Glühweinmarathon and Glühweinlauf 2026

The legendary mulled wine marathon and fun run of the Endorphinjunkies Dortmund. The original!

13. December 2026

Start 07:45

16.4 · 26.9 · 42.2 · 45.6 km

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43 / 100 spots

16.4 · 26.9 · 42.2 · 45.6 km

RC Hansa Dortmund — An den Bootshäusern 9, 44147 Dortmund

Route Guide

Daniel Brückner

„I'm sorry!"

Parkplatz/Anfahrt:
An den Bootshäusern, 44147 Dortmund-Innenstadt-Nord
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/J39rDxgiQwh1xPCi6

Meeting point

RC Hansa Dortmund — An den Bootshäusern 9, 44147 Dortmund

Formats

Choose your challenge

Solo

Glühweinlauf

The closing section of the marathon, starting at 11:00 at RC Hansa. A loop course. No entry fee — donations welcome.

16.4

Kilometers

Elevation gain

43 of 100 spots taken · 26 on this route

Choose this route

Solo

Glühwein-Halbe

The prologue up to the start of the Glühweinlauf — a joint start at 07:45 at RC Hansa, finishing there as well. Pace around 6:30 min/km.

26.9

Kilometers

142

Elevation gain

43 of 100 spots taken · 2 on this route

Choose this route

Solo

Glühwein-Marathon

The full distance from RC Hansa. The prologue follows the 2025 route; the second part is being replanned because of the traffic lights. No entry fee — donations welcome.

42.2

Kilometers

213

Elevation gain

43 of 100 spots taken · 2 on this route

Choose this route

Solo

Glühwein-Ultra

The first mulled wine ultra in the world — at least 45 kilometres. The marathon loop plus an epilogue through the Fredenbaumpark. Start 07:45 at RC Hansa. No entry fee — donations welcome.

45.6

Kilometers

246

Elevation gain

43 of 100 spots taken · 13 on this route

Choose this route

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Run, laugh, enjoy — the sporting end of the year in the Ruhr area!

Glühweinmarathon & Glühweinlauf Dortmund 2026

When the days grow shorter and the smell of cinnamon and cloves drifts through Dortmund, we lace up our running shoes again. On Sunday, 13 December 2026 — the third Sunday of Advent — the Endorphinjunkies Dortmund invite you to the Glühweinmarathon and Glühweinlauf. (Glühwein is mulled wine, and yes, there will be plenty of it.)

This is not about personal bests or watching the clock, it is about the shared experience. We run as a group, finishing is what counts — and we leave nobody behind. Anyone can join who is able to cover their chosen distance running.

Four distances, one finish

Glühwein-Ultra — 45.6 km, start 7:45. The first mulled wine ultra in the world. At least 45 kilometres, and by far the longest loop of the day.
Glühweinmarathon — 42.2 km, start 7:45. The full loop: the Glühwein-Halbe and the Glühweinlauf combined.
Glühwein-Halbe — 26.9 km, start 7:45. The prologue through the west of Dortmund.
Glühweinlauf — 16.4 km, start 11:00. For everyone joining later: the second loop through the city centre.

Key facts

Date: Sunday, 13 December 2026 — third Sunday of Advent
Start: 7:45 (45.6 · 42.2 · 26.9 km), 11:00 (16.4 km)
Start & finish: RC Hansa Dortmund, Dortmund harbour, address: An den Bootshäusern
Format: A guided group run — nobody gets left behind
Cost: None. No entry fee, and the food and drink are on us. If you like, leave a donation towards our expenses.

The Glühweinmarathon and the Glühwein-Halbe start in the dark — pack a head torch, and depending on the weather a rain jacket and trail shoes too. At the finish the after-run party is waiting, where we see out the sporting year together.

Bring your Santa hat and become part of the Junkie family.

The route

From the harbour to the Christmas tree

A mix of harbour, green lungs and a festive city centre. The first loop runs through the west of Dortmund — past the Kokerei Hansa coking plant and the Zeche Westhausen colliery, industrial monuments right beside the path. Plenty of woodland and gravel tracks.

