Wernigerode (Germany), Saturday 8 October 2016

The Harz Gebirgslauf ("Harz Mountain Run") draws over 3,000 runners and walkers to the densely-wooded Harz mountain range, which sits on the former border between East and West Germany.

The start and the finish are on the edge of Wernigerode, a picturesque town with many colourful half-timbered buildings and a fairy-tale castle on a hill above town.

Runners can choose between four up-and-down loop courses — 4.8km, 11.2km, 22.3km or the infamous 42.2km Brocken Marathon which takes runners across the windswept summit of the Brocken (1,141m), the Harz's highest mountain (pictured).

The marathon route is a gruelling one, with over 1,000 metres of ascent (and the same of descent, of course), mostly on gravel roads and trails.

In 2015, the Brocken Marathon winners were Thomas Kühlmann (2:39:28) and Nicole Kruhme (3:25:16). The time limit to finish the marathon is six hours.

You can pick up your bib in Wernigerode's Town Hall (wood carving, 1936).

Country: Germany

Venue (Map): Wernigerode (131km from Hannover, 234km from Berlin, 262km from Hamburg, 319km from Frankfurt)

Date: 8 October 2016 (Saturday)

Start time and race distance:

• 8.15:  10km and 25.1km ("Wandern/Walking" - hiking and nordic walking)
• 9.00:  42.2km ("Brocken-Marathon")
• 9.15:  2km ("Brockenkinder-Lauf" - children's race)
• 9.45:  4.8km ("5km")
• 10.00:  11.2km ("11km")
• 10.15:  22.3km ("Halb-Marathon")

Start and finish: Himmelpforte, Wernigerode-Hasserode

Race centre:

• Rathaus Wernigerode (Friday 7 October 2016, 14.00-21.00)
• in the start/finish area (on the day from 7.30)

Entries: online or by post (up to 30 September 2016); late entries on 7 October 2016 (14.00-21.00); no entries on the day

Entry fees (5km): € 10/12/15 (up to 31 August/30 September/7 October 2016)

Entry fees (11km): € 15/20/25

Entry fees (22km): € 20/25/30

Entry fees (42km): € 30/35/40

Timekeeping: EasyChip (included in the entry fees)

You get: pasta party (on Friday on Marktplatz), snacks and drinks on the course, finisher medal (2km, 42km), certificate, soup and beer after the race, child care, accommodation option in a sports hall (before and after the race, €2 per night), breakfast run (3km, on Sunday at 10.00)

Prizes: trophies/certificates/product prizes to the first 6 M/F in each race; team prizes

Showers, changing facilities, bag storage: yes

Number of finishers 2015: 355 (2km), 390 (5km), 759 (11km), 691 (21km), 689 (42km), 319 walkers

Event website (in German): www.harz-gebirgslauf.de

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page! Please visit the official event website to verify the above information.