How to Volksmarch

Volksmarches are informal walks you and your family and dog can do at your leisure. It’s a great idea to wear comfortable shoes and be ready for any German weather, but you are getting outdoors, exploring Germany, and having fun!

Volksmarches are all over the world, like this one in Sprenglingen, Germany.

Where can you find volksmarches to attend?

Lucky for you, members of the Ramstein Roadrunners receive an email, have Facebook updates, and of course this website to keep you informed on the walks that are close by and we are registered for as a club.

Most walks are held on weekends, but some are also held on Wednesdays or holidays. Of course, it’s completely up to the hosting clubs.

There are basically three types of walks. An event walk, held on the weekend. A permanent walk which can be done any day of the year (with a few exceptions), and a guided walk where you follow a guide instead of a marked trail.

So where can you find more info? Go to the DVV (German Volksmarching Website) or even the main IVV website to see all the events offered.

Parking

GPS works wonders, but you will often have to put the entire address in to find a start hall. Once you are in the town, though, there are usually “IVV” signs pointing you to parking and the Start/Ziel.

Many times, the villages are very small, and it’s okay to park along the street. Just follow what all the other cars are doing.

Get Started

Once parked, just head into the hall, find the Start card table, and purchase one each for everyone in your party.

If you are walking in Germany, your start card will cost 3 Euros per person.

At the same time, there should be a person with a list or book ticking off members of the registered clubs. Make sure you let them know you are a Ramstein Roadrunner because we can earn group prizes.

It’s a good idea to write your names on them immediately because if you drop them along the path, you won’t get credit for your walk.

Now, just head out the door and follow the arrows to your route.

Now, you can check out the paths and how many kilometers you might want to walk or run. (This is not really set in stone, so if you come to a path split, you can always pick the one you want at that point.)

Most walks have several choices, such as:

5 Km – Very quick, takes about an hour, and is often on level enough paths to take a stroller. However, we’ve been on enough to know that if you have little ones, be prepared to carry them over some rough terrain.

10 Km – takes a little over two hours, and paths will widely very in difficulty. The joke is, if there is a hill, the path will always go up it!

20 Km – takes around four hours, difficulty is usually pretty difficult!

42 Km – A marathon! (FYI- Marathons might incur additional costs)

Beautiful views and buildings are a given on any volksmarch.
Don’t forget to purchase your start card to collect your stamps along the way.
Volksmarching tape around a signpost or tree marks the trail. Often there are different colors denoting which length of trail you are following.
A Streckenteilung sign indicating the direction of each route.
This sign indicates that the 10 and 20 Km route veers off from the 5 Km route.
Control Point in the middle of a Volksmarch to prove you're walking the route.

Along the Way

Once you’ve chosen your length, it’s just a matter of walking along the marked path.

There are many ways to mark a path. Clubs will use colored tape, signs, and even paintings on the ground.

Trail splits are marked with a sign “Streckenteilung” or “Streckentrennung”.

Luckily, on most walks there are a number of participants that you can easily follow if you get confused.

Control Points

On the walk, there will be some control stations (Kontrolle). You must stop and get a stamp on your start card at each control station you encounter.

The stamps are proof that you followed the full path, and it’s checked at the finish before you receive your event and distance stamps for your IVV awards.

As a general rule there will be one checkpoint for a 5Km, 2 for a 10 Km, 3 for a 20 Km, and multiple ones for a marathon.

At control points you can have a drink of water, tea, or broth which is free, but you should have your own non-disposable cup.

Often the controls will also offer some small snacks, like sandwiches, that come a an additional cost. (It’s a good idea to have a few Euros in your pocket while on the walk.)

Whew! You’re Finished!

It’s always a great feeling to make your way to the Ziel!

First, find the IVV Stempel table to get your appropriate event and distance stamps in your record booklets. These are the proof you need to get your IVV awards.

Once your business is complete, have fun! Refreshments are sold so you can sit, relax, and socialize with fellow hikers.

Refreshments are usually very inexpensive, such as sandwiches, wursts, soup, a plated dish, and always coffee and cake (a true German tradition).

Note: Often, the club has only one cashier who will sell you a card with Euro amounts on it to buy your food. They usually cost 10 Euros and will mark off the amount you spend. The good news is, if you don’t spend it all, you go back to the cashier, hand them the card, and they’ll give you the rest of your money back.

Volksmarches, and even control points, can be found in the most unexpectedly stunning places.