Taradell runs again through trails and bandit history

Plan your race pace

Taradell will host a new edition of its mountain race on November 8, 2026, starting and finishing at Plaça de les Eres. The programme includes a 12-kilometre trail race, a 10-kilometre walk and a 1.5-kilometre children’s event, in a day that combines paths, tracks and references to local history.

The main event features 400 metres of positive elevation gain, according to the information available, and passes places associated with the bandit Jaume Masferrer, known as Toca-Sons. The organisers list two aid stations along the trail route: the first offers drinks, while the second provides drinks and solid food. Start times, entry fees and other operational details are not included in the information provided.

A popular race rooted in Taradell’s history

The character of this event is not measured by the stopwatch alone. Its route is presented as a journey through places linked to Jaume Masferrer, the bandit nicknamed Toca-Sons, a figure in Taradell’s local history. That sense of place makes the landscape more than a backdrop: the woods, paths and names of landmarks along the route all contribute to the story of the day.

The start and finish will be at Plaça de les Eres, in the Barcelona province town of Taradell, in the Osona comarca. The location brings runners and walkers together at the beginning and end, helping the event feel like a popular community gathering rather than a sporting competition alone. The programme includes options for different abilities and ages.

The event’s festive character is also reflected in the services described: chip timing, a children’s race, showers, massage and food at the finish. The race information also mentions trophies for winners and a prize draw. These elements may change from one edition to another, so schedules and specific conditions should be confirmed with the organisers when they publish the final details.

Confirmed date, distances and details

The 2026 edition is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, in Taradell. The date has been confirmed for this event, but the reference information does not specify a start time or bib collection schedule. It also does not provide an entry fee, participant limit or registration deadline; none of those details can be treated as settled.

The main mountain course is listed as 12 kilometres with 400 metres of positive elevation gain. The walk follows the same local setting but covers 10 kilometres and 300 metres of ascent. Children are offered a 1.5-kilometre route with 30 metres of positive elevation gain. These are three distinct options, ensuring the day is not limited to those competing in the longer event.

Some external listings give the main route an elevation gain of 350 metres, while the race description provided states 400. Given this discrepancy, the safest approach is to use 400 metres as a provisional reference and check the official course profile when it becomes available. In mountain running, a 50-metre difference can affect how the effort is understood, although it does not by itself change the nature of a short race.

A mountain course with changing terrain

The technical description outlines a varied route: roughly 60% follows trails, 30% dirt tracks or paths, 5% asphalt and the remaining 5% cross-country terrain. This mix suggests a race where the pace can change from one section to the next. Uneven ground calls for careful footing, while tracks should offer some sections where runners can settle into a more consistent stride.

The stated maximum elevation is 868 metres, although the available information does not include a detailed elevation profile showing the exact location of each climb and descent. Difficulty should not be judged by altitude alone: over a 12-kilometre race, the gradient of the slopes, the condition of the ground and the sequence of elevation changes often shape the effort more than an isolated high point.

The paths pass places connected with the local Toca-Sons tradition, and the route references Collada de Mansa and Castell d’en Boix, locations associated with the aid stations. These landmarks give the course a recognisable shape: it is not simply a line between start and finish, but a sequence of rural locations connecting sport with the everyday geography of Osona.

Aid stations and services during the event

The race information places the first aid station at kilometre 4.8, at Collada de Mansa, with drinks available. The second is at Castell d’en Boix, at kilometre 8.4 for the trail race and 6.3 for the walk, and offers drinks and solid food. The spacing gives each route its own reference points, although final details should be checked against the course markings and the organisers’ instructions.

A breakfast is listed at the finish for participants. It rounds out a popular community event and offers a chance to refuel after the effort, but it does not replace personal hydration planning or mean that every runner will need the same things. For a mountain race of this length, needs depend on pace, temperature, experience and individual tolerance for eating or drinking while running.

Chip timing records the finishing time of those taking part in the race, while the walk and children’s event extend the programme beyond the sporting rankings. The event information also mentions showers, massage, trophies and a prize draw. It is important to distinguish between services listed for the event and those that may depend on availability, schedules or specific conditions announced later.

Three routes, different ways to take part

The 12-kilometre trail race is the mountain-running option and has the greatest elevation gain in the programme. It is designed for people who want to run on trails and tracks with climbs, descents and changing surfaces. Its distance does not automatically make it an easy event: the terrain can make the effort very different from an asphalt race of similar length.

The 10-kilometre walk keeps participants connected to the landscape and places associated with Toca-Sons, while reducing both distance and total elevation gain. It opens the day to people who would rather explore the area on foot than take on a race pace. No cut-off times have been provided for this option, so it should not be assumed to share the trail race’s timing conditions.

