400 meters that hurt
On Ještěd, runners will run directly on the ski jump, which combines speed and a steep climb over 400 metres. "The specific thing is that it is a relatively short distance. You can see the finish line, but you have to reach the bottom to get there," says Jakub Šiarnik, the winner of the last Czech edition in Liberec in 2021, who has been running the race since 2018 and has already collected six victories. He won his first Red Bull 400 victory in Liberec in 2019 and would like to add a third triumph here this year. The race is open to everyone over the age of 18, regardless of performance level, and is entered in men's, women's and relay categories. In the individual categories, there will be qualifying heats over the full 400m distance, with the winners going straight through to the final. This will be supplemented by the next fastest runners across all heats according to their times. The relays (4×100 metres - men, women and mixed teams) will be run directly as finals without qualifying. According to Shiarnik, the race breaks in the second half of the course. "The transition over the stepping edge is key, where we need to pick up the pace again and step up towards the finish. It's also a psychological moment - if you don't overdo it at the start, you know you can do it," he said. How to register Registration for the race opens at 12:00 on 19 May at redbull.cz/400. The entry fee is CZK 1,590 for individuals and CZK 2,590 for four-person relays. The race has long had strong participation in the Czech Republic and the high interest was confirmed by the last edition, which attracted more than 1,200 runners and quickly filled to capacity.
A new addition to this year's edition is the Red Bull 400 Challenge on the Strava platform, which will take place from 27 April to 17 May 2026. Participants are tasked with climbing a total of 1,200 vertical metres over three weeks. For completing the challenge, they will receive a 400 CZK discount on their individual entry fee. Red Bull 400 and outside the Czech Republic The Red Bull 400 is an extreme race that takes place annually on ski jumps in several European countries and outside Europe. Traditional stops include Austria, Germany, Slovenia and Poland. Each track has its own specifics, but the common denominator is always the same format - 400 meters up a steep slope. The partners of the event are Nova Action, Europe 2 and Crivit. For more information about the race, visit redbull.cz/400.
Annotation:
Red Bull 400
