Schuster Tegernseelauf Training Plan & Preparation

Course & Elevation

On the half-marathon distance, the Schuster Tegernseelauf runs one full lap around Lake Tegernsee. Start and finish now sit at Gut Kaltenbrunn near Gmund on the northern shore, and from there the route forms a closed loop along both sides of the lake, passing through the lakeside towns. Across the 21.2 kilometres only around 130 metres of climbing accumulate, with the profile staying between roughly 730 and 770 metres above sea level throughout. There are no real climbs; the course is gently rolling, with short counter-rises where it switches shores and an otherwise flat, fast character. Start and finish lie at practically the same elevation.

The loop is regarded as one of the most scenic half-marathon courses in Germany and is at the same time one of the country's largest half marathons away from the big cities: in 2025 more than 4,100 runners finished the half marathon, and the race, like the parallel 10-kilometre run, was sold out. Held every September since the early 2000s, it has become a fixture, framed by the mountains around the lake and carried by spectators through the village sections. If you are after a flat, honest and atmospheric half-marathon course for a strong time, the conditions here are close to ideal.

Pacing Strategy

Almost two thirds of the course is flat, so most of the race can be run fast. The key is to keep the pace even and controlled over the first sixteen kilometres, even though the flat lakeside course invites you to speed up.

That is where the trap sits: the two decisive climbs come late. At kilometre 16.9 and again at kilometre 19.35 the road rises for a good half-kilometre at around 3.5 percent — harmless in isolation, but on tired legs in the finale the point where many crack. Overrun the flat kilometres before and you lose your target time right there.

Pace the race so that in the last five kilometres you can still push actively over the two ramps instead of merely surviving them. On the flat sections run at a steady goal-race pace; on the short climbs keep your cadence high and shorten your stride. The race is decided over the final four kilometres around those two late climbs.

12-Week Preparation

Depending on your level, the Tegernsee half marathon asks for roughly 75 minutes to two and a half hours of effort, almost entirely aerobic. On a loop this flat the result comes down not to the elevation profile but to your aerobic threshold, pacing sense and a clean race plan. The effort is even: there are no long climbs to hide on or recover over, and most kilometres run through without any change of rhythm.

Build the preparation on long runs progressing towards 18 to 22 kilometres, supported by threshold and tempo sessions at your goal half-marathon pace. Because the course is flat and fast, run most of this quality work on level terrain and deliberately drill even kilometre splits. The short counter-rises where the route switches shores are easily rehearsed with a few relaxed pace changes in training, so they do not break your rhythm on race day.

The race is decided by pacing discipline in the first half. The fast course and the lake scenery tempt a too-eager start that is repaid over the closing kilometres. Set your goal pace in advance, run the opening kilometres deliberately controlled, and aim for even or slightly negative splits. Rehearse your fuelling in the long runs, and use the September date: your hardest block falls in high summer, so schedule key sessions for the cooler morning hours.