Coalminers' Trail

The Coalminers' Trail takes runners across the former mine tailings in Thor Park, Genk, Belgium, situated within Hoge Kempen National Park. This trail race offers four distances, ranging from a shorter option suitable for beginners to a 30 km course. Each distance includes a climb up the same coal-mining landmark. The summer event features routes of 7, 15, 21, and 30 km, with elevation gains increasing from 95 meters for the 7 km to 265 meters for the 30 km. A distinct winter edition, limited to 1,000 participants, follows a different course than the summer race. The course begins near the football field, proceeds into the forest, and concludes with a passage beneath the mine shaft. Its defining feature is a 450-step ascent, divided into four sections, to the summit of the tailings. From this vantage point, participants overlook Genk and the adjacent landscape before descending back onto the trail. The event has been a fixture on Genk's running schedule for many years and is also included in the Vandersanden Limburg Runs loopcriterium. All finishers are awarded a distinctive medal and a non-alcoholic Erdinger beer. Dogs are permitted if kept on a leash, and trail shoes are advised because of the course's authentic off-road nature.