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Elevation Gain (D+)
Rating
Elevation gain (D+) is the total height of all climbs on a course, measured in meters, not counting descents. It is a key measure of a trail race's difficulty, alongside distance.
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Running calories
In detail
A race of '30 km, D+1800 m' is physically comparable in load to a much longer flat race — every meter of gain requires additional work against gravity. The elevation profile (not just the total D+, but also how the climbs are distributed) strongly affects tactics and finishing time.
How to use it
When choosing your first trail race, look not only at the distance but also at D+ and the maximum gradient — a '21 km' race with 1500 m of gain requires noticeably different preparation than a flat half marathon.