Logo Logo

10,000 metres of altitude as a challenge: The organisers of the MunggäRun are launching a new summer highlight in Glarus Süd

The organisers of the legendary Elm winter event ‘MunggäRun’ are bringing the Glarner sporting spirit to the summer. On Saturday, 3 October 2026, all weather-beaten endurance athletes and ‘spinnsiächä’ (crazy people) will experience an extreme premiere: 17 times up the trail from Linthal to the car-free mountain village of Braunwald – all in one go.

For fifteen years, the MunggäRun in Elm has stood for pure passion, headlamp magic and burning thighs on ski touring skis in the deep winter. But the organising committee led by President Martin Baumgartner also ventures into the Glarner mountain world in the warmer months. During a trail running round in Elm with course director Andre Reithebuch and Sven Streiff, a crazy idea for a unique summer event was born.

Inspired by a ‘youthful indiscretion’

The inspiration for the new format came from course director Andre Reithebuch himself. In a legendary feat, he once conquered a staggering 10,000 metres of altitude in Braunwald in one go. This unyielding will is now being turned into a collective challenge for everyone who is looking for something special.

The principle of the new summer challenge is as simple as it is tough:

  • The route: From Linthal up to the car-free mountain village of Braunwald.
  • The hard facts: Over 600 metres of elevation gain spread over a 3-kilometre route.
  • The test of endurance: The whole thing is to be completed 17 times in a row. The route can also be completed fewer or more than 17 times within the time frame of 04:30 to 23:55 hours.
  • The schedule: The starting gun fires early in the morning at 04:30. The ascent is tough, but the descent is easy on the funicular, which runs back down to the valley every half hour.

A day of pain and pride

‘We didn’t want to organise a normal summer race, but something unique that reflects the pure Glarner spirit of sport,’ explains OK president Martin Baumgartner. Anyone who takes part in this event needs the right genes, but above all an unshakeable spirit and the willingness to push themselves to their limits. Of course, the route doesn’t have to be completed 17 times. You can also start later and, for example, measure your performance against the Tödi Challenge with its 3,612 metres of elevation gain,’ explains Baumgartner. Participants are rewarded with a day full of pride, healthy pain and a boundless sense of community in the Glarner mountain world.

The event also serves as an ideal fitness booster and a harbinger of winter: on January 16, 2027, the organisation will already be celebrating the 16th edition of the legendary MunggäRun in the winter sports paradise of Elm.

Event Details at a Glance

Event: New Summer Challenge of the MunggäRun Events
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026 (Registration opens on August 1, 2026)
Start Time: 04:30 AM Location Linthal – Braunwald (Glarus Süd)
Requirement: 17 ascents of 600 metres / 3 km (up by foot, down by train)
Equipment: Trail shoes, iron will, public transport ticket (provided by the organiser)
Winter Preview: 16th MunggäRun in Elm on January 16, 2027

For media enquiries:

Martin Baumgartner
OK President MunggäRun Events 2026/2027
info@munggarun.ch
+41 78 688 06 47