Guest Author - Karyn Johnson

"Written By: Guest Author Karyn Johnson"

My husband and I are stationed in Germany right now, and one of the best ways we've found to see Europe and meet new people is through volksmarching. We're members of an international volksmarching club that is based in the Netherlands, right across the border from where we live. Volksmarching is now an internationally recognized sport, but it originated in Germany, and the volksmarching events in Germany are usually pretty big. The last one we went to, in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, had live music, plenty of beer, German food, and hundreds of people participating from all over Europe. It really is a great way to explore new places and make new friends.

Volksmarching was born in the 1960's, after a sports club in Bobingen organized a people's run. Several complained about the fact that it was a timed event, giving an unfair advantage to the younger and fitter participants. Volksmarching was formed to meet the needs for a community event that required no special level of fitness and incorporated all ages. By the end of the 1960's the IVV (International Federation of Popular Sports) was formed, covering all volkssports: walking, biking, swimming and cross-country skiing. Of these, volksmarching is the most popular.

Most volksmarches offer different walks of various lengths - anywhere from 5 kilometers to 50 kilometers and everywhere in between - so you can choose the length of route that you're comfortable walking. It is not a timed event either, so you can walk at your leisure (often, we find ourselves visiting museums or window shopping along the route). There is usually a control point every few kilometers where you can rest and grab a sandwich and a beer. At the end (which is generally where you also begin), you can get a souvenir stamp for your walking booklet or card and perhaps a souvenir, which generally costs a bit extra. For the Rothenburg walk, we got a souvenir beer mug with an image of Rothenburg's town hall on it. There are also various patches and pins you can earn.

You can generally participate in a walk by reporting at the start hall and paying a small fee. If you are new to volksmarching, and especially if you have children, it's recommended that you choose one of the shorter walks, either the 5 or 10 kilometer. You will get a start card, which will insure you during the walk, in the unlikely event that you get injured. Each person participating in the walk must have their own start card. Before you start the walk, go to the "Startstempel" table (if there is one) and get your card stamped. The walking paths are marked; generally, arrows in different colors (each color representing a different distance for the walk) denote the path. Much of the path for all distances will be the same, but after a few kilometers, you may see some walkers split off from the pack if they are going a different distance. Also, be prepared for all types of weather, especially in Germany, where it can change in a matter of minutes. Good walking shoes, and extra layers and raingear packed in a backpack, are pretty much the only equipment you will need. Don't forget water!

After the walk, you can relax with your fellow walkers, enjoying refreshments and entertainment. The start hall, where each walk begins and ends, is generally a very lively place, and since people bring their dogs on the walks as well, it's a generally a good way to break the ice and start conversations. Best of all, you will end the day with wonderful memories of all the sights you saw along the way, and hopefully a new friendship or two. Volksmarching is a great way to connect with the local culture, and get some exercise while you're at it.

To participate in a volksmarch, it helps if you are already a member of an IVV-sponsored club. For more information, visit:

US - American Volkssport Association
Canada - Canadian Volkssport Federation
UK - British Walking Federation
International Federation of Popular Sports - IVV homepage