Hermannslauf: Race to a City That Doesn't Exist

Can you finish a race in a city that allegedly doesn't exist? I took on the 54th edition of the legendary Hermannslauf: a 31.1km trek through the Teutoburg Forest. Starting at the feet of 'Herman the German', I made the ultimate rookie mistake: I let gravity take the wheel. Join me as I navigate deep sand, 20% gradients, a bridge built for tanks, and the infamous Lämershagener stairs. Watch as my 'sub-4:00 pace confidence' quickly turns into a desperate struggle for breath as the elevation begins to bite back. In this video: The history of the Herman the German statue. The "Bielefeld Conspiracy" and where we are actually running. Why you should never trust a downhill start. Avoiding the "sandy traps" of the forest. The moment I almost collapsed at the finish line. