Ruhrseen-Marsch Herdecke 2026

Ruhrseen-Marsch Herdecke is a walking event in Herdecke, in the Ruhr area, with the start and finish on the meadow between the Herdecke Rowing Club and the Ruhr. It offers 16, 24, and 43 kilometer routes, and the longest option is presented as a hard marathon march rather than a gentle lakeside walk. The field is capped at 1,000 starters, keeping a controlled size instead of becoming a mass event. Nordic walkers can enter, children receive reduced pricing, and dogs are allowed. The route uses a loop system, allowing someone signed up for a longer distance to shorten the march by dropping a loop if needed. The first 16 kilometer loop follows the Ruhr toward the Herdecke Viaduct, then climbs steeply, with gradients over 17 percent and rough off-road sections before passing Gut Schede, a noble estate with roots in the 9th century. The 24 and 43 kilometer routes add a second loop through Herdecke’s old center, including half-timbered houses, the town hall, and the collegiate church. The full 43 kilometer course adds a third loop with a steep climb to the Teufelskanzel viewpoint above Hengsteysee and totals just under 1,000 meters of elevation gain. Aid stations are available throughout the course, the central supply point is at the start-finish area, and the finish includes music, announcements, awards, certificate printing, food, and finisher beer.