First European Running Up for Air Event Will Be Hosted in Salzburg, Austria
Running Up for Air is crossing the Atlantic.
On September 19, 2026, the first European Running Up for Air event will take place on the Gaisberg mountain in Salzburg, Austria. Hosted by the local trail running community Trailbande Salzburg, Running Up for Air Austria will bring the spirit and purpose of the Up For Air Series to a new continent.
The event will combine a personal endurance challenge, a strong sense of community and a tangible contribution to climate action.
From Utah to the Austrian Alps
Running Up for Air began in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, where a group of friends came together to challenge themselves in the mountains while raising awareness of poor air quality. What started as an informal endurance challenge developed into a series of events that connect time in the mountains with environmental responsibility.
That idea has now reached Europe.
The first European edition will be held on Salzburg’s Gaisberg, a prominent mountain overlooking the city and the surrounding Alps. The event will be organized by Trailbande Salzburg in cooperation with the Running Up for Air community in the United States.
“We have been inspired by Running Up for Air because it represents much more than an endurance event. It brings people together, gives every participant the freedom to define their own challenge and connects that effort to a meaningful environmental cause. We are proud and excited to bring this idea to Europe for the first time.”
Running Up for Air Austria will follow a simple principle: One lap equals one tree.
For every completed lap, one tree will be planted in Austria through the event’s nonprofit partner, Wald4Leben. The net proceeds from the event will also support reforestation and climate protection projects in Austria. Following the event, participants will receive information about the trees their laps helped fund, including the location of the respective reforestation project. The goal is not only to count laps, elevation gain or hours on the mountain. It is also to show what can happen when individual efforts become part of a shared mission.
A challenge for every level
Participants can choose between a 3-hour, 6-hour or 12-hour format.
The course starts and finishes near the Zistelalm on the Gaisberg. Each lap is approximately three kilometers long and includes around 285 meters of elevation gain. The climb follows the steep Sendersteig trail before the route returns to the start and finish area via forest trails and gravel roads. Participants decide for themselves how many laps they want to complete, how fast they move and when they take breaks. Competitive ultrarunners can test their physical and mental limits over twelve hours, while recreational runners, hikers and first-time endurance participants can create a challenge that suits their own experience and ambitions.
There is no requirement to complete a specific number of laps. Every completed lap counts, and every lap contributes to the shared goal.
Community before competition
Running Up for Air Austria will not focus primarily on rankings, podiums or record times.
The event is designed around personal achievement, community and collective impact. Participants may arrive with very different goals, but they will share the same mountain, the same course and the same purpose. This philosophy closely reflects the identity of Trailbande Salzburg, an open trail running community founded in 2025. The group organizes regular training sessions and shared mountain-running experiences in and around Salzburg, particularly on the city’s local mountains and the Gaisberg. The name “Trailbande” can be translated loosely as “trail crew.” It represents a community in which people encourage and challenge one another, regardless of pace, experience or performance level.
A low-impact event
The organizers also aim to reduce the environmental footprint of the event itself.
Running Up for Air Austria will be guided by Leave No Trace principles. The event will avoid traditional giveaway bags, medals and trophies. Reusable course-marking materials will be used, waste will be kept to a minimum, and participants will be encouraged to use public transportation or carpool to the venue.
“As a small, volunteer-led trail running organization, we do not want to create an event that leaves unnecessary waste behind. We want to leave as few traces as possible on the mountain while helping to create something lasting elsewhere: new trees and healthier forests.”
Running Up for Air Austria — Key Information
Event: Running Up for Air Austria by Trailbande Salzburg
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Location: Gaisberg, Salzburg, Austria
Start and finish: Zistelalm
Event window: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Formats: 3 hours, 6 hours or 12 hours
Course: Approximately 3 kilometers and 285 meters of elevation gain per lap
Environmental commitment: One completed lap funds one planted tree
Reforestation partner: Wald4Leben
Registration: www.trailbande.
Running Up for Air Austria marks an important new chapter for the series: the first step beyond North America and the beginning of a European Running Up for Air community.
On September 19, runners and hikers will gather above Salzburg to climb for themselves, for one another and for the environment.