The Teufelsberg Challenges for the 34th Time on July 5

28/06/2023

The route signals are in place, the temperatures are summery and the running shoes are laced up. Everything is prepared for this year's Lousberglauf. On July 5, 2023, 2,000 runners are once again eagerly awaiting the starting signal for the 5,555-meter course across the Lousberg.
Award ceremony group picture Copyright: © Andreas Steindl

The Aachen cult event

To have taken part in the Lousberglauf once is an absolute must for many Aachen students before they complete their studies. The 5,555-meter circuit around Aachen's Teufelsberg, with its steep hills and slopes, holds a challenge even for experienced runners. The Lousberglauf is one of the best-known events of the Hochschulsportzentrum (HSZ) and the city of Aachen.

Known beyond the university sports

The Lousberglauf is also popular and well-known beyond the universities. Numerous running enthusiasts from Aachen and the region take up the challenge on Aachen's Teufelsberg. Among them are also top athletes. The exciting finale of the NRW Unilauf Cup also takes place during the Lousberglauf.

Course records

This makes it exciting on the course every year. Only last year Esther Jacobitz set a new course record in the women's category. She ran the course in a record time of 18 minutes and 40 seconds. In the men's race, Hamid Maaziz has held the record since 2012 with a time of 16 minutes and 42 seconds. So it remains exciting to see if the record can be broken again this year.

Volunteer help from the residential towers

Elementary in the planning are the residents of the towers. In the 1980s, the Lousberglauf was founded as a student initiative of the Rütscher Straße residential towers. Since then, the event has grown and become the cult event it is today. Every year, the residents of the towers energetically help out as volunteers, thus enabling the event to run smoothly. Students who do not live in the towers also volunteer.

Title sponsor STAWAG

The Lousberglauf has been supported by STAWAG for many years. STAWAG provides refreshments at the finish line in the form of water and fruit for the runners. A separate STAWAG running team also takes to the starting line.

The end of the summer semester

The Lousberglauf is the last event of the HSZ in the summer semester. After the summer break, the spectacular events of the university sports continue in the fall. Among other things, the RWTH Gala Ball will take place again for the first time since Corona. In addition, cult events such as the Ice Hockey Uni Cup and the Snowevents are back.

More information can be found on the event website.