Karlsruhe · Germany
Marathon races near Karlsruhe
10 races in 2026
next one in 4 days
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Race calendar
Upcoming Marathon races near Karlsruhe
This week 1
5JUL
Run · road · Marathon
26. Eßlinger Zeitung Lauf
Esslingen · 72 km away
JUL 1
26JUL
Run · road · Marathon
7. Trainingslauf Bottwartal-Marathon
Steinheim an der Murr · 64 km away
AUG 1
30AUG
Run · road · Marathon
8. Trainingslauf Bottwartal-Marathon
Steinheim an der Murr · 64 km away
SEP 7
11SEP
Run · road · Marathon
Park Firmenlauf Pirmasens
Pirmasens · 62 km away
12SEP
Run · road · Marathon
Pfälzerwald Marathon
Pirmasens · 62 km away
+5 more Marathon racesShow fewer ↓
12SEP
Run · road · Marathon
Pfälzerwald Marathon
Pirmasens · 62 km away
19SEP
Run · road · Marathon
Sparkassen Mini-Marathon
Karlsruhe · 2 km away
26SEP
Run · trail · Marathon
6. Roter-Sand-Trail
Harthausen · 32 km away
27SEP
Run · road · Marathon
26. Kraichgaulauf
Sinsheim · 44 km away
27SEP
Run · road · Marathon
9. Trainingslauf Bottwartal-Marathon
Steinheim an der Murr · 64 km away
Karlsruhe · 80 km
10 races mapped
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Recurring Marathon races near Karlsruhe
Races that repeat — weekly, monthly or yearly
Wald-Marathon Wilgartswiesen
The Wald-Marathon Wilgartswiesen begins and ends at the Falkenburghalle in Wilgartswiesen, a village in Rhineland-Palatinate near the Hauenstein holiday region. This forest race and walking event takes place in early October, offering running distances from 7 km up to the marathon, plus a 45.1 km hiking marathon with 1,402 meters of elevation gain. Verbandsgemeinde Hauenstein and TSV Wilgartswiesen organize the event, with the ninth edition scheduled.
The primary hiking route crosses scenic paths within the Hauenstein walking area of the Palatinate Forest. Participants should anticipate a demanding day; the long course crosses six mountains, featuring rock formations, steep valleys, and extensive woodlands. It is suitable for determined hikers and runners alike, providing a direct exploration of the Hauenstein region without becoming a road race. Wilgartswiesen station is approximately 2 km from the venue, Hauenstein Mitte is about 3 km away, and drivers can access the start area via the B10 from Pirmasens or Landau.
22. Bottwartal-Marathon Run und Fun Day
Bottwartal Marathon
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.
22. Bottwartal-Marathon
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.
Ring Running Series
The Ring Running Series hosts a half marathon and marathon on an original Formula 1 track in November. The race is designed around the circuit, not city streets. The route is officially measured and AIMS certified, fully asphalted, secured, and maintained for runners aiming for a personal best. Entry includes a personal bib with a timing chip, electronic timing, a finisher medal, and a downloadable certificate.
The race incorporates the motor-racing setting: changing areas are in the pit lane, jackets can be left near the start and retrieved near the finish, and luggage storage is located close to the finish area. Runners receive refreshments on the course and post-race, with entertainment at the start, finish, and along the route. Medical support, showers, and free parking near the start and finish provide a self-contained race day at the circuit.
Corrida de Noël - Illkirch-Graffenstaden
The Corrida de Noël in Illkirch-Graffenstaden is a Christmas-season road running series offering a half marathon, a 10 km, and a 5 km. It has grown significantly, from approximately 2,800 runners to 4,800. Demand now exceeds capacity, with all three distances selling out weeks before race day, leaving hundreds without a bib.
The organizers introduced new routes to accommodate more participants, allocating about 1,800 places for the half marathon, 2,000 for the 10 km, and 1,000 for the 5 km. The races traverse the streets of Illkirch, where weather conditions are a notable factor: recent editions have featured sun, rain, and snow. The lead pack in the half marathon often includes serious local competitors, such as Laurent Tsang-Chun-Sze, a previous winner aiming to reclaim the title.
3. Wald(Ultra)Marathon Calw
The Wald(Ultra)Marathon Calw is a 46 km forest ultramarathon beginning in Calw-Altburg, Baden-Württemberg. Scheduled for December, it directs runners onto hilly terrain rather than a fast road course. The longest route extends slightly beyond marathon distance, but the elevation gain and forest trails give it the feel of a mountain endurance run rather than just a few extra kilometers.
