Over 200 Runners Competed in the “Race in the Eastern Rhodopes” Ultramarathon

18/10/202305/08/2025

On October 14, the ultramarathon “Race in the Eastern Rhodopes”, organized by the Science for Nature Foundation, took place. Over 200 athletes competed in four distances: Wild (67km), Half-Wild (37km), Tame Route (21km), and FUN RUN (4km).

The courses impressed runners once again with their variety and technical challenges. The five aid stations were well stocked with treats like baklava, traditional banitsa, healthy bars, magnesium, organic energy gels, fruit, and more. Special rest and recovery zones were also provided for dogs participating in the run.

The Half-Wild and Wild routes started at 7:30 AM. More than 100 participants joined these distances. These two longer trails represent everything we think of when we talk about the Eastern Rhodopes—combining all the sights and feelings that make us love this region and keep coming back for more.

Along the two long routes, runners enjoyed a wide variety of views—peaks, ravines, rock mushrooms, screes, autumn flowers, razor-sharp thorns, the company of vultures and roe deer, ruins from several historical periods, water and rock obstacles, and the infamous 4-kilometer segment known as “The Bonecrusher.”

Participants in the 21km route had the opportunity to run to the highest peak in the area and enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree panorama. On the 4km route, runners of all ages got moving on a smaller version of the main race, which, like the longer routes, featured thickets, dry waterfalls, eroded wells, and other natural sights.

Here are the fastest runners on the Wild Route:

Men:

  1. Mladen Antonov – 07:53:22 (set a new course record)
  2. Kaloyan Chanev – 07:55:12
  3. Petar Hristov – 08:20:30

Women:

  1. Ani Yaneva – 09:48:55
  2. Nurdzhan Kadir (Goats of Kodzhata) – 10:25:48
  3. Olya Slavcheva – 11:48:56

Men 45+:

  1. Alexey Ivanov – 10:32:25
  2. Nikolay Ivanov – 10:38:27
  3. Nikola Nikolov – 11:15:06

Women 45+:

  1. Galina Mihova – 13:19:01
  2. Albena Taseva – 13:39:41

Winners of the Half-Wild Route:

Men:

  1. Nikolay Paskov – 03:52:31
  2. Hristo Petkanov – 04:11:29
  3. Boyan Rashev (Denkstatt) – 04:35:06

Men 45+:

  1. Mitko Mitkov (Frodo Godech) – 04:45:54
  2. Stiliyan Kirov – 04:51:48
  3. Hristo Rangelov – 04:55:29

Women:

  1. Stefka Ganeva (The Academy) – 04:53:42
  2. Milena Stoyanova – 05:05:59
  3. Elena Tsoneva – 05:17:42

Women 45+:

  1. Irina Pavlova (Shumen Early Runners) – 06:44:30
  2. Evelina Damyanova (The Cats) – 06:45:48
  3. Dilyana Markova – 07:09:02

Winners of the Tame Route:

Men:

  1. Dancho Petrov (Tangra) – 01:37:33
  2. Alexey Tsvetanov – 01:42:32
  3. Georgi Georgiev (D-RUN) – 01:53:55

Men 45+:

  1. Bozhidar Yordanov (Loko Plovdiv) – 02:14:21
  2. Seryozha Kyuchukov (D-RUN) – 02:14:52
  3. Boyan Arabadzhiev (SC Izgrev) – 02:15:19

Women:

  1. Zlatka Valcheva – 02:13:10
  2. Silvia Stefanova – 02:14:46
  3. Zlatina Radeva – 02:19:20

Women 45+:

  1. Deyana Dimitrova – 02:56:00
  2. Plamena Tsenova (Watermelon Rind) – 03:08:30
  3. Violeta Markova – 03:24:46

A huge thank you to all participants, our dedicated volunteers, and our sponsors, without whom this event wouldn’t have been possible:
 Dundee Precious Metals Bulgaria, Sport Depot, Pepsi, Euroins, RooBar, MelliGEL, ZooFamilia, Purina, Doppelherz.

More information about the race is available at: https://www.divirodopi.com/

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