Transylvania 50k
The Transylvania 50 is a 50 km mountain race held in Bran, Romania, about 170 km north of Bucharest. This year was the 10th edition, and the course takes runners through the Bucegi mountain range, over Omu Peak at 2,505 meters (8,218 ft)—one of the highest peaks in the country.
| Distance | Elevation +/- |
|---|---|
| 50.6 km (31.4 mi) | 3,320 m (10,892 ft) ↗️ 3,330 m (10,827 ft) ↘️ |
Arriving in Romania
We arrived in Romania a few days before the race to get some time on trails and explore a bit. After flying into Bucharest, we rented a car and drove to Brasov, a historic town surrounded by mountains. We spent a couple of days walking around the old town and doing short trail runs nearby. Since I was tapering, the runs were mostly to stay loose and test out a new pair of running poles. We also made it our mission to try as much Romanian food as possible—favorites included sarmale (cabbage rolls), mici (grilled sausages), and ciorbă de burtă (a creamy tripe soup that’s more delicious than it sounds).
Two days before the race, we drove to Bran—home of the castle that inspired Dracula. We checked into a quaint, family-run hotel with a garden, and most of that day was spent reading in the sun and relaxing. The next day, I picked up my race bib and did a final gear and nutrition check.
Since this race didn’t have crew support (unlike the Finspång Loop where I saw Ninette every 10 km), I had to carry everything I needed and rely on the four aid stations for water. I was trying out some new fueling strategies—liquid carbs so I wouldn’t have to rely only on gels, salt tablets to keep my sodium levels up, and a few backup snacks like bars, jerky, and candy in case I needed something different later in the race.
Here’s the fueling plan I used during the race based on 10 hours. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked well overall and kept my energy pretty steady throughout the day:
| Segment | Dist. (km) | Cum. Dist. (km) | Fueling | Carbs (g) | Sodium (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start to Malaiesti | 13.0 | 13.0 | 1x Carb Mix #1, 2x Liquid IV (11g, pre-mixed), 1x 23g Gel | 134 | 1,045 |
| Malaiesti to Omu | 3.9 | 16.9 | 1x Carb Mix #2, 1x 23g Gel, 2x Liquid IV (11g), 1x 30g Gel | 154 | 1,541 |
| Omu to Batrana | 5.2 | 22.1 | 1x 30g Gel, 1x Jerky Stick (first ⅓), 1x 23g Gel | 76 | 1,320 |
| Batrana to Pestera | 5.1 | 27.2 | 1x 23g Gel, 2x Liquid IV (11g), 1x Jerky Stick (second ⅓), 1x ProBar | 74 | 1,205 |
| Pestera to Gutanu | 10.8 | 38.0 | 2x 23g Gels, 2x Liquid IV (5g), 1x Jerky Stick (last ⅓), 1x Peanut Butter (optional) | 63 | 1,170 |
| Gutanu to Poarta | 6.6 | 44.6 | 1x 23g Gel, 2x Liquid IV (5g), 1x Mars Bar | 65 | 1,060 |
| Poarta to Finish | 5.4 | 50.0 | 2x 23g Gels, 1x Jerky Stick (optional) | 46 | 1,055 |
| - | – | – | Total | 612 | 8,396 |
Race day
I woke up around 4 AM after a surprisingly good night’s sleep. I usually expect to toss and turn before a big race, but this time I felt oddly calm. Maybe it was the pre-race pasta the night before, or just knowing I’d done everything I could—everything else was out of my hands. I ate a ProBar and a banana, downed some Liquid IV, and triple-checked my vest: gels, salt tablets, liquid carbs, poles, waterproof jacket—it was all there.
At 7 AM, the Transylvania 50K starts in dramatic fashion—from the courtyard of Bran Castle itself. With the early morning light casting shadows on the stone walls and a buzzing crowd of runners packed in tight, it felt more like the beginning of an adventure than just a race. The course rolled out gently at first: 2 km of pavement through the village of Poarta, then a left turn at Opriș Bridge, where the real climbing began.
The Climb
The first 10 km were a grind. A country road led us into the woods, and from there the trail pitched upward through the dense forest, then out into alpine meadows, all marked with red tape. This was a brutal opening climb—over 1,400 m (4,593 ft) of gain, topping out at Saua Tiganesti (2,195 m / 7201 ft). My poles earned their place in my pack during this section.
After cresting the saddle, we began a steep descent toward Cabana Malaiesti, the first major checkpoint at km 13. The trail dropped 500 m (1640 ft) over 3.5 km, skirting Lacul Tiganesti and switch-backing through Padina Crucii. It was technical and taxing—loose rock, sharp turns, and already sore feet.
At the aid station, I took a breather and refueled—fruit and gummy bears, water refill, and a fresh carb mix in one of my bottles. This was one of the few well-stocked checkpoints, so I made the most of it.
| Checkpoint | Race time | Speed | Elevation +/- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiganesti | 1:50:33 | 6 km/hr | 1,387 m+ / 82 m- |
| Malaiesti | 2:12:11 | 5.8 km/hr | 13 m+ / 380 m- |
Into the Clouds
The next 2 km were among the toughest of the entire race. We climbed steeply again—over 600 m (1,969 ft) of gain on rocky terrain—toward Hornurile Malaiesti, a narrow, snow-covered chute known as “the chimney” with some hands-on scrambling near the top. The blue tape pointed us skyward into thinning air—every step a fight.
Eventually, we topped out and merged onto an alpine ridge, easing into a short climb to the Omu cabin at km 17—the highest point of the course at 2,505 m (8,218 ft). The views here were incredible: jagged ridgelines, rolling fog, vast valleys.
