Hessisch Lichtenau, Germany · Sunday, March 21, 2027

Fixed Distance 50K

Frau Holle Märchenland Ultra

151 days away

57 km Distance

1,500 m Climbing

5.1 Grit · Challenging

51.1995° N, 9.7186° E © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 26 m / km Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.

Time limit 10 hours 10:32 min/km average. Firm. Sustained running. Long aid-station stops will cost you. Tighter than 72% of 50K races. Measured against 1065 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~42 Small. Long stretches with nobody in sight.

DUV results for the 2026 edition (57km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, March

Daytime high 8°C

Night low -1°C

Rainfall Mostly dry

Daylight 12 h 10 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for March — NASA POWER, grid elevation 339 m. Not a forecast.

Results history

Year	Race	Finishers	Men's winner	Women's winner
2026	57km	42	Kristof Declerck · 05:00:00	Mandy du Maire · 06:58:00
2025	57km	25	Christoph Kroll · 05:24:16	Melanie Kasüske · 06:50:42

The field grew 68% between 2025 (25) and 2026 (42). 38% of the 2026 field were women.

DUV results for the 2026 edition (57km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Course notes

terrain This is a rolling course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.
gear With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

Gear for this race

Chosen for 57 km of trail with 1,500 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes 26 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition 57 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration Vests Pole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles 1,500 m of ascent to walk up.
GPS Watches Battery life first — a 57 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

La Sportiva

Prodigio Pro

RunRepeat found the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro to have a secure, locked-in fit due to its premium upper, and also praised the shoe's energetic ride, particularly…

$225 ★★★★★ 4.6

New Balance

Fuel Cell Super Comp Trail

★★★★★ 4.5

Tailwind

Endurance Fuel

All-in-one calorie and electrolyte drink mix. 200 calories per serving.

$25 ★★★★★ 4.8

Nathan

VaporKrar 12L

12L race vest co-designed with ultra champion Rob Krar, with insulated bladder pocket.

$170 ★★★★★ 4.6

Komperdell

Carbon Ultralight Vario 4

4-section folding carbon poles with compact pack size for mandatory gear.

$160 ★★★★★ 4.5

Garmin

Enduro 3

Ultra-endurance GPS watch with solar charging and 300+ hour battery in GPS mode.

$900 ★★★★★ 4.8

All gear guides →

Overview

The Frau Holle Märchenland Ultra, a 57 km trail race in Hessisch Lichtenau, Germany, takes place on March 21, 2027. This 50k event has a 10-hour time limit, which is tighter than 72% of 50k cut-offs. This means runners must maintain a pace faster than 10.5 minutes per kilometer to finish.

With 1500 meters of elevation gain over 57 km, the course presents 26.3 meters of climb per kilometer. The field size of 42 finishers in its latest edition makes it bigger than 53% of 50k fields, yet smaller than 46%. The entry fee is 20 Euro.

Similar races

Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.