The 2012 Nikolauslauf Tübingen was a super event!
This year saw us run with no snow, but weather conditions were great
for a cross-country half marathon. Thankfully the real rain and storm that blew in this evening waited until later in the afternoon.
Our hats go off to Nikolauslauf Tübingen organization team and all of the amazing volunteers that supported the race. We were a bit apprehensive about the size of the race field (3000 registered runners) after running the training run back in November. The race organizers did a fantastic job logistically and organizationally
during the run up to the race with constant updates to their web site and pre-race activities (final race check in, race start up, etc.). Staggering the start between three different groups (runners indicate their best half at registration and are then placed into an appropriate starting block) spread the field just far enough out
that we never felt crowded over the course of the race.
The race course is a fast yet challenging course that runs north of Tübingen and includes two cycles around the course (second cycle does a dog leg to the east of the original course and then rejoins the original course). The course itself borders the southern side of the Naturpark Schönbuch and shares much of its beauty and nature.
This year saw us run with no snow, but weather conditions were great
for a cross-country half marathon. Thankfully the real rain and storm that blew in this evening waited until later in the afternoon.
Our hats go off to Nikolauslauf Tübingen organization team and all of the amazing volunteers that supported the race. We were a bit apprehensive about the size of the race field (3000 registered runners) after running the training run back in November. The race organizers did a fantastic job logistically and organizationally
during the run up to the race with constant updates to their web site and pre-race activities (final race check in, race start up, etc.). Staggering the start between three different groups (runners indicate their best half at registration and are then placed into an appropriate starting block) spread the field just far enough out
that we never felt crowded over the course of the race.
The race course is a fast yet challenging course that runs north of Tübingen and includes two cycles around the course (second cycle does a dog leg to the east of the original course and then rejoins the original course). The course itself borders the southern side of the Naturpark Schönbuch and shares much of its beauty and nature.
At the starting line just prior to the gun.
The Nikolauslauf Tübingen course is a mix of country and farm roads, mixed trail and forest paths. This view is from the backside of the course just prior to the second to last nice hill (if hills can be nice).The statics are still rolling in, but it looks as if of the original 3000 registered racers 2448 finished the race - a record for this event.
An all round super race that sells out very quickly. Registration is super easy and relatively inexpensive (21 Euro in 2011 which provided registration, a finisher tee-shirt and a good series of support stations along the course) via the Nikolauslauf Tübingen web page. If you're interested in running this great event, watch the web site starting in September. Registration opens and closes quickly as this is a very popular local winter race event.
We hope to be along for the fun in 2012!
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