Bergischer 6-Hour Run

Six hours, a 3 km circuit, an ultra-run format

Since its first edition in 2013, the Bergischer 6-Hour Run has been one of North Rhine-Westphalia's established ultra-runs. The format is classic: participants run a 3 km forest circuit around the Eschbachtalsperre reservoir near Remscheid for six hours; the distance covered in this time is measured. Whoever completes the most laps wins.

The circuit

The course runs on a 3 km forest circuit on firm ground with minimal asphalt content — an ideal mix of forest path and consolidated ground, making the format equally interesting for trail runners and classic road runners. Its location above the A1 motorway service area between Cologne and Wuppertal makes the run quickly accessible from both major cities and the entire Bergisches Land region.

How it works

Runners continuously circle the forest course for six hours. Towards the end of the run, they receive a marker with their bib number; as soon as the signal for the 6-hour finish sounds, they stop immediately. Official course marshals measure the remaining distance from the last marker to the stop position with calibrated wheels — this determines the exact total distance.

Organizers and regular running date

The organizer is Feiner Lauf — the initiative by Patrick Jeschak and Oliver Witzke, who organize several Bergisch running events. The 6-Hour Run at the Eschbachtalsperre reservoir is part of the regular program and has established itself over the years as a reliably organized event with fair course routing and a clearly defined set of rules.

Strict regulations

Poles, dogs, bicycles, prams, and unregistered companions are expressly forbidden. Violations lead to disqualification and can result in exclusion from future events. The regulations are part of the format's credibility — and make the run a serious ultra-distance event in the NRW calendar.

Eschbachtalsperre and the Bergisches Land

The Eschbachtalsperre reservoir is located in the Bergisches Land region — within the city limits of Remscheid (an independent city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia). It was built in 1891 as the first German drinking water dam and is now a listed industrial heritage site for water engineering. The circular path around the reservoir is known for its wooded, firm ground — an ideal running DNA that has made the Bergischer 6-Hour Run a fixture in NRW for 13 years.