24th Oderturmlauf Frankfurt (Oder)

Stair run up Brandenburg's tallest building

The Oderturm in Frankfurt (Oder), at nearly 88 meters high, is the tallest building in the state of Brandenburg — a 24-story office and hotel tower in the city center that shapes the skyline of the university city on the Polish border. Once a year, the StadtSportBund Frankfurt (Oder) transforms the tower into a vertical racecourse: 511 steps, 80 meters of elevation gain, 24 floors — whoever reaches the top has completed one of Germany's highest stair races.

Race Format and Start Intervals

Runners start individually at 90-second intervals, which defines the character of a stair race: no mass start, no rushing, but a focused individual performance against the clock. Seven age categories for women and men (from 16/17 to 70+) ensure age-appropriate rankings. The ascent is less about running technique and more about breathing, leg strength, and willpower — stair running is its own discipline.

German Stair Running Series and Tradition

The Oderturmlauf has been organized since 2001 by StadtSportBund Frankfurt (Oder) e.V. in cooperation with the Federal Police and the Oderturm. Today, the race is part of the German Stair Running Series (Towerrunning Germany e.V.) and one of the most traditional events in the German-speaking towerrunning calendar.

Awards and Prizes

All participants receive a commemorative medal and a diploma. The top finishers in each age category receive prizes or vouchers. The overall winners are honored with special awards by the Lord Mayor and the Federal Police.

Frankfurt (Oder) and its Running Highlight

Frankfurt (Oder) — a university city with the European University Viadrina, birthplace of Heinrich von Kleist, a border city with a bridge to Słubice — has a sporting summer highlight in the Oderturmlauf, which makes the city known beyond its region. Those who want to discover Brandenburg sportingly will find an unusual option here: not outdoors, but upwards.