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Bottwartal-Marathon
At a glance
- Race day
- The 2026 race
- Next race
- Date not out yet
- Last run Sun 18 Oct
- Start
- 09:309:30 AM
- Distance
- 42.2 km26.2 mi
- Marathon · Half marathon · 10K · 32 km · 5K
- Time limit
- 6 hours
- Finish closes 15:303:30 PM
The course
The organiser describes the marathon as a loop through the southern and northern Bottwartal, starting and finishing at the Steppi roundabout in Steinheim.
- A loop through the Bottwar valley, back to the Steppi roundaboutMurr first, then Gronau and Beilstein, Oberstenfeld, Großbottwar and a flat finish at the roundabout.
- Pacers, drinks every 5 km and a 15:30 finishSeven pace targets, aid every 5 km, six hours allowed from the 9:30 start.
Course notes 2 short reads on the course
km 0 to 42.2GeometryA loop through the Bottwar valley, back to the Steppi roundaboutMurr first, then Gronau and Beilstein, Oberstenfeld, Großbottwar and a flat finish at the roundabout.
The start is a small lap of the Steppi roundabout in Steinheim, then past the historic town hall and across the market square. The organiser describes a first crossing of the Murr, paved field tracks to Murr and a loop through the village from kilometre 3 to kilometre 7. The roundabout comes up again as a landmark, and from there the course runs 11 km to Gronau, loops through it and turns to Beilstein. Later the route passes Oberstenfeld’s town hall and market square, then Großbottwar’s old town. The organiser puts the last 3.5 km below the Hardtwald, through Kleinbottwar to a flat finish at the roundabout.
Sourced
km 0 to 42.2TacticsPacers, drinks every 5 km and a 15:30 finishSeven pace targets, aid every 5 km, six hours allowed from the 9:30 start.
Experienced runners carry flags with a target time: 3:15, 3:30, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45 and 5:00 are listed. There is a drinks and food station every 5 km and at the finish. The marathon starts at 9:30 with assembly from 9:00, and the organiser gives six hours for the distance, with the finish at 15:30.
Sourced
Race weekend
Saturday 17 October The day before
-
09:009:00 AM
Bib pick-up for the long runs Blankensteinhalle, Steinheim an der Murr. Open 09:00 to 17:00 for all long-distance runs.
Sunday 18 October Race day
-
07:307:30 AM
Bib pick-up opens Blankensteinhalle, Steinheim an der Murr. Sunday pick-up runs until about one hour before your run. -
09:009:00 AM
Runners line up Steppi roundabout, Steinheim. Assembly in the start area, by running speed. -
09:309:30 AM
Marathon start Steppi roundabout, Steinheim. The start is a small lap of the Steppi roundabout before the route heads for the old town hall. -
15:303:30 PM
Overall time limit The organiser gives six hours for the marathon and a finish time of 15:30. 6:00 limit: 8:31/km for 42.195 km6:00 limit: 13:43/mi for 26.2 mi
Times as published by the organiser, in Steinheim an der Murr time, checked . Confirm on their site before you travel.
The forecast for Sunday
Race morning, on the record
Add to calendar .ics file, times in Steinheim an der Murr time
Entry
Race fuel
Energy gel
5 gels for Steinheim an der Murr, plus 1 spare
Finish
One every 40 minutes, by the clock:
Under about 75 minutes most runners need no gel: water at the aid stations does it.
- km 7mile 4.4
- km 14.1mile 8.7
- km 21.1mile 13.1
- km 28.1mile 17.5
- km 35.2mile 21.8
For your long training runs:
Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side. Enough for race day and two test long runs.
Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.
Only the gel you trained with. Nothing new on race day.
Get it on Amazon
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In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.
Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.
Anti-chafe
Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml
An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.
Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.
Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Number belt
Compressport Race Belt
Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.
Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.
Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Electrolytes
SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20
One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.
One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.
Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Blister plasters
Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6
One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.
Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.
Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Questions about the Bottwartal-Marathon
- When is the Bottwartal-Marathon 2026?
- Sunday 18 October 2026. The start is at 09:30.
- What is the time limit at the Bottwartal-Marathon?
- Runners have 6 hours to finish. The finish closes at 15:30.
- Where does the Bottwartal-Marathon start?
- Start: Steppi roundabout, Steinheim.
Keep exploring
More races to look at after the Bottwartal-Marathon.
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