[Advendure]: The 7^th edition of the Grossglockner Ultra Trail will take place in July 2022, with many significant changes (direction of routes, distances and elevation, starting and finishing area), but also the extension of the days of the event to a three-day event. Most of the changes were tested last year, except for GGUT 110 which did not take place due to bad weather conditions. Are you happy with the result, after 5 years of success in the old format of the event?

[Hubert Resch]: These changes in particular regarding the direction on the tracks came were not easy to implement, to some extent we knew that it would be a kind of a new race. But we took our decision on a deep evaluation of 5 years experience from previous races. And, we have to say that we were very happy with the outcome: We were able to manage the major challenges properly and all advantages of the changes in particular with regard to safety and weather exposition came out as we estimated. So we were very happy with that. Honestly, if you have continuous improvement in your DNA for large scale events like us it takes about 5 - 8 years to find the perfect setting.

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[Advendure]: GGUT 110Κ (+6.500m) course – and all other routes except the Weissee Gletscherwelt Trail (GWT 35) - changed direction, starting from the 2021 edition of the race! You had pointed it out to us after the end of the 2019 edition and it seems that we definitely talk about completely new races. Very positive also is the fact that the start and finish area come back to the center of Kaprun, to the Salzburger Platz, as in the first three editions of the race. What are the reasons behind these changes?

[Hubert Resch]: As mentioned above the changes regarding direction and the track mean a further improvement regarding safety and weather exposition and easing the organization in case of bad weather which also counts for more safety. We run the race in high alpine regions and you still see what happened at TDS last year although the UTMB races are high end with regard to organization. That does not mean that nothing can happen at our race, but we consider we made everything possible to manage it. And finally, the finish at Salzburger Platz in the center of Kaprun guarantees an event better atmosphere at the starting or finish line – you will feel it!

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[Advendure]: The change of direction on the GGUT 110K results to a different character of the landscapes that the athlete will pass (and admire) during his or her effort. I remember, for example, how spectacular was the plateau and glacier at Kapruner Törl, at 2,639 meters, which we might now cross over at night. Will you give us a snapshot of the most impressive landscapes that we will pass through with the new form of the race?

[Hubert Resch]: Yes, regarding GGUT 110 Kapruner Törl and its snow field will be at night for the aprrox first 2/3 of the runners field, but the others might already see a brilliant sunrise there. The track continues to Rudolfshütte where more runners will pass the fantastic Weissee already during daylight. In the downhill to Kals there will be a surprise supply station. From Kals up to Lucknerhaus one highlight is the huge flower meadow, then further after the supply station at Glorerhütte the brilliant view towards Großglockner and further at the next col at Stockerscharte the scenic look down to the Pasterze Glacier. After the Supply station at Glocknerhaus at the last major pass (Untere Pfandlscharte, 2,633 m) you should take a look back to Großglockner from a different perspective and then enjoy the downhill over the small glacier down to "Käfertal" a marvelous vally again back in Salzburg.

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[Advendure]: The change in direction of the GGUT 110K also results to a differentiation in the technical difficulties that the athlete will encounter on the trail, regardless that the positive elevation gain remains the same. It will be great if you highlight the technical difficulties in the new race edition. How the aid stations, cut off times etc. change in the new route?

[Hubert Resch]: The first challenge in the new set up is the technical climb up and the downhill from Kapruner Törl (2.639 m) as for the most part of the field this will be during night. 2^nd the climb from Kals to Glorerhütte (2.642 m) is quite tough, it means to climb around 1500 m almost in one climb and for the 2^nd half of the field it might be hot, in particular the first 600 m climb from Kals. And the finish might be mentally tough, as you have almost reached the valley ground in Fusch, but then have another climb of about 800 m in total to Kaprun. Aid stations have been adapted to the new route as well as cut off times, but in that respect nothing much has changed in principle.

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[Advendure]: It is obvious that the East Tyrol Trail 84K (+ 5,000m) is also a very powerful and difficult ultra trail race of the GGUT. Its route seems very different from the GGT 75K, which was the second-largest race of GGUT in the previous format of the organization. Tell us a bit about the philosophy of this race, the landscapes the athlete will encounter, and its technical difficulties.

