Tollenseseelauf

The Tollenseseelauf circles Tollensesee, a long lake near Neubrandenburg in northern Germany, approximately 140 kilometres north of Berlin. The race weekend features a marathon, half marathon, 10 km, 2 km fun run, 13 km Nordic walking event, and a four-person marathon relay. Children's races of 400 m and 800 m take place on the Friday before the main events. It is a local multi-distance running event, accommodating walkers, children, relay teams, 10 km runners, and marathoners. The marathon is challenging: a single loop around the lake with over 450 metres of elevation gain and loss, despite the surrounding region lacking significant hills. The race is known as “Der Härteste im Norden,” or “the hardest in the north.” The course includes asphalt, cobbles, concrete, dirt roads, and forest trails. Shorter 10 km, 13 km, and half marathon routes are out-and-back from Kulturpark, the start and finish area for all races. Tollensesee is the eighth-largest lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, making the marathon feel like a circuit of a natural landmark rather than a city loop.