This year, the Felsenkirche Stair Run once again impressively demonstrated why it has long since become a fixture in Idar-Oberstein. The event uniquely combines athletic challenge, community, and volunteerism.
For Mayor Frank Frühauf, the dedication of the organizers, Rainer and Ilonka Hagner of the Hagner Marathon Team, deserves special mention. With great personal commitment and a keen eye for detail, the two, together with their team, ensured that everything ran smoothly. “The Felsenkirche Stair Run thrives on the dedication of the people who organize and support it. Rainer and Ilonka Hagner have been doing outstanding volunteer work here for years and have created an event that brings people together far beyond the actual athletic competition,” said Frühauf, paying tribute to the organizers. He then gave the starting signal for the short course, while District Administrator Miroslaw Kowalski sent the runners off on the long course.
From an athletic standpoint, the race once again pushed the participants to their limits. The two challenging courses took runners up numerous flights of stairs and hills around Oberstein Castle. On the short course, Max Kull of SV Edelweiß came out on top with a time of 23:35.09 minutes. The fastest woman was Stefanie Lang from the Hagner Marathon Team, finishing in 32:23.59 minutes. On the long course, Martin Mayer won with an impressive time of 35:17.05 minutes, while Lisa Lang from ITV took the women’s title in 42:46.64 minutes.
The firefighters from Fire Station 1 and the Herrstein-Rhaunen Fire Department provided a special highlight. Dressed in full gear, wearing breathing masks, and carrying heavy equipment, they made their way up the stairs to the castle. The exercise served as training and preparation for the Oberstdorf Ski Jump Run.
In addition to the athletic competition, the event once again impressed with its unique character: At the finish line, every runner received a medal presented by Vivian Heidrich, the German Gemstone Queen. The course itself wound through the stunning panoramic scenery of the Schlossberg, and the event concluded with a raffle featuring prizes worth four-figure sums. In addition, host Heinz Hofmann provided top-notch entertainment with his usual easygoing and knowledgeable style.
The Felsenkirche Stair Run thus remains a successful example of how volunteer efforts and regional supporters can come together to create a special event for the city and its guests. Organizers Rainer and Ilonka Hagner are particularly proud of this. “Without our wonderful team of volunteers and our long-standing sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to pull off this event.”