Harz-Gebirgslauf 2026

Get your steel lungs and your most tenacious spirit of adventure ready—we’re taking you on the most mystical and feared endurance challenge in northern Germany. Dense forests, steep paths, and the often unpredictable weather of the Harz mountains are waiting for you for an epic test where physical effort cheerfully flirts with ancient legends! 🏃‍♂️🌲

Set your sights on the romantic town of Wernigerode, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt 🇩🇪. The festivities invite you to take on an absolute legend of the fall calendar, the Harz-Gebirgslauf, whose flagship event is the terrifying and majestic Brocken Marathon. Put your dreams of easy PRs and smooth asphalt at the very back of your locker. Your body will have to swallow the mythical distance of 42.2 km paired with nearly 1,200 meters of elevation gain on rocky trails if you hope to conquer the highest point in the north of the country! ⏱️

The damp dirt trail and treacherous roots launch you into a setting that sometimes looks like a dark fairy tale. Your effort will pull you away from the comfort of the gorgeous half-timbered houses and drive you deep into the national park, climbing relentlessly toward the summit of the Brocken (1,141 m above sea level). The immersion becomes utterly magical—and very often freezing—when you pass the famous narrow-gauge steam train belching thick smoke into the mist.

Forget the dense crowds of big city marathons: here, solidarity in the face of the harshness of nature comes first. The warm applause of hikers and bundled-up volunteers will warm your heart at every aid station. An atmosphere of raw pride welcomes you under the finish arch, where the immense achievement of having tamed the summit instantly wipes away the pain 🏅.

Save one last survival instinct to honor mountain traditions once you’ve earned your medal. Carry your exhausted body to the food tent to gulp down the legendary, piping-hot Erbsensuppe, traditionally cooked in a military field kitchen. Above all, celebrate your epic victory by toasting with a nice cold Hasseröder —the iconic beer brewed right in Wernigerode.