Röntgenlauf Remscheid

Remscheid — Bergisches Universal City

The city of Remscheid, with around 110,000 inhabitants in the Bergisches Land region, North Rhine-Westphalia state, forms the Bergisches Städtedreieck (Bergisch Triangle cities) together with Solingen and Wuppertal. It is known for its tool and metal industry, as well as for the fact that Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was born here in 1845 — the Nobel Prize winner in Physics whose name the city run bears. The Hackenberg sports facility in the north of the city is the starting point of the Röntgenlauf.

A Traditional Volkslauf Event

The Röntgenlauf Remscheid has been held as a major Volkslauf of the Bergisches Land since the mid-2000s — the 24th edition in 2026. The organizer is Röntgenlauf Remscheid e.V., which brings the event to life with over 500 volunteers. The date is traditionally the last Sunday in October; in 2026, this is October 25. The run is part of the German DUV Cup 2026 (German Ultramarathon Association) and thus an important scoring event for ultra runners.

Variety of Distances

What makes the Röntgenlauf special is its exceptionally wide range of distances:

• 5 km — Cross run for beginners and families
• 10 km — classic Volkslauf distance
• Half Marathon (21.1 km) — for ages 16 and up
• Marathon (42.2 km) — for ages 18 and up, 7.5-hour cut-off
• Ultramarathon (63.3 km) — for ages 18 and up
• Walking routes — also for non-running participants

Thus, the Röntgenlauf covers practically the entire spectrum from beginners to ultra specialists — a rare range in the German Volkslauf landscape.

The Bergische 126.6k

A special feature is the Bergische 126.6k: Those who complete the Königsforst Marathon on March 15, 2026, and the Röntgen Ultramarathon (63.3 km) on October 25, 2026, will be honored as Bergischer 126.6er — a unique format for ultra enthusiasts that combines the two Bergisch running events into a combined season challenge. Special awards and commemorative medals complete the format.

Course, Cut-off, and Inclusion

The start and finish are at the Hackenberg sports facility in Remscheid, with the start area near the Clemenshammer. The course utilizes the Bergischer Wald, small paths, forest sections, and some meadow trails — cross country in the classic sense. The Marathon cut-off is a generous 7.5 hours — walkers are welcome. A dedicated inclusion classification for participants with disabilities and accessible routes are integrated into the concept. The sustainability initiative encourages participants to bring their own drinking cups — saving thousands of disposable cups annually.

Registration and Preparation

Online registration via the organizer's portal is already active. Early Bird rate until March 31, 2026 — after that, starting fees will increase. Training tips, course maps, and elevation profiles are available at roentgenlauf.de. Those tackling the Bergisches Volkslauf for the first time can start with the 5 km cross run — a first step towards possible future ultra ambitions.