When you're visiting family and there's a race on your doorstep, you simply can't say no as a runner.
Around the Run
When you’re visiting relatives in Castrop-Rauxel and there happens to be a small race taking place practically right outside the door, it’s hard to resist joining in. That’s exactly what happened to me when I discovered the 43rd Ickerner Volkslauf during a family visit. I thought, “Why not?” It’s always a great opportunity to combine a family trip with a run, especially when the race starts so close by.
Event and Organization
The Ickerner Volkslauf was one of those small, but lovingly organized races run by the local sports club. The friendly and familiar atmosphere that you find at these kinds of events is always something special. You can really feel the passion and dedication the organizers put into the race, and it makes the experience so enjoyable. The club members gave their all to ensure the event went smoothly, and they succeeded brilliantly. A big thank you to the organizing team!
Sadly, I learned that this race is no longer held. Like many smaller events, it suffered from a lack of volunteers, and the number of participants decreased over time. It’s really unfortunate because events like these have such a warm, close-knit feeling that’s often missing from the larger, more commercial races.
The Course
The course itself was very pleasant. The race began on the sports field, and after just a few meters, you were already past the houses and running through lovely stretches of forest and fields. A highlight was the section along the Dortmund-Ems Canal, which offered peaceful, scenic views—perfect for a relaxed weekend run.
What I particularly liked about the course was that it didn’t have any significant hills. This allowed me to pick up the pace a bit during the 10 km race without overexerting myself. It was an ideal combination of beautiful nature and a manageable challenge, which is exactly what I enjoy most about these smaller runs.
Conclusion
The Ickerner Volkslauf was an ideal event that you could join even on a whim if you happened to be in the area. The course was beautiful, with its flat terrain offering the chance to push the pace a bit more. For a weekend race, it was the perfect way to start the day with some exercise and then look forward to the rest of the day. My wife even made it onto the podium, finishing in 3rd place, which was the icing on the cake for a fantastic race experience.
