Marathon races near Großbottwar

The Bottwartal Marathon is a running weekend held in mid-October in Baden-Wurttemberg's Bottwartal region. It began as a marathon but now includes multiple races. Initially featuring a marathon and a 10K, the event expanded to offer a half marathon, walking events, and a Run & Fun Day for children and students. The organization relies on local club support, with eight clubs from Beilstein, Gronau, Grossbottwar, Murr, Kleinbottwar, Oberstenfeld, Steinheim, and Winzerhausen collaborating through an ORGA team, each club managing its segment. Werner Neumann of Oberstenfeld initiated the race to unite several Bottwartal clubs for a significant running event. The original start and finish were at the Bottwartalkellerei in Grossbottwar, enabling a course with northern and southern loops for the marathon and half marathon. The event later relocated to Steinheim, the "Urmenschenstadt," due to organizational and logistical considerations, with Gerhard Petermann succeeding Neumann as leader. The race has received the most popular marathon medal award six times and is one of Baden-Wurttemberg's largest running events.

The Bottwartal-Marathon is the largest running event in the Bottwartal, a wine-growing region in southern Germany. Its routes pass vineyards and historic half-timbered towns. The race weekend offers many distances beyond just the marathon. Children's, youth, and inclusion races begin the event at Riedstadion in Steinheim an der Murr. Adult runners can select from 5 km, 10 km, a half marathon, 30 km, the full marathon, a relay marathon, or the 52 km Urmensch Ultra. Steinheim an der Murr serves as the primary starting point for longer races, including the 10 km, 30 km, marathon, relay, and ultra. The 5 km race begins in Grossbottwar, and the half marathon starts in Gronau. The marathon follows a loop through the southern and northern Bottwartal. The half marathon features a flat finish for a quicker final stretch. Time limits range from two hours for the 5 km and 10 km races to six hours for the marathon and relay. The 52 km ultra has a seven-and-a-half-hour limit.

The Sparkassen Alb Marathon takes place around Schwäbisch Gmünd in the Swabian Jura, offering races from 5 km up to a new 60 km ultra. Held in October for its 36th edition, the event caters to children, walkers, beginners, club runners, and endurance athletes seeking a long run on hilly terrain. The new Alb Ultra begins in Essingen and passes through Heubach, the Furtlepass, and Waldstetten before concluding in Schwäbisch Gmünd, featuring approximately 2,000 meters of elevation gain. The 25 km race now starts at Burg Hohenrechberg and incorporates sections of the traditional Alb Marathon course. The 50 km Sparkassen-Lauf, 37 km Alb Trail, relay, 10 km Lauf & Walk, 5 km Challenge, and children’s race maintain the event's variety. The courses traverse the three Kaiserberge mountains. The organizer introduced the ultra distance in response to increased runner demand for more challenging trail and ultra options.