Duisburg winter running series 2027: three Saturdays

The 42nd ASV Duisburg winter running series takes place on 23 January, 13 February and 13 March 2027 in the Sportpark Wedau. Here are the distances, fees, rankings and how the series fits into a spring marathon plan.

Daniel Gruber · 4 October 2026 · 8 min read

Duisburg winter running series 2027: three Saturdays

The ASV Duisburg Winterlaufserie (winter running series) isn't a single race but a training block with a bib: three Saturdays in the Sportpark Wedau, with the distance getting longer each time. 2027 is its 42nd edition, on 23 January, 13 February and 13 March (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de). In the long series (Große Serie) that means 10 km, 15 km and a half marathon to finish; in the short series (Kleine Serie) 5, 7.5 and 10 km. You're a finisher if you complete all three race days. Entries have been open since August 2026, and the fee rises in six steps with the entry date (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations).

The 42nd winter series at a glance

Short series Long series
Saturday, 23 January 2027 5 km, 14:00 and 14:30 (two waves) 10 km, 15:00
Saturday, 13 February 2027 7.5 km, 14:00 15 km, 15:00
Saturday, 13 March 2027 10 km, 14:00 21.1 km, 15:00 (finish closes 17:45)
Minimum age born 2015 or earlier (U14) born 2011 or earlier (U18)
Adult fee €60 to €90 for all three days, depending on entry date same
Entry deadline 24 December 2026, then late entry at €90 while places last same

The start is on Margarethenstraße in front of the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena football stadium, the finish in the athletics stadium on Kalkweg. The organizer is ASV Duisburg e. V. (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations). As of 4 October 2026.

How the series works

You enter once and get one bib for all three days, sent by post by 16 January 2027. The timing chip is built into the bib, so don't fold or wash it. If you lose it, a replacement costs €10 on site (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations and FAQ).

Results are split by short and long series and by women and men. On each day the six fastest are honoured; on the final day the series winners follow: the top three in each age group get a prize, and the overall winners of both series get €100 each. There is also a team ranking with places 1 to 3 in both series (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations and FAQ).

The most important rule for everyone else: you're a finisher once you've completed three races of the series. You get the medal right after crossing the line on 13 March; it's only posted for the virtual series. After each race day you can print a certificate, and after the third a finisher's certificate (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, FAQ).

If a Saturday doesn't work: the virtual series

In winter it's easy to miss a date through a cold, shift work or ice. ASV has a solution born during the pandemic: every race day has a virtual edition one week later, from Friday to Sunday. If you don't turn up on the real Saturday, you're automatically unlocked for it, run the distance on a route of your choice, time it with a watch or app and enter your result via the change link in your confirmation email (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, FAQ).

There's a catch: once you've done one race virtually, you're ranked in the virtual rather than the real series. You still become a finisher with a medal, because real and virtual races can be combined (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations and FAQ). For most people, that's the key safety net, because entries can't be cancelled and fees aren't refunded. Only until 24 December 2026 can you transfer your place to someone else via the change link (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations).

Entry fee: every month costs €5 more

The fee covers all three race days and rises with the entry date (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations):

Juniors born 2008 or later pay €40, the youth series costs €30. You can add the limited-edition technical shirt for €25 when you enter (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations). Depending on when you enter, the long series gives you 46.1 race kilometres for €60 to €90. Companies and clubs can use a group entry (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations).

Course and race day in the Sportpark Wedau

The 10 km course is officially measured by the German athletics federation (DLV). It is the first race of the long series and the last of the short series (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, courses). In the half marathon there is water and medical help at km 8.4, and a second water station at around km 15 by the rowing-course grandstand, its exact position depending on current construction work. Paramedics and the sweeper vehicle are at the end of Strohweg at km 5.5 and km 11 (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, courses). The 17:45 finish closure gives you 2:45 hours for the half marathon.

In the half marathon, pacers with flags run for target times of 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30 and 2:45 hours (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, FAQ). At the finish there's mineral water, spritzers and an isotonic drink, cereal bars on the second and third days, and coffee, cake and a hot snack nearby. You can leave bags on the grandstand in the athletics stadium. Women's showers are in the stadium's main building, men's at the ice rink (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, FAQ).

Parking in front of the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena is free; by car, take the A59 to exit 13 Wanheimerort/Sportpark Wedau. From Duisburg main station, buses 934 and 939 go to "MSV-Arena", or bus 944 to "Sportschule Wedau" with a seven-minute walk (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, FAQ).

The series as preparation for a spring marathon

The long series mirrors the build-up you'd write into a marathon plan: 10 km in January, 15 km three weeks later, a half marathon four weeks after that. Count on from the final day and you land right at the region's big spring races:

The key is not to overdo it. In a marathon plan, the 10 and 15 km are quality sessions, not races you taper for all week. And the half marathon on 13 March is a good test of whether your goal pace for an April marathon is realistic. Looking for more spring half marathons? See our guide to spring half marathons in the Rhineland. The short series is the right entry point if you're planning your first 10 km race or first half marathon in spring. It ends with exactly the distance you'll need.

A word on the weather: the race days fall in the coldest weeks of the year, but the afternoon starts (14:00 and 15:00) are at the warmest time of day, so there's no need to freeze. What to wear for winter runs is covered in our article on running in winter.

A classic of the Ruhr area

ASV Duisburg has been running the series since 1986 (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, registration). The press coverage collected on the organizer's site gives a sense of its size: for the 39th edition in 2024, the City of Duisburg's sports blog reported 4,800 participants. For the 2025 anniversary edition, laufreport.de reported a good 5,600 entries for the real and virtual series combined and 3,348 finishers on the first day alone (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, press). The organizer hasn't published figures for the 2026 edition on its site.

Through the winter with your running group

The series is made for running groups. The team ranking rewards clubs and teams, the group entry saves individual bookings, and the race days give group training a fixed structure from January to March (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations and FAQ). For parents, there's childcare in the stadium's main building on all three days; you can register your child at the information desk from 12:00. Kids race in the youth series, in the Duisburg schools' race on 13 February and in the roughly 400 m toddlers' race on 13 March (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, FAQ).

You can find a group to pull you through January and February on our page for running groups (Lauftreffs) and run clubs in Duisburg. All the city's other races, from the Angerlauf in January to the Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon in May, are on our page for races in Duisburg. If you want to start the winter with a short event in early January, see our guide to New Year's runs 2027.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is the Duisburg winter running series 2027?
The 42nd ASV Duisburg Winterlaufserie takes place on three Saturdays: 23 January, 13 February and 13 March 2027. The short series starts at 14:00, the long series at 15:00 (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations).
Which distances are there?
The short series covers 5, 7.5 and 10 km, the long series 10 km, 15 km and a half marathon (21.1 km). There's also a youth series, a schools' race on 13 February and a toddlers' race on 13 March (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations).
How much does it cost?
Adults pay €60 to €90 for all three days depending on the entry date: €70 in October, €75 in November, €80 until 24 December 2026, then €90. Juniors born 2008 or later pay €40 (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations).
What if I miss a race day?
You can make up the race virtually a week later, Friday to Sunday, and still become a finisher. From then on, though, you're ranked in the virtual rather than the real series (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, FAQ).
Can I cancel my entry?
No. Entries are binding and fees aren't refunded. Until 24 December 2026 you can transfer your place to someone else via the change link (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, race regulations).
Are there pacers in the half marathon?
Yes. Pacers with flags run for target times of 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30 and 2:45 hours. The finish closes at 17:45, 2:45 hours after the start (source: asv-winterlaufserie.de, FAQ and race regulations).

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