The children’s race, covering 1.5 kilometres with 30 metres of positive elevation gain, brings younger participants into the programme on a shorter course. No eligible age groups, birth-year categories or rules for accompanying adults are specified. Those details matter to families and should be checked in the official event information before arranging participation for children.

How to understand the course difficulty

Positive elevation gain is the combined amount of climbing, not the difference in height between the start and the highest point. That is why 400 metres of climbing over 12 kilometres can feel different depending on how the slopes are arranged. A sequence of short rises calls for frequent changes in effort; one long, steady climb requires a different approach, even if the total ascent is similar.

The high proportion of trails also matters. It is easier to keep a regular stride on a wide track, while a narrow or uneven path requires runners to watch the ground and adjust their footing. If there are roots, rocks or mud, speed alone is no longer a useful guide: grip, balance and the ability to avoid wasting energy with every change of step all matter.

The technical information sets a three-hour maximum time for the trail race. This can help explain the time allowance set by the organisers, but it is not enough to estimate an individual finish time without the full course profile, ground conditions and each participant’s experience. No intermediate cut-off times are published. The figure should be read as a general event condition, not a recommended pace.

Preparation and equipment with a practical approach

Anyone taking on the main course will benefit from arriving accustomed to running on uneven ground and linking climbs with descents. Not every training run needs to be hard; it is useful for the body to become familiar with trail conditions and for the legs to practise changing pace. Runners coming from road races can gradually add runs on paths to reduce the shock of uneven surfaces.

The elevation makes it worthwhile to practise both climbing and descending. On steep slopes, a determined walk may be more efficient than forcing an unsustainable running pace; on descents, shorter, controlled steps can help maintain stability. Speed should match the ground. On trails with rocks or roots, looking a few metres ahead helps anticipate foot placements without staring only at the ground immediately below.

Trail shoes with a sole suited to mixed terrain offer more security than a model designed solely for asphalt. Clothing should reflect the forecast, not a fixed idea of November: a cool morning can become mild on a climb, while damp conditions change grip. Testing footwear and clothing before race day helps avoid discovering blisters or traction problems halfway through the route.

The event information does not specify mandatory equipment or say whether runners must carry their own water. It would therefore be wrong to attribute requirements to the organisers that have not been published. The distance between aid stations, expected time on the course and personal preferences can help determine whether to carry a small reserve, while following the final race instructions.

Taradell and Osona are part of the route

The setting helps explain the event’s appeal: trails, rural paths and historical references come together in a town whose relationship with the landscape extends beyond race day. Toca-Sons provides a recognisable thread, while names such as Collada de Mansa and Castell d’en Boix place the event in specific locations around the area.

Taradell is in Barcelona province, in the Osona comarca. The start at Plaça de les Eres offers a clear reference point for finding the beginning and finish, although the information provided does not include parking guidance, public transport details or road closures. These practical issues can affect arrival plans and should be checked through municipal and organiser announcements.

The popular format also gives spectators a role. Starting and finishing in the same place makes it easier to watch the start and wait for participants to return, while the walk and children’s race offer more ways to share the day. No details have been published about entertainment at specific points or other activities, so it is best not to assume there will be an additional programme.

What still needs confirmation before November

The November 8, 2026, date and the town are confirmed, but practical details remain unpublished in the available information. These include the start time for each event, entry fee, registration link, participant limit and closing date. A complete set of rules and the bib distribution arrangements are also not listed.

The elevation gain for the main route appears as two different figures in the listings consulted: 400 and 350 metres. The race description gives 400, so that is the figure used here, with the caveat that the final route profile may clarify the discrepancy. The 10-kilometre and 1.5-kilometre routes are listed with elevation gains of 300 and 30 metres respectively.

It is also not yet clear whether every listed service will be available or how services will be organised by time. The event information mentions showers, massage, food at the finish and prizes, but does not specify access conditions or whether these are included in the entry fee. Until the 2026 rules are published, these should be understood as listed services rather than a detailed guarantee of availability.

A day when the landscape is part of the race

The appeal of the event lies in bringing popular sport and local identity together rather than offering a distance alone. The routes pass paths associated with the memory of Toca-Sons and take participants across changing terrain, where woods and tracks call for different rhythms. The experience depends on the race as much as the place that gives it meaning.

On Sunday, November 8, Plaça de les Eres will be the starting point and return destination for runners, walkers and children taking part. With a 12-kilometre trail race, two listed aid stations and shorter alternatives, the event offers several ways to experience the mountains around Taradell. The final course profile, schedules and registration conditions will complete the picture of the 2026 edition.