The second loop goes straight through the city: across Hansaplatz, where the largest Christmas tree in the world stands — 45 metres, built from around 1,700 spruces — and on past the Petrikirche with its Golden Wonder of Westphalia. This part is more urban, with parkland in between.

All landmarks are marked on the route map.

View the route map

The Endorphinjunkies in front of the largest Christmas tree in the world at Hansaplatz

Start, finish and afterwards

RC Hansa in Dortmund harbour

This year the start and finish are at RC Hansa Dortmund in the harbour — no longer at Phoenix-West. All four distances start there, and everyone comes back to the same place. There is parking on site; if it is full, use the parking spaces along the road or walk a bit — you are athletes, after all.

Taking part is free — and the catering is on us too: mulled wine, hot and cold snacks, sweets, drinks of every kind and Alba's nut corners. If you like, leave a donation towards our expenses.

Group photo of the Endorphinjunkies in the woods at the Glühweinlauf 2025

Look back at 2025

The 2025 Glühwein Marathon

Glühwein run and marathon · 14 December 2025

Looking back

How it went in 2025

Alle 27 Bilder ansehen

FAQ

Anyone. The only requirement: you should be able to cover your chosen distance running. This is not a race — we run as a group at roughly 6:30 to 6:45 min/km, and we leave nobody behind.

Nothing. No entry fee, no hidden costs. The food and drink are on us too. If you like, leave a donation towards our costs.

Four. New this year: the Glühwein-Ultra over 45.6 km — at least 45 kilometres, a genuine ultra, and the first mulled wine ultra in the world. Start 07:45.

Plus the usual three: the Glühweinmarathon over 42.2 km (start 07:45), the Glühwein-Halbe over 26.9 km as the prologue (start 07:45) and the Glühweinlauf over 16.4 km as the second loop through the city centre (start 11:00).

Listing the Glühwein-Ultra with the German Ultramarathon Association is planned but not yet confirmed.

Plenty. Mulled wine, hot and cold snacks, sweets, drinks of every kind — and Alba's nut slices.

Yes. Nobody goes short with us — there are alcohol-free drinks and vegan food just as much as the mulled wine.

The Glühweinmarathon and the Glühwein-Halbe start in the dark — on 13 December it does not get light until around half past eight. A head torch is therefore essential. Depending on the weather, add a rain jacket; trail shoes are an advantage on the first section.

The first section runs largely through woodland and along gravel tracks. The second is more urban — city centre, Christmas market and parkland.

No — we reserve the right to change the route at short notice.

The second half is currently being re-planned because of the traffic lights, and on the day itself roadworks, closed paths, the weather or the safety of the group may force a change. When in doubt we decide on the spot.

The distances given are therefore guide values. The length actually run may differ — in either direction. For the Glühwein-Ultra one thing holds: at least 45 kilometres, we will not go below that.

The current version is always shown on the route map.

Yes. We stop at Hansaplatz, where the largest Christmas tree in the world stands — 45 metres tall, built from around 1,700 spruces. The group photo with the tree is part of the tradition.

At RC Hansa Dortmund in the harbour — no longer at Phoenix-West as in previous years. Parking is available on site. If it fills up, use the parking spaces along the road or run the last bit. You are athletes, after all.

Because it makes planning easier and keeps the day manageable. We then know how much mulled wine and how many nut slices we need, and who is out on which loop.

At our group pace, roughly 1:50 hours for the 16 km, around 3 hours for the 26 km and just under 5 hours for the full distance.

No. We run as a group on public paths and obey the traffic rules. You can download the GPX files for all three routes and load them onto your watch or phone.

This run is not a competition. We run as a group on public paths and obey the traffic rules — there is no timing, no ranking, and nobody wins. So there are no medals either.

Everyone does receive a certificate for the distance completed afterwards.

Bring a good mood. Keep the positive spirit even when somebody needs an extra break or a traffic light turns red — we are in no hurry.

And if you feel like it: a festive costume. Santa hat, reindeer antlers, fairy lights — the sillier the better.

Ready for your adventure?

Secure your spot now.

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