Hydra's Trail Event - Sports on Hydra Island Greece
Endurance Mountain Running on Hydra Island
The sport of endurance and trail running in Hydra Island, has developed over the years and now, the annual event weekend held at the beginning of April, engenders enthusiasm and support from not just the local community, who turn out in their droves to support it, but is world renowned with international athletes coming to take part in the downhill and marathon races.
This event weekend is now so hugely popular that visitors to Hydra Island, whether they are intending to run, want to absorb the charged atmosphere as a supporter, or are holidaying on the island during this time, are advised to book travel tickets & accommodation well in advance!
For athletes who wish to register to run in the races or those who just want more information, please contact the organisers at the official site. You can also find more information and coverage on their facebook page as well as on the association's page too. Please click the buttons below and have fun running on Hydra soon!
Hydra's Trail Event Website (Official Site)
Eros Mountain Run - 25 Kilometres
The Eros Run is a demanding race of 25 kilometers reaching a maximum altitude of 600 meters. There are eight refreshment stations along the circular route.
Rock Race - 10 kilometers
This route is for those who want to get a taste of mountain beauties of Hydra but have not the proper preparation to participate in the Eros run. The distance is 10 kilometers to an altitude of 500 meters plus, so still a demanding but intermediate test of endurance.
Downhill Race - 12 kilometers
This is an incredibly fast race with runners flying down the mountain to the finish line in Hydra harbour. All competitors walk together from Hydra harbour up to Profitis Elias which is the starting point of the race.
Fun Run - Distance: 4.70 kilometers, Altitude:195 meters
This route type is urban (city trail). Aimed at those who want to get a taste of running in a race at the same time as experiencing the beauty of Hydra and especially the picturesque town. It can even become like a hiking route with less experienced runners slowing down to a walking pace. At the highest point of (Ag. Konstantinos of Hydra), enjoy wonderful views of the harbor. This race starts and ends in Hydra Port.
Junior's Mini Race
The Junior's Mini Race is enormously popular with Hydra's under 12-year-olds who hero worship the island's top runners. Children who have hardly gone beyond toddling join the race (often with a parent running beside them) and their obvious pride and determination to take part is heartwarming.
In the community
This event has enormous and very positive participation and support in the community of Hydra.
The Hydra's Trail Event was initiated by Hydra runners who just LOVE to RUN and they have one of the most beautiful, natural and scenic circuits in the world right on their doorstep! Hydra has everything they need to test their endurance from level roads, to mountain tops, pine forest trails and countryside trails.
The entire community, whether runners or not, gets involved in the annual Hydra's Trail Event, which happens at the beginning of April. The dates are determined by what slots are available in the International calendar. The Hydra Running Association (the official organisers of the Hydra's Trail Event) and the Hydra supporters are hosts to runners from all over the world. In 2015 there were nearly 1000 competitors taking part in one or more of the four races. And in 2015, the number of Hydra residents taking part was nearly double the number from the previous year. By 2018, the number of competitors has been capped at 1000.
Every doctor known to the island comes to be on standby in case of accidents and are strategically based on the courses. The island's Municipality, Fire Department, nurses, photographers as well as a volunteer team of Hydriot marshals (numbering at least 200) all give up their time to provide support and help. It is a tremendous amount of effort and a stunning example of what can be done by a community when they pull together. Then there are the financial sponsors of the event who don't just add money to the pot but are so behind it that they come and take active roles. And finally, but in no way least, the supporters, those brilliant people who not only line the harbour finishing end, but make the effort to walk up into the mountains and find the stamina to clap, blow whistles and yell their encouragement to all the runners who pass them. As one friend from Vlychos said to me 'I was there until the very end ... I thought my hands would never be the same .... but I had to keep clapping because the people at the end needed more encouragement than the ones at the beginning!'. This sentiment reflects how everyone feels about this event.
For me, the photo above captures the effort of all the runners AND the supporters enthusiasm, team spirit and love that is the driving force of this event.