Mt. Esja Ultra
Event Organizer
Mt. Esja Ultra
Kt. 500622-1990
Mt. Esja Ultra
https://www.facebook.com/MtEsjaUltra
Registration terms
Your registration
Mt. Esja Ultra
Mt. Esja Ultra – the mountain running festival – will be held for the 15th time on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Registration opens February 2 at 12:00 (noon).
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the race, competitions will include a 15-hour race, the Mt. Esja Half Marathon, and an Adventure Run for children.
The Mt. Esja Ultra Marathon will return to the program in 2027.
How many times can you touch the Stone within 15 hours?
Prizes will be awarded to the top three women and men (those completing the most laps within 15 hours).
The winners in the women’s and men’s categories will receive the renowned ESJUSTEINN trophy, handcrafted by stonemason Þóri Sigmundsson, using carefully selected stones from the slopes of Mt. Esja.
Additional prizes will be awarded to the first woman and man to complete 5 laps and 10 laps.
Note: The same athlete (female or male) may be the fastest to 5 laps, 10 laps, and also complete the most laps overall.
Competitors will receive official results showing number of laps and time (note: finish times only) at timataka.net for 5, 10, or 15 laps.
ITRA: Times for 5, 10, and 15 laps will be registered with ITRA (note: only the longest distance completed—5, 10, or 15 laps—will count).
If, when the race time ends (15 hours), two or more competitors have completed the same number of laps, the winner is the athlete who finished their final lap first.
Therefore, the finish time of the final lap counts, not the athlete’s position on the course when the 15 hours expire.
Competitors may stop racing at any time, but must complete at least 5 laps to avoid a DNF.
Start: 08:00 on June 13th
Finish: 23:00 (15 hours total)
?? Limited entries for the 15-hour race!
MT. ESJA HALF MARATHON:
The Half Marathon will be held for the third time.
The course is approximately 21 km with 1,500 m of total elevation gain.
The race starts at Esjustofa and follows a well-designed, scenic route through the ridges and slopes of Mt. Esja.
An ideal tune-up race for longer trail and mountain races, such as the Laugavegur Ultra Marathon.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three women and men.
Half marathon winners will also receive the ESJUSTEINN trophy, handcrafted by Þóri Sigmundsson using stones selected from the slopes of Mt. Esja.
First held in 2021, the Adventure Run was a great success.
Children run a fun and varied route through the forest, either on their own or accompanied by a guardian, and finish at the Esja finish area.
All children receive a finisher medal and healthy refreshments after the run.
Anniversary price: ISK 12,900 (until end of February)
March 1 – May 31: ISK 14,900
From June 1: ISK 19,900
Mt. Esja Half Marathon
Distance: 21 km · Elevation gain: 1,500 m
Anniversary price: ISK 8,900 (until end of February)
March 1 – May 31: ISK 10,900
From June 1: ISK 14,900
Adventure Run
Free for children aged 12 and under
ISK 500 for ages 13 and older
Included in the Entry Fee
Esja beer glass for those who finish the Half Marathon within the time limit and complete 5 laps in the 15-hour race
Premium finisher gift for those completing 5 laps or more in the 15-hour race
Timing, race bib/chip, and course marshals
Sports drinks and nutrition at the aid station by Esjustofa
Light refreshments after the race
?? Entry fees are non-refundable, but name changes can be made at netskraning.is (under My Registration) until midnight on June 11.
All races start from Esjustofa, with different start times (see below).
Start Times
Mt. Esja 15-Hour Race: 08:00
Mt. Esja Half Marathon: 10:00
Adventure Run (Esja Forest): 14:00
Further information will be sent to all participants closer to race day.
Age Limits
Mt. Esja Half Marathon: 16 years
Mt. Esja 15-Hour Race: 18 years
Time Limits
Mt. Esja Half Marathon: 6 hours
Mt. Esja 15-Hour Race: Race ends for all participants after 15 hours
It is strongly recommended that all participants carry the following equipment
(mandatory for the Half Marathon and 15-hour race):
- Reusable cup or bottle for water (stream and aid stations)
- Emergency foil blanket
- Mobile phone
- Adequate nutrition and fluids (0.5–1.0 L)
- Elastic bandage
- Jacket (preferably waterproof, breathable, with hood) – may be mandatory on race day
- Hat or buff and gloves – may be mandatory on race day