From ultra-distance to short-distance races, discover some of the most beautiful mountain running races taking place this coming weekend.

On Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21, 2017, the fifth Quadrifoglio Ultra Trail will take place in Borgo Val di Taro, in the province of Parma, featuring numerous mountain running races, both ultra and short: including a 100k race with 4,700 meters of elevation gain, a 61k race with 3,000 meters of elevation gain, a 24k race with 1,000 meters of elevation gain, a 10k Short Trail, and the non-competitive 7k Quadrifoglio Walk.

Following the success of previous editions, one of the most spectacular and challenging mountain running competitions, the Gran Raid delle Prealpi Trevigiane , returns in 2017. Over a 70 km course with a 4,500 m vertical elevation gain , the long pre-Alpine ridge from Segusino to Vittorio Veneto will be traversed in its entirety. During this extraordinary journey, athletes will admire breathtaking landscapes overlooking the Belluna Valley and towards the vast Treviso plain, passing by mountain huts, refuges, old farmhouses, and enchanting villages that have shaped the rural history of this corner of the Veneto. The race is aimed at athletes well-prepared for this type of competition, but at the same time it is also open to amateur runners who can choose, if necessary, the relay and the half marathon. The latter runs along the southeast face of Col Visentin over a 29 km route, while still maintaining a considerable vertical elevation gain of 2,100 m .

Also on Saturday, May 20, the JamaRun Trail, a 15k mountain running race with 800 meters of elevation gain, will take place in the Val Rosandra Nature Reserve.

Sunday, May 21, in Belluno will be the day of La Velenosa, a 14k mountain race with 1,000 meters of elevation gain, part of the second Trail del Mulinaccio, just outside Florence, featuring two courses—one 28k and one 13k—while in Orsiera Rocchiavré Park, with the start and finish in Mattie, the Trail Sentieri Partigiani will take place, a 17k race with 1,000 meters of elevation gain.

The last three major events on Sunday will be theEsino Skyrace in Esino Lario, Lecco—a 25k race with 800 meters of elevation gain—on the island of Giglio, the Giglio Trail — a 26.4k race with 1,350 meters of elevation gain and a 10.6k race with 550 meters of elevation gain—and in Cerveteri, Rome,the 15kEtrurian Race.