March 15th, 2022 - An exciting event has been announced by the Jelsa Tourist Board: the first trail running race to take place in this part of Hvar island

The recently announced Jelsa Trail is a bit different than your average trail race. Namely, it will retrace the route of the renowned procession Za križen (Behind the cross), which takes place every Maundy Thursday on Hvar island. The race is scheduled for Saturday, April 23rd, ten days after the traditional procession.

And what a setting for a trail race! Hvar island boasts no less than six UNESCO heritages, Za križen being one of them. You’ll get to discover a few more as the immensely scenic trail takes you through olive groves and vineyards, with cerulean waters of the Adriatic as a backdrop. The route runs through the Stari Grad Plain and along numerous dry stone walls, both UNESCO heritages.

Participants can compete in one of three categories, all endearingly named after a few local favourites:

Srdelica (Sardine) - 5 km, +260 m

The shortest and easiest route Srdelica is beginner-friendly and a perfect choice for those who’d prefer to participate in a more casual manner, soaking in the sights while they walk the trail at a comfortable pace. The trail starts and ends on the waterfront in Jelsa, in the meantime offering wonderful views of island scenery, including the splendid view from the ancient tower Tor. There won’t be an aid station on this trail, and the time limit to finish the race is 2 hours.

Škarpina (Scorpionfish) - 11 km, +420m

This route is beginner-friendly, but also suitable for more experienced runners. The trail starts and ends on the waterfront in Jelsa. After the initial ascent and passing by the tower Tor, the trail continues to run through olive groves and vineyards to the picturesque Pitve village, then back to Jelsa. The trail will have one aid station in Pitve (7km mark), with 3 hours allowed to finish the race.

Šanpjer (John Dory) - 20 km, +620m

The longest route requires a higher level of physical fitness, but isn’t technically challenging. Like the other two, the Šanpjer trail starts and ends on the waterfront in Jelsa. After they pass by the ancient tower Tor, runners will head to Pitve and then follow the route of the renowned procession Za križen. The trail runs through gorgeous places in the environs of Jelsa: Pitve, Vrisnik, Svirče, Vrbanj and Vrboska. Two aid stations will be set up on this route, in Pitve (7km mark) and Vrbanj (12km mark). Four hours are allowed to finish this route, with an added time limit halfway through - racers are allowed 2 hrs 15 mins to reach the checkpoint in Vrbanj.

Sweet and salty snacks will be offered at the aid stations, together with fruit, water and juice. After the race, you can look forward to a proper Dalmatian feast in Jelsa, complete with klapa singing.

The winners will be awarded medals in the shape of Hvar lace, another iconic Hvar feature to bear a UNESCO title.

Interested? You can register for the race on Stotinka.hr - everyone who pays the entry fee before April 14th gets a t-shirt and a glass water bottle for free, both adorned with the Jelsa Trail logo.

Interesting invitation from the Adventure-Sport.net website for trail running in January:

 

"After the successful year 2015 with races: Biokovo Vertikal, Vela Luka Outdoor and the highly visited trial league, the Trail and Trekking Club Strka has already plans for the upcoming year 2016.

In the Split city area and its surroundings a new Strka Trail League will start on January 3, 2015, sponsored by Easy Going Store.

The trails will be approximately 4-7 km in length and fully marked with tape flags and pointers, so that orientation knowledge is not necessary.

The Entry fee is symbolic 5 kn per round, except for the last round, Marjan Trail, where the entry fee is 100 kn.

(photo: adventure-sport.net)

 

The leagues is ideal for those, who want to try trail running for the first time, but also for those more experienced - as a good training or even more, as the sponsor Easy Going Store prepared interesting prices for the best ones. In addition to the prices for winners, there will be benefits for all participants during the time of the duration of the league. All participants of the league can use a special 25% discount during the period of January 3 - February 13, 2016.

Here is the schedule of the league:

Round 1: January 3, 2016 at 10:00 - Marjan

Round 2: January 9, 2016 at 10:00 - Poljička Mountain

Round 3: January 16, 2016 at 10:00 - Klis Field

Round 4: January 23, 2016 at 10:00 - Omiš Gata

Round 5: January 30, 2016 at 10:00 - Sinj

Round 6: February 2, 2016 at 19:00 - Marjan Night

Round 7: February 13, 2016 at 10:00 - Marjan Trail - application here."

For more information, follow the FB page of the Club, or visit their website.

(photos: Cetina Adventure)

After Marjan in Split, Poljička Mountain, Klis, Omiš, the trail running league came to Sinj for the 5th round. Instead of paying the entry fee, the 93 participants collected money for a single mother of two children in a difficult financial situation. Start and finish was this time in the old town, on an ancient place where people of Sinj defeated the Turks. This place offers a beautiful view of Sinj and the Cetina region, don´t you think?

The path was 7,3 km long with a 300 m ascent and descent, marked with ribbons and arrows, so no orientation skills were required.

Here are the results, according to adrenalin.hr:

Women:

1. Katarina Kokan 41:35

2. Petra Koceić 43:48

3. Lucia Križanac 46:35

Men:

1. Marin Koceić 30:48

2. Marinko Duka 31:51

3. Ivan Kovachev 34:18

The last running of the league will take place on February 7 on Marjan in Split - more information here.