4. Großer Schlackenmarsch on September, 2023

Hiking 100 km in 24 Hours Alone, or in a Relay

The Key Data in Brief

• 100 km in 24 hours on foot, individually or in a relay (4 stages between approx. 18 and 32 km)
• Start on September 23, 2023 from 2:00 p.m. „auf der Schanze“ in 92237 Sulzbach-Rosenberg, finish 24 hours later
• Participation fee: € 80.00 (individual starters or each relay team)
• Minimum age 18 years, both single starters and relays, limited to 100 single starters and 100 relays (2 – 4 people each)
• 9 x free refreshments (start, finish, 3 x start/finish area, 4 x on the partial stages) over the 100 km
• At the finish you will receive a finisher gift and a certificate with your time
• Optional finisher functional shirt (S, M, L, XL): € 22.00
• With your registration you understand and accept our conditions of participation

Route, Food and Time

100 km wil be walked alone or in a relay within 24 hours on mainly beautiful hiking trails through the district of Amberg-Sulzbach and Amberg. The march begins and ends „auf der Schanze“ in 92237 Sulzbach-Rosenberg near Sulzbach’s old town (the exact route will be announced) and forms a four-leaf clover, the leaves of which begin and end at the start and finish, a preview with impressions of the route you can find here. There, as well as about half of each „Cloverleaf“, there is a refreshment station with food and drink as well as motivation for the next km on foot. The four stages are getting shorter and shorter, which means that the aid stations are getting closer together. Anyone who has ever marched 100 km will certainly appreciate this division. The march starts on September 23 (Saturday) from 2:00 p.m., finishing at the same time the next day. Our district is quite hilly, the approx. 1,500 meters in altitude over the 100 km make our march something special.

Navigation

It is not possible for us to sign the 100 km hike. Approximately 2 weeks before the start, we will upload the route in common file formats (gpx, kml, kmz) for download, which you can use in the corresponding navigation apps. If you are familiar with the district, a good hiking map on which you can draw the route in advance may be sufficient. Remember, you alone are responsible for staying on track while marching, which is more challenging at night than during the day.

Hiking 100 km Alone or in a Relay?

As in previous years, we offer you the challenge of hiking 100 km in 24 hours at a time. Admittedly, that’s special, legs and head have to be sufficiently trained and play along that day. With the right preparation, however, it is also possible for people who do not see themselves as top athletes.

Alternatively, those of you who don’t dare to do 100 km alone have the opportunity this year for the first time to share the route as a relay, whereby the 24-hour limit also applies here. Here, the members of a relay consisting of 2, 3 or 4 people march one (or 2 or 3) of the four partial stages (clover leaves) one after the other. One after the other means: In the start/finish area (and only there) there is a change with the baton being handed over. How a squadron divides the four sub-stages is up to each squadron, a few examples: Max, Susi, Hans and Lisa march one of the four sub-stages one after the other. Or Mr. Müller the first three, then Mrs. Müller the last partial stage. Or Paul the first and last stage, Lea the second and Martin the third stage. It is important not to lose the baton with the transponder chip on the 100 km, but it weighs almost nothing and fits in any normal backpack.

If you want to plan a relay for the Große Schlackenmarsch 2023 now: The approximate lengths and marching times for the four partial stages are as follows, depending on the walking speed (we reserve the right to make moderate changes to the lengths of the stages):

How Timekeeping Works

The transponder chip is on the back of the start number for individual starters and on the baton for relay teams. When crossing a transponder mat, the time is logged by the system. The „transition zone“ in the start/finish area has a transponder mat at the entrance and exit, with access to the refreshment station in between. If you arrive from a partial stage, you always march first over the first mat, and then optionally continue over the 2nd mat to the next stage (or finally through the finish arch), or first to the aid station. If you are traveling as a relay, you hand over the baton to your successor within (!) the transition zone.

The time continues to run non-stop for 24 hours over the entire 100 km, even during your stay at the aid stations and within the transition zone. If you are traveling as a relay and are keeping an eye on the time, it makes sense not to chat too long with your successor in the transition area, but to hand over the baton to him/her and send him/her to the next stage. Of course you can march along a bit if you still can and want to.

