I Sassi di Matera takes place on Fri, Oct 23, 2026 in Matera, Italy. The main route is 144 km.
- Date
- Fri, Oct 23, 2026
- Start
- Matera 🇮🇹
- Distance
- 144 km
- Climbing
- 3,800 m
- Level
- Open to all
I Sassi di Matera is a 144 km trail ultramarathon with 3,800 metres of elevation gain that starts from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Matera and finishes on the beach of Castellaneta Marina along the Ionian coast.
Official event pageWhat this race demands
I Sassi di Matera demands sustained endurance across a 144 km trail ultramarathon with 3,800 metres of climbing, culminating in a descent to the Ionian coast in late October.
Ultra-Distance Endurance
Covering 144 km requires immense physiological and psychological resilience to manage severe muscular breakdown and fatigue over an extended duration.
Climbing and Descending
Accumulating 3,800 metres of elevation gain across a trail route demands strong eccentric leg strength to protect the musculature during sustained descents and power output on climbs.
Late-Stage Pace Management
Sustaining forward motion over a multi-hour ultramarathon format requires strict discipline in pacing and consistent execution of movement economy from start to finish.
Given the extended duration well beyond 2.5 hours, athletes should target an intake of 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour to sustain energy levels.
Estimated finish times
Estimates by level, not promises. Your own number depends on your fitness on the day.
Your road to race day
Race day at I Sassi di Matera is 9 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.
01Build3 weeks · Aug 22, 2026 – Sep 11, 2026
Progressive overload: training load climbs in waves, with harder weeks stacked on the base and planned recovery weeks that let the gains land.
02Peak3 weeks · Sep 12, 2026 – Oct 2, 2026
The hardest weeks of the plan: race-specific intensity at nearly full training load, sharpening exactly what this race asks for.
03Taper2 weeks · Oct 3, 2026 – Oct 16, 2026
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
04Race week1 week · Oct 17, 2026 – Oct 23, 2026
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.
Similar races
Organising this race?