Running Through 7 Valleys - 100 Kilometers of Alpine Competition
David Janitzek
2026-03-19
3 min. read
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Running 7 Valleys in the Source Box is the most frequently attended Polish ultramarathon,
Seven Valleys Run – 501 exceptional participants
There is a lack of brave individuals. Last year, over 761 athletes lined up at the start of the ultramarathon in Krynica. Out of this number, 501 people (including 44 women) completed the race. The country champion was Marcin Świerc from Lisowice, who crossed the finish line after 9 hours and 9 minutes. The Hungarian (winner of the previous two editions) took second place on the podium and was beaten by 24 minutes. The conditions were not easy, as the race started after heavy rainfall, which resulted in the terrain being muddy and wet, and fallen trees on the course. Despite this, all participants had to deal with the same conditions. Fortunately, Marcin Świerc won, dethroning the esteemed Hungarian rival.
Characteristics of the Krynica Run
Let's examine the details of the Krynica run. To finish it, it's not enough to simply wish for it. Adequate preparations and tactics are required. Participants at the start take, among other things, walking sticks (similar to those used in Nordic walking), energy bars and sticks, and... a flashlight (the run starts at 3 a.m., when it's still dark). Furthermore, there are stations along the route where one can both eat and drink water. However, one cannot solely rely on the organizers. Sometimes, a sudden hunger or a sudden hypoglycemia may strike. It's essential to have something sweet on hand - there have been instances where participants asked others for help. The ascents of +/- 4500 meters pose a significant challenge on the route. The best always remain in motion, but others have no choice but to walk uphill. The same advice is given to beginners by experienced participants. If you have a hill in front of you, walk only, but when you're at the top, don't admire the view, but start the descent as quickly as possible. They know what they're talking about. The ascents demand a lot of strength from the quadriceps and calf muscles. One can literally 'exhaust' oneself on them. The descents, however, allow for recovery. It's worth taking advantage of this and accelerating on them (of course, with due caution).
The most rapid female participant
Among the 761 participants of the previous edition, Magdalena Łączak from Mielc achieved the highest speed among women. A noteworthy fact is that she finished the race in eighth place in the OPEN category. Her finish time was truly remarkable and was 10 hours, 20 minutes, and 56 seconds. Her example shows that women are not far from the top men. In long-distance races, one can discover an interesting relationship - the longer the distance, the greater the chance that a woman will be at the top. This was confirmed by the fastest Polish marathon runner, Karolina Jarzyńska, who in 2014 with a time of 2:26 achieved the 13th position among the fastest Polish men.
Ultramarathon available for all
The 7 Valley Run presents a tough challenge that demands extraordinary endurance and resilience from its participants. More and more women are choosing to take on this demanding race each year, but we do not recommend this event for beginner marathon runners. The 100 km mountain route may prove to be unattainable. However, this should not discourage you, as it is possible to participate in the race and achieve a classification by completing one of the seven time-control checkpoints along the route. The nearest one is located at 22 km, providing participants the opportunity to take part in the race without having to complete the entire distance.
