This is the story of Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB. Written in two hours, on the back train journey from Câmpulung Moldovenesc to Bucharest.
First race by UTMB in Romania sounded awesome, and I knew from the first moment zi heard, that I need to be part of it for the vibe which UTMB has in general, even when it is carried away in the most remote places of the world. Romania is not that far from France, comparing the distance with by UTMB events held in Ushuaia or Australia, as two quick examples. But Câmpulung Moldovenesc, the chosen town for the venue is a really remote location in the country, especially if you put it in the context of distance from Bucharest, the capital city: more than 510 kilometers!
Obstacles in front of reaching Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB
Romania is a very compact and friendly shaped country when it comes to potential in hosting a proper transport infrastructure, but then, again, only in the last few years some so called highways were built and are still incomplete in terms of facilities. That is a different story, but very important to consider before thinking to participate at Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB, because this is the chosen race.
Bucovina Ultra Rocks is not an event with a huge tradition, starting 2020 only, but it gathered the shaped in a way it will become by UTMB finally. Which it did. With lots of ups, but with some downs, when a person died in the 2025 because a tree felt during a storm on a contender – mentioning this only as a fact, not in order to assign blame! – the event took off. “Look, it is official! I would go there, it is easy for me to go to Bucharest, but then…?” This was the conversation I had with a guy who lives in Switzerland, when enjoying UTMB vibes in 2025, at Courmayeur.
70 kilometers / hour
As said, this is a challenge. And the main reason for which I always avoided to participate in the event in the past, even if I wanted to. It is too far from Bucharest. Now, given the context, I knew I need to be there. So we took the train. Even if train transportation in Romania is falling apart year over year, the line from Bucharest to Suceava (447 kilometers) is perhaps one of, if not the best. Indeed, it is a very plain and friendly path to build a high speed railway, but we need to get satisfied with an average speed of slightly over 70 kilometers / hour. Six hours, or six and a half with the easiest “worst case scenario”.
Burdujeni, a stunning train station
The good thing is that in Suceava awaits us Burdujeni train station, a truly unbelievable construction. Maybe the only station in Romania which looks amazing. If there is another one, I couldn’t find it yet. The thing is that this one was built by the Austro-Hungarians, 120+ years ago, and this explains its wonderful shape and forms. But it being maintained great is also the merit of those who wanted to preserve it. The materials might have been of high quality, but nothing can pass the exam of more than a century without being cared for.
Arriving at Residence Rooms Bucovina
We even visited it a bit, explored it some time, on our way back to Bucharest, as we had more than one hour spare. The main hall is closed, so no wonder its protection goes beyond a simple maintenance. It is said, but it looks to be the best way to keep it in a (almost) wonderful shape. However, getting back to our way to the Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB, we take a connection from Suceava to Câmpulung Moldovenesc and, if we gathered only seven minutes of delays from Bucharest, then we added 25 more for a trip of… 70 kilometers. In the end, we arrived at our accommodation, not before picking our race kits first, as, by serendipity, the Race Village was exactly in our way to Residence Rooms Bucovina, a lovely place to stay in, 400 meters from the start!
Fearing the mud on the way, before Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB
It rained when we got there, we were tired – waking up at 04:30 is never easy – and we feared a bit of how can the weather be the next day. I was a bit nervous because I had a glimpse in my mind of how the race could look like. Especially I knew Runc climb, but nothing more… The prospect of heavy mud scared me highly, as I don’t dislike anything in a trail race than a heavy mud and steep downhill combination.
Câmpulung Moldovenesc might be wracked, but it looks better than many other places
Meanwhile, we are glancing at the town. Câmpulung Moldovenesc is full of failed communist architecture, and it is generally a sad place to be in, because poverty is easily seen at every corner, if you have an eye to compare the place with many others you have seen. But, in someway, it looks much better comparing to villages such are Predeal, Busteni, or other from Prahova’s Valley, and that, for those who know is a huge paradox, but very well explainable. No details needed here, just some pure gratefulness for what we find.
What does it take for a Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB label
People tend to like the international event, and welcome it properly. Maybe this is why Câmpulung Moldovenesc deserves to be the first location to host such an event in Romania. The thing is that the francize costs a lot of money, and it is obvious why it is so hard to be organized. It is not necessary to disclose amounts, but unofficial rumors state you need to pay a six figure / year, and not in local currency!
