It all began in 1979. These were the years when many sportive and recreational events started. Only few of older people do not remember Trnovski maraton and Bloški tek and Run in Duplje and in Cerklje, biking marathons of which only two survived – namely Franja and Vršič.
The trails of Šmarna gora have served us as the practice range for daily trainings to get into better physical condition. Among us there were several stories told like: »Do you now Janez such and such? Last time he ran to the top unbelievably quickly – but actually I do not know the exact time and he did not start in the valley and he took his own shortcuts but he was quick as nobody else before!" And similar.
In these circumstances the way to the race to Gora was not long. The idea popped up in the fall 1979. The decision not to take the usual way was quickly made, as the less visited circular way around Gora was offering itself.
We took the easy way organising it - warm tea on the top and some souvenir for every participant and medals for the quickest. The first 12 years the Run was a nice local event.
Right before reaching the independence of Slovenia in 1991 the first Record of Šmarna gora was organised with a more comprehensive organisational scheme. A perfect organisation was the reason for National championship in mountain running in 1992.
The race was followed by events that have in autumn of 1992 led to change of management of Association for mountain running at Athletic association of Slovenia. The new management prepared the organisational scheme of development of mountain runs in Slovenia, where the Run to Šmarna gora played an important role.
The classification of the Run into the Cup of Slovenia gives the Run a special position among the home events. And every years' international participation that has grown from year to year just proves that a good name is better than richess.
With placing into the competition calendar of the international association for mountain runs in the end of 1990's the Run got its firm support to be recognised internationally which reached its climax at the 25th anniversary in 2004 with the finals of the WMRA Grand Prix and being granted the prestigious status »IAAF permit«.
In all the following years the Run has stayed part of the standard repertoire of the international mountain running association. In 2012 there was an agreement that the finale of Grand Prix will be held in Bursa, Turkey, as they have hosted the European Cup and the World Cup, but it got cancelled just before the execution. Šmarna gora has accepted the old role and in the last minute and saved the reputation of Grand Prix. Two years later, in 2014, the international association changed the name of the cyclus to move closer to other sports and »WMRA Grand Prix« changed in »Mountain Running World Cup«, in Slovenia named »Svetovni pokal«. In 2013 the organisers have faced the personal distress of one of the best runners in last years Eritreian Azeira Teklaya and by a humanitarian action during our event helped him save his family.
“IAAF Permit”
(IAAF – International Association of Athletic Federations, till 2001 International Amateur Athletic Federation) grants to several athletic events or better organisers the status “IAAF Permit”. The certificate and/or status is valid for one execution, it can be granted only by athletic events with tradition and suitable organisation and participation of top athletes. The Šmarna gora Run was the first athletic event in Slovenia that has been granted this prestigious awards, the Run has kept the »IAAF Permit« status for the next year and is the member of the elite Grand Prix and later the World Cup. The World Athletic Association officially permits the usage of its logo and therefore assures the appropriate level of the event with which it shows the organiser a great deal of trust. The Run is also the only athletic event in Slovenia that is thoroughly announced and reported about on the IAAF website each year.
“IAAF Permit”
(IAAF – International Association of Athletic Federations, till 2001 International Amateur Athletic Federation) grants to several athletic events or better organisers the status “IAAF Permit”. The certificate and/or status is valid for one execution, it can be granted only by athletic events with tradition and suitable organisation and participation of top athletes. The Šmarna gora Run was the first athletic event in Slovenia that has been granted this prestigious awards, the Run has kept the »IAAF Permit« status for the next year and is the member of the elite Grand Prix and later the World Cup. The World Athletic Association officially permits the usage of its logo and therefore assures the appropriate level of the event with which it shows the organiser a great deal of trust. The Run is also the only athletic event in Slovenia that is thoroughly announced and reported about on the IAAF website each year.
What is the difference between The Run and The Record of Šmarna gora ?
The Record of Šmarna gora takes place on the same terrain as the Run to Šmarna gora, but it has totally different roots. Namely on February 1st, 1995 one of us, friends of Šmarna Gora, members of the Šmarna gora Alliance has had an accident and died. The "Record" is dedicated to Tom who strenghtened his body and soul on the slopes behind his home.