The run starts from the spectacular pasture of Vallombrosa (980 m) which is found next to the thousand year old Benedictine Abbey, before passing through the Experimental Arboretums in which over 1000 different species of trees and shrubs can be found.

From here the route follows the forest path from Santa Caterina (CAI route 12) as far as Bocca di Lupo - a name that refers to the presence of the wolves which are found among the local fauna – before following an easy path along the hillside (CAI route 10A).  After a short steep uphill stretch, the route leads onto a dirt road which takes you along the panoramic pastures of Poggio delle Ghirlande (CAI 13), from where you can admire most of the Upper Valdarno with the magical and mysterious pinnacles of the Balze, testimony of an ancient prehistoric lake and, further in the distance, the Chianti hills, Monte Amiata and the Apuan Alps.

Once you reach Macinaia, after approximately 5 km, the two routes (10km and 20 km) split,  with the non-competitive route leading back to Vallombrosa, while the longer route takes the CAI route 14 called "Viottolo del Malpasso" (the name means literally ‘the path of bad steps’ – enough said…!) which leads to the shelter of the Capanna delle Guardie, right in the heart of the Protected Area of ​​the "Forest of Saint Antonio".

Continuing past the didactic panels, the path leads you to the Croce al Cardeto where you turn left and access the ridge path (CAI route 00), near Mount Secchieta at an altitude of around 1430 metres, the highest point of our climb.  The route then goes as far as Prato al Ceppo and continues along the ridge path, to the passage of Croce Vecchia.

After a few metres of asphalt, the route goes back down onto the footpath (CAI route 7), as far as the forest road, which then leads to Mandria, where the tallest plants in Italy reach over 60 metres in height!  The route leads down to Metato, an ancient vallombrosan farm, and then continues for the final 4km which lead the participants back down to the finish line at the pasture of Vallombrosa.