On May 16-17, 2026, a two-day running festival was held in Martinské hole with the international participation of almost 160 trail runners. The event was part of the Slovak Skyrunning League 2026 and offered a varied program in the attractive environment of Mala Fatra.
On Saturday, May 16, runners could choose from three routes of varying difficulty. The shortest route “Humience” (10 km / +360 m) led along a lesser-known part of the Lúčanská Mala Fatra ridge. The middle route “SkyRace Martinky” (26 km / +1950 m) connected Kunerad and Martin – Stráne via the ridge, while testing the endurance and technical skills of the participants.
The highlight of the program was the “Martinky Mountain Marathon” (42 km / +3000 m), which is among the most demanding mountain marathons in Slovakia. This race was also part of the official Skyrunner® National Series, organized under the auspices of the International Skyrunning Federation. Runners fought for valuable points and the opportunity to qualify for the SkyMasters 2026 final, which will take place in the Spanish city of Eslida.
Sunday belonged to the traditional Vertikal Martinka event. The track with parameters of 4.26 km and an elevation gain of +944 m ranks this race among the steepest vertical runs in Slovakia and regularly attracts specialists in this type of discipline. The organizers expressed satisfaction not only with the course of the race, but also with the participation of foreign athletes. Runners from not only Slovakia, but also the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Canada, Ireland, Vietnam and Austria had the opportunity to get to know the beauty of Lúčanská Mala Fatra.
The Vertikal course record, set by Jozef Hlavčo in 2025 with a time of 00:35:38, was not broken. In the current year, the overall winner was Jakub Šiarnik, a representative of Slovakia in ski mountaineering, with a time of 00:38:32, which was also his personal record.
Visitors to Martinské hole and recreational runners can test their strength on Vertikala at any time thanks to the STRAVA application, where you can find a segment on the route from the final stop of the Stráne public transport to Rotunda. The two-day running festival was prepared by the Fatra Outdoor Team association together with the Winter Park Martinky resort and other partners.
Complete results: Fatra Outdoor Team
