Run clubs & running groups in Essen

16 run clubs and running groups in Essen, 8 of them with fixed weekly times – for every pace. Here it is about the company, not the clock. Come alone, run along, and stay for a coffee.

Looking for a run club in Essen?

  • Essen runs a lot by the water: its 16 running groups and run clubs head out at Baldeneysee, in Grugapark and in the shady Stadtwald.
  • A lakeside tradition: the Westenergie Marathon „Rund um den Baldeneysee“ was held for the 63rd time in 2025 – the lake loop is about 14 to 15 km.
  • Getting started in Essen? A Tuesday is easiest – it's the most popular running day. A few groups also head out at the weekend.

16 running groups in Essen on We Up

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EVENTS ALL YEAR

Running Events in Essen 2026/27

The big dates of the year at a glance.

Running Events in Essen 2026/27: Marathon at the Baldeneysee, Firmenlauf and Welterbelauf

  • The E.ON Firmenlauf Essen is the city's biggest running event: according to the organizer, 16,000 people from 616 companies took part in 2026, and the 17th edition takes place on 9 June 2027.
  • The Marathon around the Baldeneysee has existed since 1963; the 64th edition was on 11 October 2026, and the 2027 date is still to be announced.
  • At the Welterbelauf Zollverein on 18 September 2027, the 10 km race is capped at 600 starters, and registration is already open.

See all running events 2026

Dates and sources in the article · As of 18 October 2026

MORE ABOUT RUNNING IN ESSEN

Essen surprises a lot of people: the former coal city is green today, and the local favorite is running by the water. We Up brings together the city's running groups, run clubs, and meetups in one place — from the flat, beginner-friendly lake loop to the ambitious crew that circles Lake Baldeney.

The star route is Lake Baldeney in the south: the roughly 14 to 15-kilometer lake loop, often started at Seaside Beach on the north shore, is the classic for long runs and marathon training. If you prefer something shorter, loop through Grugapark or the shady Essen city forest (Stadtwald), circle the flat Niederfeldsee in Altendorf, or follow the Ruhr towpath near Werden. For elevation and a panoramic view, head up to the Schurenbachhalde, home to the Bramme sculpture overlooking the Ruhr region.

Groups meet in almost every neighborhood — in Rüttenscheid, Rellinghausen, Bergerhausen, the Stadtwald, or down in Werden. Every meetup tells you in advance when it starts, where to meet, and what pace to expect. A good share of the groups are free and explicitly aimed at beginners. Just how much tradition runs through Lake Baldeney shows in the Westenergie Marathon "Rund um den Baldeneysee," which in 2025 had more marathon finishers than in the past ten years.

There's always someone out at Lake Baldeney — find your group, secure your spot for the next event, and join in. The best part of running in Essen is the loop around Lake Baldeney with people by your side who share your goal — and the shared cool-down afterward. Join in — nobody likes running alone by the lake.

Running in Essen — good to know

Is this suitable for beginners too?

Running groups in Essen suit beginners too: many are explicitly beginner-friendly and deliberately run slowly, often with walk breaks. No experience is needed, just the will to start.

Which running groups meet at the weekend in Essen?

5 running groups in Essen meet regularly on Saturdays or Sundays, for example Bunert Lauftreff (Laufsport Bunert Essen), Lustige Schleicher Essen, strive. and TC Kray 1892 e.V. - Lauftreff. All running groups with day and time are in the list on this page.

On which days do the groups run in Essen?

Of the 8 running groups in Essen with a fixed weekday, most run on Tuesdays (4), Thursdays (3) and Sundays (3). 5 of these running groups meet at the weekend.

General questions, for example whether you can come alone or what a run club costs: Go to the FAQ

Keep running around Essen

Last updated 18 October 2026

Sources: de.wikipedia.org · essen.de · offguide.de · coolibri.de · westenergie-marathon.de · westenergie-marathon.de · my.raceresult.com · team-essen99.de