La Llanera Trail returns to Sabadell on Jan. 24, 2027

Plan your race pace

The mountain race organized in Sabadell by the Unió Excursionista de Sabadell has a new date: Sunday, Jan. 24, 2027. The edition planned for 2026 was canceled because restrictions related to African swine fever prevented activities in the natural area around the Ripoll. The 2027 event brings a winter race back to the calendar, with three distances: 14 kilometers, a half marathon and a marathon.

The available details point to a day with varying levels of difficulty, from a shorter route with a notable elevation gain to a mountain marathon covering more than 40 kilometers. Published course profiles list a 7 a.m. start for all three options and describe routes along paths and trails around Sabadell, Castellar del Vallès and Sentmenat, with the climb toward Puig de la Creu among their defining features. Organizers have not yet released 2027 entry prices or a registration schedule.

A new date after the 2026 cancellation

The previous edition was not moved to another time of year. Organizers announced its cancellation after reviewing restrictions in the Ripoll area and uncertainty over when group activities could resume. The decision affected a race held on natural trails that, according to information published at the time, brought together about 1,000 participants across its events. With access to the area restricted, going ahead as planned would have put both the course and the conditions for holding the race at risk.

The new event keeps its winter identity and is scheduled to return on Jan. 24, 2027. The date lets runners place it on their calendars, but it does not mean every practical detail has been confirmed. Event and registration information can change from one edition to the next, so 2026 conditions should not be treated as valid for 2027 without a specific announcement from organizers.

Three distances, three different profiles

The event offers a 14-kilometer route, a half marathon and a marathon. That gives runners a choice between an introduction to trail running and two longer races, although distance alone does not tell the whole story. Elevation gain, trail conditions and the climb toward Puig de la Creu add difficulty, making the effort quite different from an asphalt race of comparable length.

The course data available in the information reviewed gives the short distance about 14 kilometers and 469 meters of elevation gain, with 483 meters of descent. The middle option is listed as a route of roughly 22 kilometers — identified as a half marathon in the event information — with about 541 meters of climbing and the same amount of descent. The long course is about 43 kilometers, with 1,611 meters of ascent and 1,613 meters of descent. These figures come from the published course profiles; runners should check the final tracks and event details when organizers release the 2027 edition.

The terrain and the climb to Puig de la Creu

From the Sabadell area, the course heads out along paths connecting with the municipalities of Castellar del Vallès and Sentmenat. The available description highlights wooded tracks and old local paths, some of which are now little used. That landscape helps define the race: it is not simply a matter of following a marked route, but of handling changing surfaces, trail sections and a climb that accounts for a substantial share of the physical effort.

Puig de la Creu is a landmark on the course, particularly because of the effort required on the ascent and the condition of the trail. The gradient may call for shorter strides and a controlled pace, while the descents demand attention to stay balanced on uneven ground. Mud, damp conditions or cold weather could affect the difficulty of a January race; without an advance forecast, those should be considered possibilities, not certainties.

Start time and details still to come

The profiles for all three distances show a 7 a.m. start. That is the available start time, although final event information may clarify details such as the exact start area, access arrangements and any differences between races. The start and finish location is not specified in the information reviewed, so an exact address in Sabadell cannot be given.

Entry prices, opening and closing dates, and the 2027 field limits have not been published either. The reference page includes registration conditions from an earlier edition, including deadlines for changing a name or distance and participant limits for each race. Those details should not be carried over: fees, entry limits and rules can change, and only an announcement specific to the new event can confirm what will apply.

What to know about registration

The race date is confirmed, but that does not mean registration is open. The available information does not include a 2027 registration schedule or confirmed price. It also does not say whether entries are open, sold out or subject to a participant limit already announced. Runners planning their season can note the date, but should wait for the event-specific terms before making payments or planning a distance change.

The previous edition’s information said runners could register online or in person at the Unió Excursionista de Sabadell’s premises on Carrer de la Salut. It also set deadlines for changing a name or distance and said entries would not be accepted on race day. Since those terms applied to a different edition, they are background information, not the current rules. The entry confirmation, change policy and any refund terms should be checked when the 2027 regulations are published.

A winter race with a charitable dimension

Organizers have described the event as a winter fixture, a season that is part of its identity and its place in the calendar for many runners. The 2026 cancellation interrupted that tradition, but moving the race to another season would have changed the kind of event it aims to be. Its return in January preserves that seasonal setting, though actual weather and trail conditions will shape the experience for each participant.

The event information also highlights a charitable dimension: its last two editions raised 1,464 euros. The figure shows that the race has included a fundraising component, but the information reviewed does not identify the recipient organization or explain how donations will work in 2027. It would therefore be premature to assume the amount, donation method or supported project will remain unchanged.

How to assess which distance is right

Distance is a useful starting point, but the elevation profile gives a better sense of the physical demands. The 14-kilometer route includes about 469 meters of cumulative climbing, a substantial load for a short race. The middle option combines roughly 22 kilometers with more than 500 meters of ascent, while the marathon climbs more than 1,600 meters. Comparing these distances with road races can be misleading: in the mountains, elevation and surface affect pace and total time on the course.

The choice depends on previous trail experience, comfort on climbs and descents, and the ability to maintain effort for several hours. For someone who usually runs on roads, the short route is not necessarily easy if they have little experience on uneven ground. On the long course, endurance matters, as do nutrition, hydration and pacing. The most useful measure is not mileage alone, but the combination of elevation, terrain and expected duration, once the final course profile is published.

Restrictions in the natural area

The 2026 cancellation came amid measures to limit activities in natural areas because of African swine fever. Information published at the time said that a ban on activities around the Ripoll remained in force in Sabadell, even as restrictions had eased in other municipalities. For a race that depends on trails and wooded areas, that kind of restriction directly affects whether the course can be used and the event safely organized.

The new January 2027 date confirms the intention to bring the race back, but it cannot predict the health or regulatory situation at that time. Any future restriction, course change or preventive measure would need to be announced explicitly. For now, the previous cancellation explains why the event was put back a year; it does not indicate that the 2027 race will face the same problem. The key will be updated information on access to the trails and the conditions announced by authorities and organizers.

The race returns to Sabadell’s calendar

With the event set for Jan. 24, the race regains its winter place on Sabadell’s trail-running calendar. Its three distances share the same area and some of the course’s character, but demand very different efforts: a 14-kilometer route with considerable elevation, a mountain half marathon and a marathon covering more than 40 kilometers. The climb toward Puig de la Creu and the wooded paths are central to the available course description, not minor details of the scenery.

The confirmed information for the 2027 event is the date. The 7 a.m. start and elevation figures appear in the published profiles, while registration, prices, field limits and the exact address still need confirmation. Distinguishing what has been announced from what remains unknown helps avoid confusion with rules from earlier editions. The next official update will fill in the practical details for a race returning to Sabadell after a cancellation prompted by restrictions unrelated to the sporting course.