Entry through the organiser
Entry details on the organiser’s site →
The organiser, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.
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GutsMuths-Rennsteiglauf
At a glance
- Race day
- The 2027 race
- Start
- 09:009:00 AM
- Distance
- 42.2 km26.2 mi
- Marathon · Half marathon · 73.9 km
- Entry fee
- €65
- For the 2027 race
- Time limit
- 9 hours
- Finish closes 18:006:00 PM
The course
The marathon from Neuhaus to Schmiedefeld climbs 769 m and descends 844 m by the organiser's figures, with its highest point at the Eselsberg, 841.5 m at km 18.3.
- The Rennsteig ridge: Eselsberg at km 18.3Highest point 841.5 m at km 18.3; finish at 711 m.
- A hollow way of stones and roots at km 22A stony, rooty descent to the Triniusbaude before km 22.2.
- An official exit at km 33.4, finish open until 18:00Gate at km 33.4 by 16:30, finish closes 18:00 after a 09:00 start.
Course notes 3 short reads on the course
Whole courseGradientThe Rennsteig ridge: Eselsberg at km 18.3Highest point 841.5 m at km 18.3; finish at 711 m.
The organiser takes the 769 m and 844 m from Outdooractive and warns that GPS recordings can differ. After the first aid point at Sandwieschen (km 5.6, 792 m) the route leaves the road for forest tracks and runs over climbs and descents to the Eisfelder Ausspanne (km 15.7, 752 m), then up to the Eselsberg with its Rennsteigwarte tower. The Grosser Burgberg at km 31.0 (811 m) is a steep climb that is mostly walked, and the finish at Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig is at 711 m.
Sourced
Whole courseGeometryA hollow way of stones and roots at km 22A stony, rooty descent to the Triniusbaude before km 22.2.
The marathon starts in Neuhaus am Rennweg and leaves the roads for forest tracks after km 5.6 and runs on the Rennsteig to Schmiedefeld, with food and drink points at km 5.6, 12.0, 18.3, 22.2, 28.3, 33.4 and 37.1. The organiser describes the first kilometres as roads through Neuhaus and the B 281 towards Steinheid. At km 37.1, the Monument am Bohrstuhl in Frauenwald, runners can have a glass of Köstritzer Schwarzbier.
Sourced
Whole courseTacticsAn official exit at km 33.4, finish open until 18:00Gate at km 33.4 by 16:30, finish closes 18:00 after a 09:00 start.
Runners who leave at the Dreiherrenstein are still counted as official participants, which keeps a traditional runner’s series of starts intact, but they get no separate ranking. The 2027 race is on 22 May with the start at 09:00; runners behind the official vehicle at the roundabout at km 1.5 at 09:15 are sent onto the original Rennsteig. The marathon walk starts at 09:10 and has nine hours to the finish. Runners must be 18 or older.
Sourced
Race weekend
Bib pickup at Gymnasium, Apelsbergstrasse 62, Neuhaus am RennwegFriday 21 May Bib pickup
-
14:002:00 PM–21:009:00 PM
Bib pick-up in Neuhaus, the marathon start town Gymnasium, Apelsbergstrasse 62, Neuhaus am Rennweg. Bibs are handed out only in the start town of each race. The organiser asks for the registration confirmation.
Bib in hand?A number belt holds it without pins through your race top. Clip it on tonight.
Number belt on AmazonAmazon partner link
Saturday 22 May Race day
-
06:006:00 AM
Bib pick-up in Neuhaus opens On race day bibs are handed out from 3 hours before the start in Neuhaus, at the same place as on the Friday. -
09:009:00 AM
Marathon start in Neuhaus am Rennweg Sportplatz an der Guts-Muths-Turnhalle, Neuhaus am Rennweg. The marathon walk starts at 09:10, after the runners. -
14:002:00 PM
Overall prize ceremony, marathon and supermarathon Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig. Age-group ceremony follows from about 14:30. -
18:006:00 PM
Marathon finish closes (42.2 km) Finish at Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig (711 m). 9:00 limit: 12:47/km for 42.195 km9:00 limit: 20:35/mi for 26.2 mi
Cut-offs (2)
-
09:159:15 AM
Marathon: reach the roundabout at km 1.5 Runners behind the official vehicle at the roundabout are guided onto the original Rennsteig from km 1.5. -
16:304:30 PM
Marathon cut-off at Grosser Dreiherrenstein, km 33.4 Latest arrival 16:30. This is also the official exit point: those who leave here are still counted as participants.
Times as published by the organiser, in Eisenach time, checked . Confirm on their site before you travel.
The forecast for Saturday
Race morning, on the record
Add to calendar .ics file, times in Eisenach time
Entry
Race fuel
Energy gel
5 gels for Eisenach, 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.
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 GutsMuths-Rennsteiglauf
- When is the GutsMuths-Rennsteiglauf 2027?
- Saturday 22 May 2027. The start is at 09:00.
- How do I enter the GutsMuths-Rennsteiglauf?
- Entry is through the organiser. Entry fee: €65 (for the 2027 race). Entry details on the organiser’s site
- What is the time limit at the GutsMuths-Rennsteiglauf?
- Runners have 9 hours to finish. The finish closes at 18:00.
- Where does the GutsMuths-Rennsteiglauf start?
- Start: Sportplatz an der Guts-Muths-Turnhalle, Neuhaus am Rennweg.
Keep exploring
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