Lauf zwischen den Meeren

From Sea to Sea in One Day

The Lauf zwischen den Meeren is one of the most famous popular sports events in Schleswig-Holstein. Over 92.2 kilometres, it connects the North Sea (start at Husum Harbour) with the Baltic Sea (finish in Damp) — a route across the federal state, passing Friedrichstadt, Schleswig, the Schlei fjord, and many small villages in North Frisia and Schleswig-Flensburg.

Relay Format: Ten Stages, One Team

The race is held as a relay race. A team consists of five to ten runners, and the course is divided into ten stages of 8.2 to 11.5 kilometres each. Each stage is run by a team member, who hands over to the next at the changeover point — until the team reaches Damp. The fastest teams complete the race in about 5 hours and 10 minutes, most take seven to nine hours.

Participants and Logistics

Around 800 teams register every year — that's between 4,000 and 8,000 active runners plus several hundred volunteers at the changeover stations. The race attracts a mixed crowd: running clubs, associations, corporate teams, amateur athletes. Registration opens in June of the preceding year via davengo.com — places usually sell out within a few hours.

Across Schleswig-Holstein

The course leads through the two districts of Nordfriesland and Schleswig-Flensburg in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein — through marshland, geestland, and along the Schlei. The starting municipality of Husum (Storm's town, crab capital) and the finishing municipality of Damp (seaside resort, spa town) are barely 90 kilometres apart as the crow flies. The organiser is Zippel's Läuferwelt, with VR Bank as the main sponsor.

Volksfest Atmosphere Along the Route

A mobile Volksfest (popular festival) develops at the ten changeover points and along the route: Residents set up refreshment stands, music accompanies the runners, and in Damp, the finish line is celebrated with a large marquee, live music, and catering. The fastest teams arrive around 2:15 PM.