Marathon races near Żywiec

Extrém Maratón Oščadnica is a mountain marathon held in October, starting in Oščadnica, northern Slovakia, at Námestie M. Bernáta by the fountain. It follows the full marathon distance, with the route crossing the Kysuce Beskids, including the Veľká Rača area, and accumulating approximately 1,700 meters of elevation gain. The event is organized by the Municipality of Oščadnica and the Oščadnica Tourist Club. The course comprises asphalt, gravel roads, forest trails, and rugged unpaved paths, demanding more than standard road-marathon conditioning. Participants may encounter varied weather conditions, including wind, rain, fog, mud, snow, and sun within a single event, with aid stations situated on the ridges. The race originated during the Covid period with five participants and has since evolved into a modest mountain-running event for about fifty entrants, primarily individuals who enjoy challenging runs and spending time in the mountains.

The Korona Śląskich Półmaratonów is a series of six half marathons held across the Silesian Voivodeship from March to October. The first race opens the series, and the rest carry runners through different parts of the region over the warmer months. Thousands of runners participate in the events, making it a regional challenge for regular amateurs as much as a set of standalone races. The main goal is the Crown trophy: runners earn it by finishing four required half-marathon distances within the series.

Bieg Śladami Żubra is a December running event held in Pszczyna, a town in Silesia, southern Poland. The event offers distances from 6 km cross-country to 12 km, a half marathon, and a marathon, providing options for both short off-road runs and full long-distance challenges. The 6 km race is also the Silesian Voivodeship Cross Country Championships, adding a competitive element beyond the open races. The day includes a 1.8 km Costume Run and the Bieg Żubrzyka, or Little Bison Run, for children and teenagers with 200 m, 400 m, and 800 m options.

Perun Skymarathon is a 41-kilometer mountain race held in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids of the Czech Republic, specifically within the Silesian Beskids region known locally as Goralli. The event begins and concludes at the parking lot by Flight Park in Oldřichovice u Třince, designed as a challenging skymarathon rather than a road race. The course encircles the mountain massifs of Javorový, Ropice, Prislop, Kozinec, and Ostrý, passing near several peaks between 900 and 1,000 meters in elevation. Participants are divided into basic age groups: women under and over 40, and men under and over 40.