Ehrenhausen - Wies (Austria), Saturday 6 May 2017

Approximately 1,600 runners and 200 nordic walkers took part in last year's Welschlauf, an atmospheric road running event that is held every year on the first Saturday of May in the wine-growing Südsteiermark region in the state of Styria in the southern part of Austria.

Three very beautiful but also very hilly and challenging point-to-point routes are on offer:

• 42.2km Marathon
• 21.1km Halbmarathon (half marathon)
• 12.2km Viertelmarathon (quarter marathon; run and nordic walking)

The route alternates in direction each year. In 2017, the marathon will be started in the village of Ehrenhausen (pictured), which is on the train line from Graz (Austria's second-largest city) to Maribor (Slovenia's second-largest city).

Halbmarathon and Viertelmarathon runners will join the marathon runners en route to the finish in the village of Wies.

The time limit to complete the marathon course is six and a half hours.

The routes are so hilly and scenic that many runners take the Welschlauf more as a fun run than as a serious race. It's an event that features fancy-dress runners, folk music, traditional costumes, plenty of food, and fine locally-produced Welsch wine.

Country: Austria

Venue (Map): Ehrenhausen - Wies

Date: 6 May 2017 (Saturday)

Start time and race distance:

• 42.2km: at 10.00 in Ehrenhausen
• 21.1km: at 12.00 in Leutschach - Eichberg-Trautenburg
• 12.2km run: at 14.00 in Saggau
• 12.2km nordic walking: at 14.10 in Saggau

Finish: Wies

Race centre:

• Knielyhaus, Leutschach (Friday 5 May 2017, 16.00-21.00)
• in the start areas (on the day before the race)

Entries: online; late entries on Friday 5 May 2017; no entries on the day

Entry fees (42.2km): € 40 (up to 23 April 2017); € 50 (late entries)

Entry fees (21.1km): € 36 (up to 23 April 2017); € 46 (late entries)

Entry fees (12.2km): € 32 (up to 23 April 2017); € 42 (late entries)

Timekeeping: ChampionChip

You get: goodie bag, shuttle bus service from Wies to the start areas (before the race), transport of personal clothing from the start to the finish, 21 feed stations along the course, chip timing, finisher medal, massage service

Award ceremony: at 17.00 in Wies

Number of finishers 2016: 622 (13.4km run), 204 (13.4km nordic walking), 751 (21.1km), 220 (42.2km)

Event website (in German): www.welschlauf.com

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.