Wies - Ehrenhausen (AUT), Saturday 1 May 2010
In 2010, all Welschlauf races will finish in Ehrenhausen.
This popular and atmospheric point-to-point race in Austria, held every year on the first Saturday in May, follows a very hilly route through the wine-growing region of Southern Styria, close to the border with Slovenia.
The Welschlauf, named after the locally produced Welsch Wine, incorporates a full and a half marathon, a 10.8km race, and a marathon relay for teams of four runners.
It's an event without a prize fund or elite athletes but with lots of fun runners, music and food.
The direction of the Welschlauf alternates each year. In 2010, the marathon starts off in the village of Wies and finishes in Ehrenhausen, an attractive village on the train line from Graz to Maribor in Slovenia. Participants in the shorter races join the field en route.
The scenic marathon course through the vineyards is overall downhill. However, it features many steep climbs, and it's rarely flat. Fortunately, 21 aid stations along the way give you plenty of opportunity to refuel.
In 2009, Hannes Kranixfeld (2:52:52) and Daniela Gerasdorfer (3:34:07) won the full marathon. Markus Poll (1:19:36) and Andrea Habacher (1:46:15) celebrated victory in the half marathon.
Country: Austria
Venue (Map): Wies - Ehrenhausen
Date: 1 May 2010 (Saturday)
Race distance: 10.8km (Viertelmarathon), 21.1km (Halbmarathon), 42.2km (Marathon); marathon relay (4 runners); 10.8km Nordic Walking
Start (42km): 10.00 Wies
Start (21km): 12.00 Leutschach
Start (10.8km): 14.00 Gemeindeamt in Sulztal
Finish: Ehrenhause
Entries: advance entries online until 25 April, payment by bank transfer; late entries on the day
Entry fees (10.8km): 25/35 EUR (until 25 April/late entries)
Entry fees (21km): 29/39 EUR
Entry fees (42km): 33/43 EUR
Entry fees (42km relay teams): 99/109 EUR
Timing: ChampionChip - use your own chip or rent a chip for 3 EUR (27 EUR deposit)
Race centre: Feuerwehr in Leutschach (Friday 30 April 16.00-21.00); at the start (on the day until 10 minutes before the start)
You get: T-shirt, finisher medal; bus service from the finish to the start of your race; transport of personal clothing from the start to the finish
Number of finishers 2009: 627 (12km), 775 (21km), 234 (42km), 28 relay teams, 101 walkers
Event website (in German): www.welschlauf.com
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information on this page.