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Volksmarching is an excellent way to explore distant, and not so distant, areas in your region. These events occur every weekend in historic towns, the lush countryside or in a village close to home.
A volksmarch is a planned walk through villages, forests, and fields. The goal of volksmarching is to allow everyone an opportunity to participate in a noncompetitive sporting event, with no specified time limits, where everyone who completes the prescribed walking course is a winner. These events were designed to allow equal participation for people regardless of age, gender and/or physical capabilities. Sometimes the walks are followed by a social gathering with music and reasonably priced food and drinks.
When you first start volksmarching, it is strongly recommended that you begin with the minimum course. Your physical capabilities, the terrain and climate create the need for caution until you are comfortable with the activity. The objective of the Internationale Volkssportverband (IVV) is to have all walkers experience the joys of the sport without incurring any injuries and to further peace and understanding between nations by fostering international friendships through popular sports such as walking, bicycling, swimming, cross country skiing, skating, etc.
Volkmarches are usually organized, carefree events. Trails in Germany are a minimum of 10 kilometers (approximately 6 miles) in distance with a second trail usually measuring 20 kilometers in length. Unlike Germany, the Benelux countries tend to offer a more varied set of distances to walk. They will often provide 5 kilometer (about 3 miles) and 15 kilometer (about 9 miles) courses in addition to the standard 10 and 20 kilometer routes. Since September 1999, the IVV officially recognizes and awards distances of 5 kilometers and greater.
Walks in most countries begin in the same manner. Though not mandatory, participants should purchase a startcard before walking the selected course. Your startcard will be stamped providing you with official IVV credit for the walk, but more importantly it provides insurance protection should you suffer an injury along the trail. Generally two types of startcards are offered, one with an award and the other without. These awards vary as much as the locations. German volksmarching awards are often badges, miniature steins, and medallions while Italian awards can be wine or bags of pasta. Once you arrive at the course starting point, startcards can be purchased at one of several possible tables. For people who pre-registered and prepaid for their startcard, go to the Pre-registration table to pickup your startcard. If you belong to a walking club that has submitted a group registration for the event, go to the Group Registration table and purchase your startcard. At times a separate Foreign Group Registration table is offered along with the usual Group Registration table. If you do not belong to a walking club that has submitted a group registration or have not prepaid, go to the Late Registration table to purchase a startcard.
After you have purchased a startcard, it is time to hit the trails. Trails are marked in a variety of ways, all easy to follow. The most common methods are an arrow drawn on the ground, brightly colored tape or cloth tied around a tree, pole, fence post, etc., or signs made of metal, plastic, wood or paper. Somewhere within or near the starting point, the host club will indicate how to distinguish between the various trail lengths often using different color markers or denoting the distance on the markers. Please note these differences as it makes walking the trail less complicated if the trails are initially or eventually combined and separated. Accidentally walking the wrong trail can be both frustrating and tiring. If you are unsure that you are on the proper course, ask another walker for assistance. Host clubs make every possible effort to ensure that the trail is clearly and safely marked. As there is no time limit to complete the trail, except the end of day closure of the event, take your time and enjoy the scenery and experience.
Host clubs operate control points on each trail. Generally, a control point will be located every 5 to 6 kilometers along the trail. At the control point, each walker should personally present his or her startcard for stamping prior to continuing on the trail. At times, host clubs will set up food and drink concessions and seats or space for walkers to take a break are normally available at the control points. As a general rule, emergency First Aid along with glucose tablets or refreshments such as lemon flavored tea is provided free of charge for the walkers at both the starting point and at each control point.
There are numerous ways to obtain information about upcoming volksmarches. The Stars and Stripes Europe edition prints upcoming walks in its Travel section every Thursday. Information can also be obtained by calling local clubs or by visiting the following web sites. The Internationale Volkssportverband web site provides a wealth of information including FAQs, a calendar of events, guidelines, participating country details and links. The American Volksport Association web site lists upcoming walks being offered throughout Europe. It also has links to other international walking clubs, an informative page explaining German signs commonly found on trails and a link to the Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club. The Heidelberg International Wandering Club offers information about upcoming walks, a link to the German Volksport web site (in German only) and email addresses to the Ramstein Roadrunners, Kaiserslautern Sunny Coyotes Volksmarching Club, and Bad Kreuznach American Wandering Club. The Aviano Roadrunners website provides information on upcoming events and explains the differences between volkmarching in Germany and Italy. The AFNorth Tri Border Walking Club web site provides information about walks in the Benelux countries.
With such a unique way available to experience a foreign country, do not pass on the chance to get out there, put on your walking shoes and hit the trails.
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