8th Erzberg Run & Nordic Walking

The Erzberg ("Ore Mountain") in Austria is an enormous open-pit mine where iron ore has been mined since the 12th century. It rises above the old mining town of Eisenerz in the eastern part of the Alps.

The Erzberglauf offers the only possibility to explore the bizarrely coloured Erzberg terraces on foot. Usually, it can only be visited on a bumpy tour on a "Hauly", a huge truck weighing 55 tons.

The race starts off with the detonation of a blast. Fortunately, it's fake. Participants run or walk up the terraced benches of the mine to the finish on the top of the mountain (1475m).

With an elevation gain of 745 metres in 12.5 kilometres (an average gradient of 6 per cent) it's not a too difficult mountain race. Just the last bit to the finish is a bit steeper. 

Supporters get the chance to hop on a free bus to the top of the Erzberg to watch the field winding its way up the mountain.

In 2009, the race had almost 1200 finishers. The winners were Jürgen Mock (52:24) and Sabine Kozak (1:05:13).

 

Country: Austria

Venue (Map): Eisenerz (Graz 84km, Klagenfurt 163km, Vienna 188km)

Date: 21 August 2010 (Saturday)

Distance: 12.5km (+745m)

Start time: 10.30

Entries: online or by post or fax, payment by bank transfer or credit card; late entries on the day

Entry fees (run): 25/27/29 EUR (until 30 June/18 August/late entries)

Entry fees (nordic walking): 18/21/23 EUR

Race centre: at the start (Friday 20 August 17.00-20.00, on the day 7.00-10.00)

Timing: ChampionChip - use your own chip or rent a chip for 3 EUR (25 EUR deposit)

You get: finisher medal, certificate, pasta party, prize raffle, transport of personal clothing to the finish (10.15), bus service from the finish to the start; pre- and post-race bus service for spectators (between start and finish)

Prizes: trophies to the first M/F and to the first 3 in each category; 200 EUR for a new course record

Showers and changing facilities: yes

Presentation and prize raffle: 15.30

Number of finishers 2009: 787 runners, ca. 400 nordic walkers

Event website (in German): erzbergsport.at

 

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.