Airship Run — Running Experience at Essen/Mülheim Airport

Run between Airship and Runway

There are running events — and then there are experiential runs. The Airship Run at Essen/Mülheim Airport clearly belongs in the second category. The organizer, Marathon und Triathlon Mülheim e.V., launched one of Germany's strangest and most beautiful running routes in 2025: directly across the active airfield of Westdeutsche Luftwerbung (WDL), including the taxiway and runway. The 2nd edition will take place on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

The Course — 2.5 Kilometer Loop

The event uses an approximately 2.5-kilometer loop on the airport grounds. You start on the apron, turn onto the taxiway, run a stretch of the runway, and come back via the other side. At the finish line — and this is where it gets spectacular — you run into the WDL airship hangar, one of Europe's largest free-standing hangar structures. The ground is asphalt aircraft pavement: fast, flat, perfect for personal bests.

Three Distances Plus Kids' Run

You can choose between three distances: 5 km (2 laps), 10 km (4 laps), and 15 km (6 laps). For the little ones, there's also a kids' run over a shorter distance. All finishers receive a medal; refreshments are available at the finish area (in the hangar!).

Strict Rules — Safety at the Airport

As this is an active airport, special rules apply: No headphones (you must be able to hear instructions), strict littering ban (foreign objects on runways can destroy aircraft turbines), no drones, no selfie sticks. These rules are enforced on-site — violators will be disqualified.

Essen/Mülheim Airport — A Special World

Today, Essen/Mülheim Airport is primarily a base for business aviation, airship advertising, and flight schools. Its airship hangar, built in 1971 for WDL airships, is an industrial monument. The advertising Zeppelin 'Theo' took off from here for decades. This very mix of industrial history, open airfield atmosphere, and athlete fascination makes the Airship Run one of the most unusual events in the NRW running calendar — and family-friendly in a way unmatched elsewhere in the Ruhr region.