Laugavegur Ultra Marathon

Laugavegur is Iceland's most famous trek, a route through the southern highlands that hikers usually take four days to walk. This race covers it in a single push, linking the nature reserves of Landmannalaugar, with its coloured mountains and lava fields, and Þórsmörk.

The terrain changes constantly: sand, gravel, grass, snowfields and ice, plus rivers and streams to wade. Because the highlands are only accessible for a few weeks a year, the race rides on the summer window, with aid stations at the mountain huts of Hrafntinnusker, Álftavatn and Emstrur and strict cut-offs along the way. It is a demanding mountain race open only to well-prepared runners, who need ITRA points to qualify and are started in pace groups.

It has been run for more than a quarter of a century and is organised by the Reykjavik Sports Association, the umbrella body for the city's sports clubs that also stages the Reykjavik Marathon and the Midnight Sun Run. Runners ride race buses out from Reykjavik in the early morning and finish at Húsadalur, and for many it is the most enjoyable race in Iceland.