Buschenschanklauf & Nordic Walking

The Bad Loipersdorfer Buschenschanklauf is a running and nordic walking event held annually in the autumn in the village of Bad Loipersdorf which is situated in a hilly wine-producing region in Austria's Steiermark (Styria) province, near the borders with Hungary and Slovenia. Five race distances are available for runners of all ages: 400m Knirpsenlauf (kids' run) 2.2km Kinder- und Jugendlauf (kids' run) 6km Hobbylauf (two laps: 2.2km + 3.78km) 10km Volkslauf (three laps: 2.2km + 2 x 3.78km) 21.1km Halbmarathon (half marathon; five laps: 2.2km + 5 x 3.78km): Starting and finishing in the centre of the village, the route is undulating. The 6k route includes about 50 metres of ascent, the 10k almost 100 metres and the half marathon approximately 220 metres. In addition to the races for runners, the event offers a 12km nordic walking which is very popular for its hilly and scenic multi-terrain point-to-point route that passes several Buschenschank wine taverns offering home-made wine and cold buffets of traditional peasant food, accompanied by live music. Many walkers take their time at the Buschenschank aid stations to sample the pleasures of country life. The route begins at the thermal spa complex of Therme Loipersdorf and ends, like the races for runners, in the village of Bad Loipersdorf.