You need sponsors, strong sponsors and all hands on deck from everybody to make this come to fruition. Local authorities, Penny, Hoka, ING and so on proved they were interested in making it happen. The costs are huge, but also the benefits. After my race I made an analyze and I identified people from tens of countries, from all around the world coming to this remote town in Suceava: South Africa, Turkmenistan, Singapore, Argentina, New Zealand, tens of French, dozens of Spaniards and so on.
A huge event for the well being of the community, long term!
These people inject money in the local economy, but also you put the place on the world map. At an event by UTMB, as I saw it, there are 95% high quality people. What I mean by this? Well… humans who don’t leave mountains of garbage behind, humans who don’t make noise, who don’t disturb, who party discreet, who enjoy life, in general, without disturbing the life of others. It is so hard to imagine a bigger event than this in Câmpulung Moldovenesc. Harder to identify anything with a bigger long term potential and, in the end, impact for the community.
The bridge between the roots
A community which can be judged directly from the behavior of our host, Residence Rooms Bucovina, a lovely lady who made everything possible for us to have everything we needed. And we did. So far north in Romania, you may find more candid people, people who love their roots more than appearance, than what other think. Sure, most of the people from Câmpulung Moldovenesc most likely gave up of any expectations, it is an environment which doesn’t offer too much, but there are people that can build the “bridge between the roots”, the beautiful slogan of the race, to make everything happen.
In general, Romania failed to develop at the level it should have, especially after 2007, when it joined the European Union, but there are some local hopes, hopes ignited by this type of events, Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB. Because of this, I really think this race was and remains a success, and it truly has the ingredients to build a foundation for a better long term life in this part of the country.
How was my Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB Rocky 33K race
I did dragged the rows about my racing experience, because that it is truly irrelevant comparing to the importance of its well doing for the community, but now I need to tick also this chapter because, in the end, we all participate at these event from a pure selfish reason. As said, I didn’t know the path, so couldn’t fix an objective different than: best it can be! However, right from the start I have realized it is a more runnable than expected trail race. For a guy with none competitive capabilities, it looked nice to be able and run as much as possible.
A very runnable race, comparing to expectations
The first 1400 meters of ascent went quick, neglectable, because the maximum altitude – slightly above 1600 meters was not something to cause me too many problems. The fact that I had a flat mostly downhill, mostly on asphalt – Transrarău – for around six kilometers mid race consolidated my confidence even more. Of course, for many mountain lovers to go on a road is not ideal, especially when many cars pass by – apologies from my side, but this is how it is in Romania: you can do whatever, buy never ask somebody to leave the car at home! – but for me that is a superpower, to have a preferred fast surface to explore.
Runc, signature for Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB
In fact, after one more steep, but short climb, all the way to kilometer 30.5 was so flat that I even considered an under 5 hour finish. Of course, this was mostly for my confidence boost, because I knew the climb to Runc was ahead, and – most important! – the downhill from there. On the way, I lost one or two minutes of momentum because I stepped in a hole near a branch and fall. I think it is the most stupid accident I had in my trail running, and it really came out of nowhere, but only because of my pure neglect. I needed to fix my number and regained momentum.
Some sherpa steps, like in Norway, would be a good fit
I was so lucky and grateful that I didn’t got hurt, because I really could. So now, the last check point – out of six with food and drinks, a huge plus for the organizers! – and up we go to Runc. I know how steep this is, but my fear was provoked mainly by potential mud. On the rest of the race, there were some muddy portions, but rather manageable from my side, so couldn’t complain! The path to Runc was covered in mud, but not at the level I couldn’t go forward without issues. The organizers made also some ad-hoc stairs in the mud, to support the climb, and for many that was a huge help, and a great gesture, we need to say. Well, it would be even better if local authorities in places like this would consider building sherpa steps, like Norway did, but, well… 😁
Horrible downhill sealing the deal for me at Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB Rocky
The climb is very hard, I can’t deny, but because I run a lot and have a lot of volumes, these are not my weakness generally, I manage them pretty well. For my level. The Achilles hill for me it was announced to next 1.5 kilometers. And, well, there was a lot of mud. Mainly because, again, in Romania we favor cars and motorcycles instead of making proper paths for humans. We don’t have any reliable transport infrastructure, but there are always ways to make room for cars and other vehicles in forests. Apologies again! I make with around five more minutes delay, because I move exponentially slower on downhill slippery surface, but once I touch the grass, and then the asphalt, I know I can speed up as much as I please.
Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB 2026: 5:29:39
My performance was far beyond expectations: 5:29:39 with a final 123 place overall, fabulous considering I was at an absolute minimum, 164, at the second check point. I was even on 121, but the mud interference favored losing two positions. In any case, with a 106 out of 318 starting men, I can declare myself more than happy. Some will laugh of this result, but for me this is great, and it is all that maters. Especially that, at the end, immediately after I received the beautiful finisher medal, my superb wife was waiting for me, after she also did a great race. The process, for me, was complete, and I could call it a successful day.
“Triple Crown”, a way in matching the Spartan Trifecta
We wanted, though, to experience more, the award ceremony, because friends were involved. The amazing part was that the atmosphere remained sublime and full of vibe. Locals seemed to enjoy so much the event, and the way in which the races are organized, offer a perfect pretext for people to be present there from Friday morning to Sunday late afternoon. The “Triple Crown” idea is great for engagement, somehow like the Spartan Trifecta principle: you can participate on Friday morning at a short 5K race, up and down Runc, near midnight the Ultra Rocks queen event begins, the rest of the races start from Saturday morning and there is another 17K “Rumble Rock” on Sunday morning. Many want all three. This year I didn’t took the challenge, but as a guy who did four Spartan races in a single weekend, it is something I highly appreciate and strongly consider for the future.
Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB, real game changer for Câmpulung Moldovenesc
I admit, apart from the distance between Bucharest and Câmpulung Muscel, I was reluctant to take part in this race before also because I had a bad experience at Hoia Baciu Night Run, in 2019, a race organized by same people, when because of poor signaling of the track a group of us did 27 kilometers, instead of 21, but that impression got dismissed now, seeing how well Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB turn out to be. It was not just a running event, it can create a bridge, not only between the roots, but also between the world and Suceava. A bridge that people from this place surely deserve, considering the way in which they welcomed this first ever Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc labeled in Romania. Hope to see many more such festivals, because they can bring countless benefits for communities. Again, sport can find a way!
21 hours on the way for 42 hours on spot, at Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB
Now, back to Bucharest! A short stay, caused by lack of time, because you can’t take days off for all events you wish to take part in, or places you dream of exploring. So for roughly 42 hours, we needed 21 on the way. From Suceava train station, where we admired the amazing building, the trip was, again, decent from Bucharest. Well, mostly. The train started clean, but as we advanced south, the reality struck: it got dirtier and dirtier, especially at the bathroom. Young people speaking about wisdom and mind, while not flushing the toilet. You expect people to be more educated as you close the so called most civilized place in a country, the capital city which holds the economy on it shoulders. But the people, well… another reason to like even more what I saw in Câmpulung Moldovenesc!
The real journey that needs to be acknowledged
To not leave this impression to interfere with the great experience of Bucovina Ultra Rocks by UTMB, I’ll shift my attention to the trip prior to the trip home: Câmpulung Moldovenesc – Suceava. This line is also electrified, but like all from Romania, is electrified from the communist era, because after, nobody really cared about train or about anything at all. However, being electrified doesn’t mean you can’t travel in a wrack, 70 kilometers in 110 minutes. A dirty old train, with a locomotive made in… Yugoslavia, but restored (?) in 2023, and with some coaches… Those in which you wither die of heat stroke, or of frost. There is no middle way, never.
It’s 2026, not 1996
Nobody cleans them, but most important view is from the window. Every few kilometers, the train stops in a station that looks abandoned, apart from the stray dogs on the cracked concrete. But the stray dogs show that it is not actually abandoned, it just looks to be so. A pure proof for those who don’t believe how the communist era or the ’90 looked in Romania. Just take a trip like this, with a train like this, and you will understand better. There is no better way to understand the essence of Romania. The current essence, in 2026, because I want to be sure you don’t think it is 1996. It looks to be, tho, if you take this trip originating in Ilva Mică. And it is fine, because this is a proof that supports no deniability.
