Dortmunder Friedenslauf
The Lowdown
The Dortmunder Friedenslauf ("Dortmund Peace Run") is an annual road race held on Whit Monday in the Kirchlinde district of Dortmund, Germany, organized by TSV 1889 Kirchlinde e.V., one of the city's oldest sports clubs. First staged more than three decades ago, the event traditionally opens the neighborhood's Kirchlinder Woche festival week and has grown into one of west Dortmund's largest community races, drawing a record 950 participants across all distances at the 2026 edition. The event centers on a half marathon that loops twice through the wooded Rahmer Wald, alongside a 10K run and 10K Nordic walking that cover the forest once, a 5K run and a 5K walking option, a 1.2K school run, and a roughly 300-meter Bambini dash for the youngest runners. All races start and finish at the Vereinszentrum Kochschule on Westerwikstrasse in Kirchlinde, with the course mixing paved roads and gravel forest paths and a climbing stretch back up Westerwikstrasse near the finish. Every finisher receives a medal, and the afternoon closes with live music, food, and other festivities at the finish area. The 2026 edition (the 30th) took place May 25, 2026; the next edition, the 31st Dortmunder Friedenslauf, is projected for Whit Monday, May 17, 2027, following the event's annual Whit Monday cadence.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Intimate field
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Moderate spectator support
Vereinszentrum Kochschule (start/finish, Westerwikstrasse, Kirchlinde)
Rahmer Wald forest
Kirchlinde town center
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
DE
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Open to all ages; distance-specific minimum ages apply based on birth year (from Bambini for the youngest children up to the half marathon for older teens and adults)
Required Documents
- Race bib with electronic timing chip (provided at packet pickup)
Entry Methods
- Online registration via the official TSV 1889 Kirchlinde website (closes shortly before each race start once open); Bambini accepted on-site race day
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Not published by the organizer as of research; contact TSV 1889 Kirchlinde e.V. directly for refund/deferral policy
Organized by TSV 1889 Kirchlinde e.V., one of Dortmund's oldest sports clubs (130+ year history)
Traditionally kicks off the Kirchlinder Woche neighborhood festival week
2026 edition (the 30th) drew a record 950 participants, the club's stated goal being four-digit participation
Electronic chip timing; finisher medals for all participants
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