The course crosses the wooded hills surrounding Calw-Altburg, with Baden and Swabian scenery as the setting. Organizers classify the difficulty as 4 out of 5. The 46 km route demands significant endurance and proficiency on steep or mountain-like terrain. This race is considered a regional ultra classic, emphasizing a challenging day on the trails over achieving a personal best.
Semi-marathon de La Wantzenau
The Semi-marathon de La Wantzenau is the main event of the Courses de La Wantzenau, a Sunday running festival in La Wantzenau. The program includes a half marathon and a 5 km race. The field is often large for a local road race, with close to 2,000 participants across all events.
The half marathon has seen unexpected outcomes: Tristan Kirscher won it, setting a personal best, and Latifa Mokhtari also took first place over the distance. The 5 km race attracts swift runners as well; Quentin Perraudin and Caroline El Himer won the shorter event, with El Himer also achieving a personal best.
Ekiden de Strasbourg
Ekiden de Strasbourg is a team road relay held in Strasbourg, France, typically in early April. The primary format is a full marathon divided among six runners over 42.195 km, featuring legs of 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, and 7.195 km, allowing teams to distribute the effort based on distance and runner capability. Two shorter team options are also available: a four-runner relay with legs of 10 km, 15 km, 10 km, and 7.195 km, and a 20 km duo race consisting of four 5 km laps.
The course utilizes a 5 km loop that begins and ends at Place Jeanne Helbling, proceeding through Strasbourg’s newer districts from Malraux towards the Citadelle. Participants will run along sections of the canal and the Rhône au Rhin before passing through Parc de la Citadelle, a design that simplifies the repeated-loop structure for both participants and observers. The event is part of the National Ekiden Series, with category victors in the Ekiden qualifying for Ekiden de Paris. The prior running attracted over 900 participants in the six-person Ekiden and more than 300 in the four-person relay, with post-race refreshments featuring Alsatian specialties like Baeckeoffe, Spätzle, and Lewerknepfle.
Marathon De La Forêt Sacrée - Surbourg
The Marathon de la Forêt Sacrée is a 42.195 km marathon in Surbourg, Alsace, starting at 10:30 near the village hall on a Sunday in April. The Surbourg running club, 2C4S, affiliated with the French athletics federation, organizes the event.
The route follows the Haguenau forest's bike paths and trails, a large forest area in Alsace. Runners will find a nearly flat course with long shaded straightaways, alternating between asphalt and forest paths. This course suits runners aiming for a personal best and those who prefer a marathon mostly within the woods.
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About Marathon races in Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe Training Notes
Karlsruhe hosts 20 Marathon races in 2026 within 80 km of the city centre — upcoming dates, recurring series, and other races nearby, all in one place.
Locals keep running simple: Stadtgarten, Schlossgarten, Citypark Ost, Günther-Klotz Anlage, Oberwald, and Hardtwald handle most easy Z2. The park has 5km route suggestions from the north exit, and it gets busy early when the weather is good. Oberwald parkrun starts every Saturday at 09:00, while STARK Running brings Tuesday-evening intervals and a crew that runs for fun. Weekend runners with a GPS watch head south to Durlach and Ettlingen for 16+ km, with Wattkopf waiting when the legs want hills. The anchor races are KSC Schlossparklauf, Volkslauf der Stadtwerke Karlsruhe, B2RUN Karlsruhe, and Baden-Marathon Karlsruhe.
Locals ride a flat city first, then choose a direction. The Rhine Cycle Route and Rhine Valley Trail pull west for base miles, while Hardtwald gives steady forest riding close to town. The Black Forest Trail points east from Karlsruhe toward Lörrach, and the Baden Wine Cycle Route gives bigger gran fondo energy over around 460 kilometers. The climbs sit south and east, with Turmberg, Durlach, Ettlingen, Wattkopf, Kraichgau, and the Northern Black Forest doing the damage. Karlsruher SC and SVK Beiertheim give the city its club backbone, and riders use Karlsruhe’s running anchors when the calendar wants a hard effort.
Spring and Autumn are the best months because the weather stays mild and the parks feel easy to use. Summer gives Karlsruhe around 2,000 sunshine hours a year, and locals start early when maximum temperatures push into the 30-35°C range. The Schlossgarten and Rhine paths feel busy in good weather, so Z2 rides and steady runs work best before the day heats up. Winter stays milder than in most German cities, but precipitation comes mainly then, so runners lean on Oberwald, Hardtwald, and city loops while riders keep flat routes along the Rhine, Alb, and Pfinz for cleaner base miles.