Auffahrtslauf St.Gallen begins and ends within the St. Gallen football stadium, lending even the shorter races a distinct arena atmosphere. As Eastern Switzerland's largest running event, it takes place on Ascension Day, offering distances suitable for competitive runners, families, children, and casual participants. The primary event is a 21.1 km half marathon, available for individuals or pairs, featuring 278 meters of elevation gain and a similar amount of descent. Additional options include 10 km, 6 km, and 3.5 km races, alongside stadium-based short runs for children and families, and the 0.9 km Lauf für alle.
The half marathon route departs the stadium, passes Gübsensee approximately one kilometer in, crosses St. Gallen's city center, crosses Klosterplatz, descends into the Sittertobel, and circles back via the Siebenbrückenweg and the open-air festival grounds. The 10 km course also utilizes Gübsensee, ascends towards the former customs area near Herisau, then descends through woodland towards Winkeln before returning to the stadium. The 6 km race circles Gübsensee, while the 3.5 km route makes a brief detour there, allowing beginners and children aged 10 and up to complete a manageable loop. The Lauf für alle stands as the day's most inclusive segment: participants of any age, speed, or mobility are welcome, results are listed alphabetically, no awards are presented, and all finishers receive an Auffahrtslauf medal. Five francs from each registration supports youth programs.