In addition, we reserve the right to record your start numbers at the refreshment stations at about half of the four partial stages – so please don’t give in to the temptation to take a shortcut, you’re only condemning yourself.

Preparation and Equipment

Even if hiking sounds less strenuous than jogging – many participants underestimate the time you spend on your legs and feet, and this can only be prepared for the march by regular long hikes. Our recommendation: A preparatory course is planned in July as well as a refresher course shortly before the march, possibly also a night hike to get in the mood for the nocturnal sections. Olga Beidin, fitness coach and finisher over 50 and 100 km of the Schlackenmärsche 2021 and 2022, gets fit for the distance you have planned to walk.

On the way you need clothing adapted to the weather and also for rooty and possibly. muddy sections, suitable footwear is essential i) for the night stages, a (head)lamp with sufficient battery capacity and a safety vest for better visibility on public roads, and ii) a mobile phone – if you also use it for navigation, think of power banks that your mobile phone lasts 24 hours.

If you have to give up

There is no shame in not completing a 100 km march or stages of it, experience has shown that only a good half of all participants in our Schlackenmärsche manage the 100 km in one go, and often significantly less at larger 100 km march events. Health definitely comes before your own pride, be honest with yourself and your body and stop when it’s no longer possible or only with great pain. The most sensible place for this is the aid station in the start/finish area in the middle of Sulzbach – this is where you should consider whether you are fit enough for the next partial stage. And if you can’t go any further in the middle of the route: In the event of a medical emergency, call the emergency number. If there is still a few km to go, try to reach the next refreshment station where you will be looked after until a friend picks you up (so it is best to set a reliable car joker before the march that you can call in the middle of the night). If all else fails, one of our helpers might be on the road with the car, but please don’t rely on it.

What can you Win?

The incomparable experience of having achieved or at least tried to do something great. The Große Schlackenmarsch is not a competition, we do not judge by time or placement. The Große Schlackenmarsch is a collaborative experience that explores walking distance and time together in a whole new way. During which one learns how important mutual support can be in a team. You have successfully completed the Große Schlackenmarsch if you have completed the 100 km march within 24 hours, alone or as a relay. Then you will receive your certificate at the finish with your time or the stage times of your relay.

Running instead of Hiking?

As its name suggests, the Große Schlackenmarsch is aimed explicitly at hikers. We won’t ban anyone from walking (as in running), and a few hundred yard trots in between can be a change for the muscles. But: The event is called „March“. We do not offer any sports nutrition such as isotonic drinks or gels, and plan to occupy the aid stations at a speed of between approx. 4 and 7 km/h, with sufficient reserves on both sides, but not for the pace of runners.

Impressions of Previous Schlackenmärsche

(All photos: Copyright Martin Franitza, Rosenbladl )

After 100 km at the finish line: Happy finishers at the 2nd Großer Schlackenmarsch 2021 from Sulzbach-Rosenberg to Tachov in the Czech Republic	At the start the legs and feet were certainly better than at the finish, whether after 50 km in 12 hours or 100 km in 24 hours	Always in a good mood on the route. 100 km is also a matter of the mind!
This is how decent men welcome their brave women after 100 km at the finish line, they really deserve it	Oases of light and warmth in the dark expanse: the helpers at the refreshment stations do everything possible, even at night, to ensure that the participants feel good on the 100 km	Looks cozy, but: You shouldn’t sit too long at the refreshment stations, otherwise it will be all the more difficult to continue marching
Many start as a team and stay together all the way. Even very strong-willed people need a group at some point to motivate themselves over 100 km to the finish.	Best hiking weather at the start of 2022 in Tachov … and unfortunately it didn’t get any better for the next 100 km this year. It will definitely be sunny and dry this year!	The finisher cap in white – for everyone who has managed the Großer Schlackenmarsch over 100 km alone in 24 hours for the first time

Our Partner: