pacertrip.Races
PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONDE / RACE GUIDE
Refrather Herbstlauf race photo

Refrather Herbstlauf

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

DENov 8, 202610km · 5km
Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date in 34 days
Nov 8, 2026 Sun
City · Distance
Bergisch Gladbach · 10km · 5km
Entry fee
€25Varies by event and entry period
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 5, 2026
Refrather Herbstlauf race photo
Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Refrather Herbstlauf — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

This autumn race has been held in Königsforst since 1986.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Refrather Herbstlauf runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2
MarioRan in 2013 · Finish time 01:34:42
“Without that runner, I probably would've faded a little on the final climb.”

At the 2013 Refrath Herbstlauf half marathon, Mario ran three laps of a 7km course, tackling repeated climbs. Following another runner up the final hill helped him beat his 1-hour, 35-minute goal: he finished 15th among men in 1 hour, 34 minutes, 42 seconds.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Trotzdem – ohne ihn wäre ich wohl am letzten Anstieg etwas eingebrochen.

Read the original on SUPERMARIO72
meckycaro
“My first lap went really well, right on the planned pace of 5 minutes, 50 seconds per 1km.”

At the Refrath Herbstlauf half marathon, this runner completed the first lap as planned at 5 minutes, 50 seconds per 1km, but struggled from the second lap. A slight ankle twist and a side stitch on lap three prompted a decision to focus on more enjoyable 10km races in future.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Die erste Runde lief mit einer Pace von 5:50min/km richtig gut nach Plan.

Read the original on MeckyCaro

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Full recap

Jan Vernikov&Sonja Vernikov · Full recap

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Refrather Herbstlauf — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Refrather Herbstlauf course map and elevation

The 10km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 12:30
EventStart
Halbmarathon21.0975km12:30
10K10km11:00
5K5km10:00
City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START

Schutzhütte "Am dicken Stock", Rather Weg, 51427 Bergisch Gladbach-Refrath

FINISH

Schutzhütte 'Am dicken Stock'

Show more

The event consists of 5km, 10km, and half marathon races.

The start time is 12:30 PM local time.

Course is an out-and-back course that retraces the same route.

Typical race-season temperature: around 6°C (43°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Refrather Herbstlauf race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Information about Packet Pickup has not yet been announced.
At small German races, same-day on-site pickup is common, but check the official registration page for details.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Refrath (KVB Line 1 tram stop)

Start/finish is at the 'Schutzhütte Am dicken Stock' hut near Rather Weg, Bergisch Gladbach-Refrath.

Public transit: take KVB tram Line 1 to the 'Refrath' stop, then walk down Neufeldweg to the start area.

City confirmed: Bergisch Gladbach-Refrath, Germany (near Cologne).

Car parking also available near A4 motorway exit Bensberg, ~1.2km from start.

Getting to the finish

Refrath (KVB Line 1 tram stop)

Same location as start (out-and-back/loop course from the hut).

Road closures

KVB Linie 1 → Get off at Refrath and walk to Neufeldweg

More details

No organizer shuttle bus service;

regular public tram (KVB Line 1) serves the area directly.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Course is a point-to-point course crossing the Königsforst forest, with two events, 5km and 10km,

and times are recognized as German Athletics Federation (DLV) certified records.

The elevation change is gentle, with about 6m of total gain for the 5km and about 20m for the 10km.

The 2026 race is held on November 8, with the 5km starting at 10:00 AM and the 10km at 10:50 AM.

Registration is done through the official website.

Times are local to Bergisch Gladbach. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the Refrather Herbstlauf start line in Bergisch Gladbach

Hotels that make race morning easy

7 places

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

41 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

From Frankfurt to the UNESCO Rhine Gorge: Castles & River Cruise

€269

View on Klook

Cologne｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service from Cologne Bonn Airport

€56

View on Klook

Frankfurt Car Rental | Conveniently visit Frankfurt Hessen, Frankfurt Airport, Frankfurt Central Station and Frankfurt Aller Station by rental car.

€28

View on Klook

Frankfurt｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service from Frankfurt Airport

€47

View on Klook

Cologne Lindt Chocolate Museum Admission Ticket

€19

View on Klook

Cologne Icebar Admission Ticket (Including a Drink)

€27

View on Klook

12 Days 11 Nights in Germany: UNESCO Gems & Harz National Park Private Tour

€2,216

View on Klook

Rhine Valley Day Trip

Rüdesheim · Wine tasting included · Castle view · €160

View on GetYourGuide

Korean-Language Guide - Cologne & Bonn Day Tour from Frankfurt (Small Group Private Vehicle)

€212

View on Klook

Private Tour from Frankfurt: Rhine Valley, Castles & Vineyards

€735

View on Klook

Korean-Language Guide - Rothenburg & Würzburg Fairytale Village Tour from Frankfurt, Germany

€188

View on Klook

Hello Eindhoven: 2-Hour Private City Walk with a Local Guide (Introduction to the City)

€159

View on GetYourGuide

Discover Frankfurt's Top Attractions: Guided Walking Tour

€59

View on Klook
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Bergisch Gladbach with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Bergisch Gladbach.

Total cost and budget for Refrather Herbstlauf

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Refrather Herbstlauf

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Bergisch Gladbach runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Refrather Herbstlauf

FAQ
When does Refrather Herbstlauf 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sun, November 8, 2026 in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.

How much is the Refrather Herbstlauf 2026 entry fee?

The main event costs €25.

What distances does Refrather Herbstlauf 2026 offer?

10K · 5K · Trail.

What time does Refrather Herbstlauf 2026 start?

The race starts at 12:30.

Where does Refrather Herbstlauf 2026 start?

Schutzhütte "Am dicken Stock", Rather Weg, 51427 Bergisch Gladbach-Refrath.

Where does Refrather Herbstlauf 2026 finish?

Schutzhütte 'Am dicken Stock'.

PacerTrip connects you to races, stays, flights and tours. You book and pay on each service; when you go through these links we earn a commission.