2027 race date
GutsMuths-Rennsteiglauf Marathon: May 22, 2027. Checked against the official organizer source on October 13, 2026.
The date was checked separately from the course and planning details below, reviewed October 14, 2026. Recheck entry availability and the final athlete guide before travel.
Neuhaus to Schmiedefeld: use the marathon's own profile
The Rennsteig marathon guide places the start in Neuhaus am Rennweg and the finish in Schmiedefeld. Its current profile lists 769 metres of ascent and 844 metres of descent; the sum is not the climbing total. The supermarathon from Eisenach and half marathon from Oberhof have different starts, so transport searches must include your actual distance.
The published marathon description climbs towards the Eselsberg area before a descent near Masserberg, with further climbs later and an uphill finish approach. Keep enough effort in reserve for those late sections rather than assuming a net descent makes the second half easy. Training on rolling forest paths, including controlled downhill running, is more specific than a flat-road split rehearsal alone.
The current guide lists a checkpoint at 33.4 km, Großer Dreiherrenstein, with a 16:30 deadline, and an 18:00 finish closure. Check both against the final May 22, 2027 briefing. An overall finish estimate is incomplete if it ignores an intermediate checkpoint, especially when progress varies with terrain.
Plan the point-to-point journey in both directions. Confirm how you reach Neuhaus, where belongings go, and how you leave Schmiedefeld after finishing. A supporter staying near another Rennsteig start town will need a different transport plan. Save the marathon route and participant instructions together, and use the current aid table to decide what food to carry between stations rather than relying on the event's general reputation for well-stocked support.
Last-known race profile
These details identify the race page; they do not establish the next edition's operations. Confirm current course and operations on the official event site.
Training calendar
These start dates count back from the first listed race day. For a multi-day event, recalculate from your assigned day. The duration is a planning option, not proof of readiness.