[Hubert Resch]: The idea of the East Tyrol Trail 84K is simply to offer the hotspots of GGUT to runners who are not familiar with running during night. It is also meant for runners who intent to do the whole circle in the future as a kind of preparation. And, although it is a tough race nobody should underestimate there is still a large difference to GGUT 110. But everyone will be rewarded with a brilliant experience.

Photo copyright: Philipp Reiter

[Advendure]: The route of the Grossglockner Trail 55K has also changed, which as always gets started in Kals, but in its new form runs through the second part of the “new” GGUT 110K. So here we also have a completely new race, which we are assuming its direction is designed for the sake of coordinating the thousands of athletes who will be simultaneously on the mountain. Tell us a few words about the landscape highlights and the difficulties of GGT 55K.

[Hubert Resch]: The main reason to run the GGT 55 in the same direction is that you cannot run the 2 races in the opposite direction if we would have left it as it was. The challenges remain practically the same as for GGUT 110 from Kals on (see question no 5) with the difference that it will not be that hot in the first climb from Kals due to the early starting time. And, in order to not having too many traffic on the first 5 km, GGUT 110 and GGT 55 run a different track until the tracks come together at Lucknerhaus.

[Advendure]: Regardless of the route changes in the races of GGUT, are there any announcements regarding the organizing part of the event, such as sponsors, expo, athletes' gifts etc?

[Hubert Resch]: The main pillars of the race remain the sponsoring from DYNAFIT and the support of the tourist regions, in particular Zell am See-Kaprun, Osttirol und Uttendorf-Weissee. As regards DYNAFIT it is not only about their financial contribution, but in particular that they are working directly and intensively with us to constantly improve the race. As one result, we have again a nice starter present for all runners from them. Furthermore, we have entered into an even much closer cooperation with SUUNTO and extended the cooperation with our nutrition partner HAMMER; I am sure all runners will benefit from it. And finally, the expo and bib distribution will be in the new and very impressive flagship store from our Partner Bründl sports just 50 m away from the start/finish - I am sure you will like it.

Photo copyright: Philipp Reiter

[Advendure]: The global ultra trail scene is dominated from the “by UTMB fever”, with more and more events entering into this partnership with the famous Chamonix race. You didn't join UTWT® wanting to keep the independent format of GGUT. Is the same principle holds regarding the "by UTMB" framework or are you considering it?

[Hubert Resch]: We always have been following the international developments closely. The surprising thing about UTMB world series is how quick it went, but UTMB is certainly a 110 % professional organization and it seems that on the global perspective of a race series they are far ahead of others. In that respective UTMB world series is certainly different than UTWT and thus definitely attractive to be in.

[Advendure]: As the years go by, do you notice an increase of the local community interest for the event? Is the Grossglockner Ultra Trail race success seems to result to an increase of the locals’ interest for mountain running in general? Do you see more athletes training through the year on the trails of the race and visit your mountains?

[Hubert Resch]: I cannot say so much about the region because the time per year to run there is rather limited due to its height and exposition. But I am sure that trail running will be the outdoor sport of the next 20 years. You definitely see it in a constant growth of reports in, but also outside special interest media. I just had the honor to give a 5 min interview in Vienna's morning radio with more than 500.000 listening. Or, that we found an increasing interest of daily newspapers who were running deep quality reports about GGUT 2021. And this is still about to start.

[Advendure]: After a missing year (2020) due to the covid-19 pandemic, the Grossglockner Ultra Trail with its 2021 edition has reached again a high level of success, in terms of organization, but also regarding the thousands of athletes participating from many countries. Are you satisfied with its progress over the years? Is there anything changed to your philosophy about the race after 7 years of organizing the GGUT? What do you dream for the future of the event?

[Hubert Resch]: First many thanks, Dimitrios, for that honor. I am deeply impressed that it really worked out what we laid down in our strategy 8 years ago, to become a well known race on international level with a significant amount of runners from abroad. I had the privilege to be at the beginning of the arrival of trail running in Austria and develop the race with so many interesting persons from which I could learn a lot. And last but not least, although the race grew extremely every year we still have and provide a family atmosphere; all volunteers are proud to be part of the team and we still have a lot of fun on the race weekend.

Dimitrios Troupis