400 meters of pain
At Ještěd, runners race straight up the ski jump, combining speed and a steep, 400-meter ascent. "The special thing is that it's a relatively short course. You can see the finish line, but you have to get to the bottom to reach it," says Jakub Šiarnik, winner of the last Czech edition in Liberec in 2021, who has been running the race since 2018 and has already collected six victories. He secured his first Red Bull 400 win in Liberec in 2019 and aims to add a third triumph here this year. The race is open to everyone over 18, regardless of fitness level, and is held in men's, women's, and relay categories. In the individual categories, there are qualifying heats over the full 400-meter distance, with the winners moving straight to the final. These are joined by the next fastest runners from all heats based on their times. The relays (4×100 meters - men's, women's, and mixed teams) are run directly as finals with no qualification. According to Šiarnik, the race breaks you in the second half. "The transition over the edge is the key, where we have to pick up the pace again and head for the finish. It's also a psychological moment - if you don't overdo it at the start, you know you can make it," he says. How to register: Registration for the race opens on May 19 at 12:00 PM at redbull.cz/400. The entry fee is 1,590 CZK for individuals and 2,590 CZK for four-person relays. The run has had strong participation in the Czech Republic for a long time, and the great interest was confirmed by the last edition, which attracted more than 1,200 runners and sold out quickly.
The path to the start also goes through a spring challenge: New this year is the Red Bull 400 Challenge on the Strava platform, running from April 27 to May 17, 2026. Participants must climb a total of 1,200 meters in altitude within three weeks. For completing the challenge, they will receive a 400 CZK discount on their individual entry fee. Red Bull 400 outside the Czech Republic: The Red Bull 400 is an extreme race that takes place annually on ski jumps in several European countries and beyond. Traditional stops include Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and Poland. Each course has its own specifics, but the common denominator is always the same format - 400 meters up a steep slope. The event's partners are Nova Action, Europe 2, and Crivit. You can find more information about the race at redbull.cz/400.
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Red Bull 400
