Trail Orixes de Mondariz 2027: date, distances and championships

Plan your race pace

Trail Orixes 2027 will take place on Saturday, 6 March, in Mondariz, Pontevedra, opening the ultra season of Spain’s mountaineering and climbing federation, FEDME. The event will host the Spanish Individual Ultra Championship and the Spanish Ultra Championship for Regional Teams, as well as the first race in the Spanish Ultra Cup.

Organised by the Asociación Deportiva de Mondariz, the ninth edition moves forward from the 2 May date used in 2026. The 2027 date and venue are set, but distances, start times, prices and entry conditions have yet to be announced. The 2026 details give runners an idea of the event, although the 2027 rules may change them.

A season opener with three national competitions

The Galician event brings together the individual ultra championship, the regional team championship and a Spanish Cup race. They are separate competitions: one awards an individual title, another is contested by regional teams, and the third forms part of a cup series.

Hosting these competitions does not mean every distance on the programme will award those titles. Nor should runners assume they already know the participation or classification requirements: the applicable 2027 rules will determine eligibility for each category and how points are awarded.

For anyone aiming to compete in the team championship, entering the race and being selected for a regional team are separate matters. Before arranging travel, runners will need to know their regional federation’s selection criteria and the race rules.

Distances and elevation: a look back at 2026

In 2026, the ultra covered 62 kilometres with 3,591 metres of elevation gain, according to the organisers. The route reached a maximum altitude of 927 metres and had a total elevation change of 7,182 metres, a figure that includes both ascent and descent. It started at 7:30 a.m.

That year’s marathon was approximately 42 kilometres with 2,400 metres of ascent. There was also a 28-kilometre Trail and a 14-kilometre Mini Trail. These figures relate exclusively to 2026: Mondariz hosting the ultra championships does not in itself confirm the distances on the 2027 programme.

Elevation gain helps explain the challenge beyond the distance. The 3,591 metres of ascent in the 2026 ultra were the sum of its climbs, not the altitude of the finish. On a course with that profile, a runner cannot simply use their usual pace on a flat route to calculate a likely finish time.

The mountain routes around Mondariz

The 2026 ultra started in Mondariz’s main square and passed through Riofrío, Aboal, Festín, Gargamala, Caxil and Vidueiros. The route continued past Foxo do Lobo de Estacas and Lago de Piñeiro, before returning to Mondariz via Caxil, Sabaxáns and Cernadela.

The 28-kilometre race shared part of that landscape: from Mondariz it passed through Riofrío, Aboal, Festín and Gargamala, returning via Sabaxáns and Cernadela. The 14-kilometre Mini Trail linked Mondariz with Cernadela and Sabaxáns. Those routes belong to the previous edition and should not be treated as confirmed courses for 2027.

The differences between routes extend beyond distance: the amount of climbing, time away from the start area and aid needs also change. The final course and elevation profile will be particularly important when choosing a distance and planning the effort.

Registration, race entries and prices

The 2026 marathon offered 200 places for runners aged 18 and over, with entry fees ranging from €35 to €50 depending on registration date. Entry included a commemorative gift and a runner’s bag. These are not confirmed prices or capacity limits for 2027.

The organiser’s event page is where runners can check for registration opening and the conditions of the new edition. Before paying for an entry, it is worth checking which documents or licence the chosen distance requires and whether the price includes the necessary insurance.

An injury or change of plans can also affect the final cost. The refund and transfer conditions should be set out in the 2027 rules: runners should not assume that an entry can be transferred or that a private transaction replaces the procedure authorised by the organisers.

Start times, cutoffs and aid stations in the previous marathon

The 2026 race over 42 kilometres started at 8:30 a.m. and had a nine-hour time limit, with the finish closing at 5:30 p.m. The 28-kilometre Trail started at 10 a.m. and the 14-kilometre Mini Trail at 10:50 a.m. These are times from the previous edition, not a schedule for 2027.

The marathon had three cutoff points: Gargamala, at kilometre 15.9, at 11:45 a.m.; Caxil-Mosteiro de San Xoán, at kilometre 27, at 2:30 p.m.; and Furafollas, at kilometre 36, at 4:30 p.m. Runners who missed the first cutoff were diverted onto the Trail course and were excluded from the classification.

Those cutoffs show that calculating a finish time is not enough: runners also need a margin at intermediate checkpoints. In 2026, the marathon had aid stations at Aboal, Ermida de San Xoán, Gargamala, Coto de Eiras, Caxil and Furafollas; Caxil also had a drop bag point, where runners could collect personal gear during the race.

Race equipment and waste

Mandatory equipment varied by distance in 2026. Marathon runners were required to carry one litre of water, a mobile phone, an emergency blanket and a whistle. The ultra listed a water container with at least half a litre of capacity, a charged phone, an emergency blanket and a whistle, plus a windproof or waterproof jacket depending on the weather.

The 28-kilometre Trail required half a litre of water capacity, a charged phone, an emergency blanket and a whistle. The Mini Trail listed half a litre of capacity, a charged phone and an emergency blanket. These details show that mandatory equipment depends on the distance, but they do not replace the list to be published for 2027.

In 2026, the organisers did not provide cups at aid stations. Each runner had to carry their own drinking vessel and take their waste to the finish or designated areas at aid stations. This also affects equipment choices: carrying water and being able to drink at an aid station are separate needs.

From May to March: a different point in the season

The move to 6 March 2027 places the event at a different point in the calendar from 2 May 2026. For runners preparing for an ultra, the change affects the scheduling of long training sessions and travel, particularly if they wait for the final route before choosing a distance.

The weather on race day cannot be predicted from the date alone. In a mountain race, trail conditions and the forecast close to the start can influence clothing and footwear choices; the local forecast and the organisers’ instructions will be more useful than memories of the May edition.

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