Enjoy the peace of nature, the clean forest air and stay to your rhythm!
Start and finish are in the Erlangen green belt "Bachgraben", located between the eastern housing area Erlangen-Bruck and the northern commercial area at the research center. The running route leads through the nature reserve and partly through the European bird sanctuary "Brucker Lache". It is a scenic lap and good to run on for enjoy/ fitness jogger and competitive runner because it is lovely, varied and flat.
Start
The start is just in front of the church at the beginning of the broad oak tree alley. Thus off you go! At first eastwards on the short alley with its soft ground (at left hand the football area, at right hand the schoolyard of the primary school "Brucker Lache") then straight ahead until this way enters the town forest "Brucker Lache" as a forest way. Here at left hand is the tree nursery and at right hand (southern direction) the children adventure play ground between pines being close together. Thus, ice and snow could stay somewhat longer on this part.
km 1
The first 500 m are completed at the end of the way that imperceptibly slightly rises until it turns to the left into the main bicycle forest way between Erlangen-Bruck and Erlangen south. This way is winding across the nature reserve, crossing the mill stream, then feeded with gravel, enframed by broadleaf trees until the run route turns to the right at the wayside cross (Marterl) "Maulaufreißer" into the old trimming path (slippery and rooty !!) in eastern direction. After the first part of the trimming path the first km is already completed.
km 2
It continues until the crossing trimming path/ Franzosenweg, where the route turns to the right. The Franzosenweg is the main connection between Erlangen South and Tennenlohe in the the Brucker Lache, which runs straightaway in north-south direction. (In the winter, here, an existing snow layer can partly be compressed to ice.) The route continues in southern direction (towards Tennenlohe) to the Wald-Erlebniszentrum [= forest experience center]. However, the slightly rising route turns to the left before (at a wooden seat with table) into the Zigeunerweg. Just at the crossing Franzosenweg/ Zigeunerweg the second km is completed.
km 3
Here the forest way is also feeded with gravel. This way (old nature trail) is also slightly rising and thus it is just the "hardest" part of this route. After some windings the Zigeunerweg soon hits the good paved Lachweg and the route turns to left. Here, recovering is possible, because the Lachweg (in parallel to the B4) slightly declines in northern direction. After some windings and just prior to the junction of the Höflich-Weg (from left) the third km is completed. Now you can let "roll it down".
km 4
This is the fastest km of the run route (so keep some grains!!) because it still declines until the route turns to the left at the crossing with the Bierweg. Shortly before the Bierweg, the eastern part of the trimming path (with coast hill) is discharged from left into the route and a little hump of the way has to be overcome with a swing. The Bierweg (also feeded with gravel) runs also straightly ahead passing by the forest football ground (at right) - here the fourth km is "done" - crossing the Franzosenweg (take care of bicyclists!!) and goes just straight ahead passing a play ground with table tennis (at right).
km 5 and finish
It isn't far to go to the forest memorial stone (called Marterl) "Maulaufreißer" now, on our route directly ahead. The route sidelines this stone to the right, still going straight ahead. This way (also feeded with gravel) slightly declines giving the possibility to relax. The way opens out into the way, that soon leads along the former southern fence of the Siemens research center (direction West), outside the forest. At the right hand are the Siemens audiology and subsequently the new buildings of AREVA NP. The landscape opens, the sun warms up and the finish (at the church tower) can be seen from a distance. Passing by the tree nursery at left hand, through a short hollow way, encircled by a haffthorn hedge from the left. Behind the football area the route turns left over the small Bachgraben bridge directly to the church into the finish - or to the left, if the second or third 5 km lap still has to be done. Immediately behind the bridge is at left hand the gathering place for the second relay runner.
the modified first lap
The start is in the Anschützstraße on behalf of a mass start due to many participants, utilizing the whole width (nearly 15 m). This enables an unhindered starting going (eastern direction) into the forest in the same way as described above till the sideline of the Höflich-Weg (prior to the Marterl "Maulaufreißer"). Already here the route turns to the right into this way (also feeded with gravel). Soon km 1 is completed. Some meters ahead (right hand) is the Otto-Höflich oak (with an information panel): the name of this forest path is from a former forest ranger. Behind another left turn and then straight ahead the Höflich-Weg crosses the Franzosenweg; here the route turns right. The lap continues as described above (km 2, second sentence).
distance marks
The 500 m board is marked in breast height, km 1 up to km 4 with iron boards. The last 500 Meter begin outside the forest in the "Bachgraben" in front of the second seat. You don't notice it because then you are dragged to the finish, and the competitor is already locked. Again passing by the tree nursery and the haffthorn hedge, to the left cross the bridge into the finish at the church - done!
Respect also during the cool down run: Enjoy the peace of nature, the clean forest air and stay to your rhythm!
have much fun!