Kiel.Lauf

Running with a Fjord View in the Heart of Kiel

The Kiel.Lauf, presented by Förde Sparkasse, has been an institution for the running scene in the state of Schleswig-Holstein since the late 1980s. It is organized by Zippels Sportveranstaltungs GmbH and certified by the German Athletics Association as part of the German Road Races. With several thousand registrations per year, the run is one of the major grassroots sports highlights of the state capital and is regularly fully booked weeks before the start.

Six Competitions for All Age Groups

The program covers all distances from crawling to professional level, making the run a true family festival:

• Bambini Run over approx. 0.9 kilometers for the youngest
• Youth Run over 2.9 kilometers and 5.3 kilometers
• Short Run over 5.3 kilometers
• Fun Run over 10.5 kilometers
• Half Marathon over the official distance of 21.1 kilometers

The Course: A City Tour at Running Pace

The circuit leads from the start at Martensdamm through the city center, past Holstenstraße, Schlossgarten, and the Hörn harbor, before turning onto the Kiellinie directly on the Kiel Fjord. Here, you can enjoy the view of passing ferries in the final kilometers before the finish line on the central Rathausplatz, complete with commentary and refreshments. The half marathon covers the circuit twice.

Tradition and Atmosphere

What makes the Kiel.Lauf special is its close connection with the city: thousands of spectators line the course, clubs, schools, and companies send their own teams to compete, and after crossing the finish line, the shared running experience is celebrated on Rathausplatz. In the independent city of Kiel in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, the second Sunday in September is firmly linked to the Kiel.Lauf.