Enjoy the peace of nature, the clean forest air and stay to your rhythm!
Start and finish are in the Erlangen green belt "Bachgraben" (protected landscape), located between the eastern housing area Erlangen-Bruck and the commercial area at the "research center" or future "Siemens Campus". 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 the enjoy/ fitness jogger and the competitive runner, too, because it is lovely, varied and flat.
Start
The start just in front of the church at the beginning of the broad soft oak tree alley and parallel on the meadow, and it is grouped according to expected performance. Thus off you go w/o problems! At first eastwards (at left hand the new playground area and the outdoor daycare facility for children "Mooswichtel", 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 are a tree nursery and a (town-owned) biotope 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 framed by broadleaf trees until the run route turns to the right at the wayside cross (Marterl) "Maulaufreißer" into the Bierweg or at 2nd/3rd lap into the old trimming path (slippery and rooty!!) in eastern direction.
the modified first lap
The running route is described above till the sideline of the Bierweg (at the Marterl "Maulaufreißer"). Here the route turns to the right into the Bierweg (also feeded with gravel) only in lap one. In the first part of the Bierweg the first km is already completed.
km 2
It continues until crossing with Franzosenweg, where the route turns to the right. The Franzosenweg is the main connection between Erlangen South and Tennenlohe in 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 former old nature trail is feeded with gravel too to prevent from being slippery. This forest way slightly rises 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) comes from left into the route. Just after this side way a little hump of the way has to be overcome with a swing. The Bierweg (also feeded with gravel) runs straightly ahead passing by the forest football ground (at right) - here the fourth km is "done" - crossing the Franzosenweg (take care of crossing bicyclists!!) and still straight ahead passing a playground 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 slightly declines giving the next 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 Sivantos GmbH (former Siemens audiology) and subsequently the new buildings of AREVA. The landscape opens, the sun warms up and the finish (at the church tower) can be seen from a distance. Passing by the biotope and the tree nursery at left hand, through a short hollow way, encircled by a haffthorn hedge from the left. Behind the new playground area the route turns left over the small Bachgraben bridge directly to the church into the finish - or passing by left into the second or third 5 km lap. Immediately at the speakers stand is the gathering place for the second relay runner.
distance marks
The 500 m board is marked in breast height, km 1 up to km 4 with the traditional iron boards. The last 500 Meter begin outside the forest in the "Bachgraben" in front of the second seat. You may not 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: Protect and enjoy the peace of nature, the clean forest air and stay to your rhythm!
Have much fun!