Lubmin Walking Day

One of the first major walking events on the Baltic Sea was launched in 2001. What began as a rather joking remark during a visit by cross-country skiing legend Dieter Baumann was taken seriously soon afterwards by Heidrun Moritz, owner of the Hotel Seebrücke: the first Walking Day was held in September 2002 in the Seaside Resort of Lubmin—as Germany’s central event under the patronage of the German Athletics Association.

In the years that followed, other prominent athletes lent their support. They included Olympic race-walking champion Hartwig Gauder, one of the “founding fathers” of Nordic walking in Germany, as well as Olympic decathlon champion Christian Schenk, Olympic cross-country skiing silver medallist Hansjörg Kunze and world champion Marita Koch.

The Walking Day is now organised by Hotel Seebrücke with the support of the municipality and has become a highlight of the third weekend in September. Participants get to know one another on Friday evening at the welcome event before setting off on Saturday along the various routes through Lubmin’s coastal forest. A wide-ranging programme of activities is organised for spectators and accompanying guests.

Walking Day 2008, 19–21 September:
19 September:
6.00 pm: Opening, dinner, show dancing and torchlight walk

20 September:
7.30 am Morning walk
8.00 am Breakfast
10.30 am Lecture on Kneipp and walking
12.00 pm: Salad buffet and registration
1.00 pm: Start of the 5, 10 and 15 km walks and half marathon (entry fee: €9)
A Western-style wagon takes participants back to their accommodation for a massage
3.00 pm Accordion concert
6.00 pm Dinner, followed by an evening of entertainment

On Saturday and Sunday, the tall ship “Königin Wilhelmina” is available for short trips out to sea.