Volkssport Links

Volkssport Associations
	Herald Union: Take a Hike by Donald Seltzer. On Herald Union Online website, select 'Take A Hike' from the Index."?
	Internationaler Volkssportverband: The International Federation of Popular Sports. By selecting "National Members" from the menu, you can access the websites of all member countries.
	Deutscher Volkssportverband e.V.: The German Federation of Popular Sports. Offers a comprehensive listing of volksmarches in Germany, plus a list of permanent walking trails sorted by state and town.
	American Volkssports Association: Provides a comprehensive listing of events, volksmarches, and permanent trails throughout America.
Volkssports-Related Sites
	Stars and Stripes: Thursday's edition lists volksmarches throughout Europe.
	ViaMichelin: Provides travel assistance services such as route planning and mapping, weather and traffic reports, and online hotel reservations.
	Weather Underground: Find weather reports for your volksmarch locations.
	Facebook: Ramstein Roadrunners Facebook.

 

What is a Volksmarch?

Volkssport (People's Sport) encompasses Volksmarch (People's Walk) and other forms of non-competitive physical fitness. The primary sport, walking, is ordinarily a 10 kilometer route (6.2 miles) on scenic trails along bodies of water, around historic sites, or through your own neighborhoods. Clubs frequently offer trail lengths of 5 and 20 kilometers as well.

There is not one set start time but a window of time (average window is 5 hours). Take as much time as you like to walk the trail, and the only requirement is to finish by the end of the event, approximately 3 hours after the final start time.

Trails are marked along the way in a variety of ways—colored tape, signs and markings on the ground.

Most routes take two hours to complete at a leisurely pace. Many trails are stroller-friendly and provide great opportunity to explore nearby and far away places that perhaps would not be seen as a regular tourist.

After you have completed your walk, enjoy the food and friendship in the hall.

Nervous about not speaking the language? Don't worry as many clubs have a special table with someone who speaks English. After a few walks, you will all be speaking the same language—volkssport!

The following video is in German, but it should give you an idea of what a volksmarch is like:

 

How Far?

You've found a volksmarch, and now you want to know how far away it is. Check our Distance List to see how far away it is. Or map the entire route to the location using ViaMichelin.