Ridges, Rock, and Relief
The next 5 km, from Omu to Batrana Refuge, offered a much-needed mental reset. The trail rolled gently through alpine terrain, weaving through low pine shrub and grassy ridges. I finally found a rhythm and was able to run more freely, soaking up the views and a bit of joy.
At Batrana Refuge (km 22), we hit another control point, and then came the descent—600 m down over 5 km to Salvamont Pestera. It was the kind of downhill where you want to let go and fly, but the trail demanded caution. Rutted with potholes and uneven footing, it forced you to stay alert, brake with your quads, and hope your knees held up.
Reaching Pestera (km 27) was a huge relief. It was the best-stocked aid station of the day—hot soup, salty chips, water, fruit, and plenty of shade. I sat down for a few minutes, reset, and got ready for the final third of the race.
| Checkpoint | Race time | Speed | Elevation +/- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiganesti | 1:50:33 | 6 km/hr | 1,387 m+ / 82 m- |
| Malaiesti | 2:12:11 | 5.6 km/hr | 13 m+ / 380 m- |
| Batrana | 4:09:20 | 4.9 km/hr | 825 m+ / 379 m- |
| Pestera | 4:47:54 | 7.4 km/hr | 0 m+ / 541 m- |
Rolling Hills and Final Climbs
After Pestera, the 50K course split from the 80K and 100K races. We veered toward Padina, ran 2.5 km of forest road, and began the final major climb—about 3 km with 400 m (1,312 ft) of gain—up to Saua Strunga (1,909 m / 6,263 ft). The sun was relentless by this point, and I started to feel queasy. Liquid IV wasn’t going down anymore, so I popped a salt tablet. That seemed to do the trick.
From Strunga, we dropped into a runnable 4 km descent into Poiana Gutanu (km 38), where we hit another aid station. I fueled up, stretched, and prepared for the home stretch.
The trail turned onto a blue triangle path, with a short climb and a rolling descent into Poiana Gaura. This marked the start of the final push. I tried to catch a small group ahead of me but had to navigate a bottleneck of 10K runners mostly hiking—lots of friendly but slow-moving company on the narrow singletrack.
| Checkpoint | Race time | Speed | Elevation +/- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiganesti | 1:50:33 | 6 km/hr | 1,387 m+ / 82 m- |
| Malaiesti | 2:12:11 | 5.6 km/hr | 13 m+ / 380 m- |
| Batrana | 4:09:20 | 4.9 km/hr | 825 m+ / 379 m- |
| Pestera | 4:47:54 | 7.4 km/hr | 0 m+ / 541 m- |
| Grohotis | 5:52:52 | 5.8 km/hr | 409 m+ / 220 m- |
| Gutanu | 6:32:14 | 6.7 km/hr | 84 m+ / 293 m- |
The Final Stretch
At Poarta (km 44), we passed the last control checkpoint. The terrain was mostly downhill now, but after 40+ km, every little bump felt like a mountain. There were still two sneaky little climbs: Saua Polite and Muchia Grajdului. The second involved a winding forest trail that felt endless.
We finally descended through thick forest, following red cross markers, hit a brief section of forest road, and then turned left onto one last twisty trail over Muchia Grajdului. That brought us to the Bran Sports Hall, and from there, a flat 200-meter stretch next to the highway before a final right turn into the castle courtyard.
I crossed the finish line surrounded by cheering volunteers, the medieval castle behind me, and 50 unforgettable kilometers in my legs.
| Checkpoint | Race time | Speed | Elevation +/- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiganesti | 1:50:33 | 6 km/hr | 1,387 m+ / 82 m- |
| Malaiesti | 2:12:11 | 5.6 km/hr | 13 m+ / 380 m- |
| Batrana | 4:09:20 | 4.9 km/hr | 825 m+ / 379 m- |
| Pestera | 4:47:54 | 7.4 km/hr | 0 m+ / 541 m- |
| Grohotis | 5:52:52 | 5.8 km/hr | 409 m+ / 220 m- |
| Gutanu | 6:32:14 | 6.7 km/hr | 84 m+ / 293 m- |
| Poarta | 7:40:42 | 6.5 km/hr | 102 m+ / 707 m- |
| Finish | 8:12:03 | 9.8 km/hr | 12 m+ / 246 m- |
Reflections
The Transylvania 50K was an incredible experience. The sheer amount of climbing right from the start, combined with steep descents and altitude, engages every part of your body from start to finish. My legs were worked, my quads were toasty, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more thankful for trekking poles.
There were moments where the trail felt more like a scramble, the "chimney" to Hornurile Malaiesti especially. But then the trail would open up into sweeping alpine ridgelines or quiet meadows, and suddenly I’d forget I was racing. The packed trails were a joy to run, especially compared to the muddier, rootier mess of Finspång a few months ago.
I was really happy with how my fueling plan held up. Liquid carbs, salt tablets, and a Mars bar kept things balanced. That said, I definitely overestimated how many gels and Liquid IV I could stomach. I was grateful I had different textures and flavors in the mix.
This race was a reminder of how much I love being in the mountains—not just for the beauty, but for the focus they demand. In those eight hours (which flew by surprisingly fast), there was no room for autopilot. Every step required attention—climbing over rock, dodging roots, chasing red tape through fog.
Crossing the finish line at Bran Castle, with that strange blend of medieval drama and trail-runner grime, felt surreal. I was exhausted but already thinking about what’s next. This one’s going to be hard to top.
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions or just want to chat about the race, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram: @andrewtpham.