2. Weihnachtsultra

Weihnachtsultra is a trail ultra on Christmas Eve in Darmstadt, Germany, beginning at 08:00 and covering 45 km. The field is limited to 25 runners, making it more of a low-key local ultra than a large race-day production. It is not part of any rankings and has no IAU label, aligning with its straightforward format: arrive, run the distance, and finish within the 9-hour time limit. The course consists of five laps of 9 km each, entirely on forest paths, with 140 metres of elevation gain per lap for a total of 700 metres. Public transport to the start and finish is convenient, a practical consideration on a holiday morning. Jörg Drechsler directs the race. Finishers receive their certificates immediately, with beer and cake available at the finish. Recent results indicate a close field, with 22 runners listed for the 45 km race across both men and women.