Parkthermen Wüstenlauf

Bad Radkersburg (Austria), Saturday 28 May 2011

The top desert runners 2010 - Micah Kiplagat Samoei (left) and Elvis Kipruto Maiyo

It can get pretty hot indeed during the Wüstenlauf ("Desert Run"), held at the end of May in a low-lying region in southern Austria. Usually, the sun is blazing hot at the start at 4.30pm.

The event comprises a half marathon, two shorter runs (13.6k and 8.7k), a nordic walking competition, and children's races.

The start and the finish are on the main square of Bad Radkersburg, a small spa town on the border with Slovenia. The route runs mostly through corn and pumpkin fields, and there's hardly any shade on the course. Competitors run on cycleways and roads. A short section is on a dirt trail. The course is very flat, traffic-free and AIMS-certified.

The entry fees are relatively high but participants get free entry to the Parktherme thermal spa with its indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a voucher for another entry ticket. Kids can go camel-riding, and there will be belly dancers and live music at the after-race "desert party".

In 2010, the top half marathon finishers came from Kenya - Micah Kiplagat Samoei (1:08:27) and Janet Jepkosgei Kimugung (1:27:05).

Country: Austria

Venue (Map): Bad Radkersburg (Maribor 41km, Graz 77km, Ljubljana 165km, Vienna 207km)

Date: 28 May 2011 (Saturday)

Race distance: 21.1km; 13.6km; 8.7km; ca. 1km (children); 9.5km (nordic walking)

Start time: 16.00 (children), 16.30 (21.1/13.6/8.7km); 16.40 (nordic walking)

Start and finish: Hauptplatz (main square) in Bad Radkersburg

Entries: online or at the Parktherme Bad Radkersburg; payment by bank transfer; late entries on the day until 14.30

Entry fees (21.1km): 24/31 euros (until 21 May/28 May 2011)

Entry fees (13.6km and 8.7km): 21/26 euros

Entry fees (nordic walking): 17/22 euros

Timing (!): SMC Timing: 3 euros rental fee and 20 euros deposit (!)

Race centre: Congresszentrum Zehnerhaus, Hauptplatz (27 May 12.00-19.30; 28 May 11.30-15.30)

You get: a T-Shirt or a cap; free entry to the Parktherme on race day; voucher for an entry ticket to the Parktherme; prize raffle

Prizes (21km): hotel vouchers to the first 3 M/F; category prizes

Award ceremony: ca. 20.00

Number of finishers 2010: 207 (21km), 108 (13.6km), 249 (8.7km), 29 (nordic walking)

Event website (in German): www.parktherme.at

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page! Please visit the official event website to verify the above information.