16th Saaletal Marathon

The 16. Saaletal Marathon returns to Unterfranken with a varied programme spanning marathon to children’s races, inviting runners and walkers to experience the Saale valley’s woodland and vineyard landscapes. The marathon starts at 10:00 and features a generous finish closure at 16:00, with chip timing via an integrated single-use transponder. A well-supported route and flexible on-the-day distance switching between the main long courses make this an accessible yet challenging event. One euro from every registration supports Jonas hilft e.V., reflecting the event’s community spirit.

The marathon course blends roughly equal parts gravel, asphalt and forest paths, with long shaded sections and several notable climbs, including around 80 metres soon after leaving Ramsthal and repeated ascents from the Euerdorfer Saale bridge to Ruine Aura. Aid stations are frequent, so you rarely run more than about four kilometres without support. Alongside the full marathon, there are 3/4-, 1/2- and 1/4-marathon options, plus powerwalking, walking, a mini-marathon and a Bambinilauf for the youngest participants. Registration is handled online, and age-based concessions and free entries for younger athletes underline the event’s inclusive ethos.