The Nationalparklauf (National Park Run) takes runners and Nordic walkers across beaches and forest floors. For 10 km or a half marathon at 21 km, you can put your fitness to the test whilst enjoying the unspoilt natural landscape of the National Park Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft.

Every year in early autumn, the start of the Nationalparklauf is sounded on Prerow’s North Beach. This fast-paced run covers 10 km through some wonderful natural landscapes. The first 400 metres run along the beach, then on somewhat firmer terrain for 4 km along the lighthouse path to a natural waterhole in the national park. The route then loops back towards town and, as you near the finish line, you’ll pass some of the striking old houses in Villenstraße as you make your way to the former sea rescue station on the dike. You’ll have to push to complete the last kilometres as you cross the western pier and then come back to the beach where you started. Transponders provide professional timekeeping down to the final second.

15 minutes after the runners set off, it’s time for the Nordic walkers to start their race. They, too, walking alternately through sea and forest air, always breathing in evenly so that they don’t get any cramps. If 10 kilometres is not enough of a challenge, you can always sign for the half marathon (21 km). The kids, meanwhile, can show what they’ve got with the 1 km Bambini run. Who knows maybe they’ll be a champion marathon runner someday.