Bottrop Ultrarun Festival (BUF)

Bottrop Ultrarun Festival — The Elite of the German Ultrarunning Scene

The Bottrop Ultrarun Festival (BUF) has established itself in recent years as one of the most important dates in the German ultrarunning calendar. From August 29th to 30th, 2026, the 8th edition will take place in Prosperpark Bottrop — simultaneously the German Championship for the 24-hour run. Organized by the traditional club Adler-Langlauf Bottrop e.V., the event combines several competition formats and is a must-attend for the German ultra elite.

Competition Formats — Four Disciplines

24-Hour Run — German Championship

The premier competition: 24 hours of continuous running on a closed loop. Whoever covers the most kilometers wins. For the national elite, this means 250 km and more in 24 hours — an extraordinary feat both physically and mentally. As the BUF is hosting the German Championship, the best athletes from all over the country will be present.

6-Hour Run

The 6-hour variant is the entry-level category — also extremely demanding sportingly, but more realistic for ambitious marathon runners looking to try an ultra.

Relay Competition (2–9 Runners)

Teams of 2 to 9 runners share the 24 or 6 hours — a format attractive to clubs, companies, and groups of friends. The handovers are flexible; runners can follow each other as they wish.

Hill Backyard (Ruhr Area Backyard)

The innovative Backyard format: A new lap starts every hour — whoever doesn't finish it within the hour is out. The last remaining runner wins. The Hill variant in Bottrop utilizes the uphill-downhill topography of the former mining heap — a format that demands endurance, mental strength, and tactical flexibility. Debuted in 2025, it is establishing itself as a BUF trademark.

Adler-Langlauf Bottrop e.V. — Organizer with Tradition

Adler-Langlauf Bottrop e.V. specializes in long and ultra distances. By organizing the Ultrarun Festival, the club demonstrates how a local sports club can grow into a nationally significant event. Registration is via run-timing.de, information on adler-langlauf.de.

Prosperpark — Former Mining Heap

The Prosperpark is a former mining heap from the Prosper-Haniel colliery, which was reclaimed after the end of hard coal mining. Today, it is a recreational area with paths, viewpoints, and a distinctive topography. Ideal for the Backyard format — the hills provide sporting variation. The independent city of Bottrop is located in the western Ruhr area (North Rhine-Westphalia) with around 117,000 inhabitants.