specified.

The Bjelasica Trail traditionally brings together the best Montenegrin and the best runners in the region – people who come to break course records and raise the level of the entire race. Their presence, the organizers explain, shows that running is serious on Bjelasica and that the result achieved on that mountain has special weight.

However, amateurs "who dare to take their first trail steps on Bjelasica" are no less important. Their stories are often the most beautiful, and during the Bjelasica Trail, people cheer equally on those who break the record and those who run 12 kilometers on the mountain for the first time.

"For us, Bjelasica Trail has never been just a sports event, but a way to affirm healthy living and sport as a way of functioning in a world full of addiction through action. We invite everyone to be part of our story, regardless of whether they run or not. Support is just as important as the race - come and cheer on those who go those days to overcome their challenges. The best proof that this is a worthwhile story is that most of those who responded once returned, not alone, but with friends. See you on Bjelasica," say the organizers of the Bjelasica Trail.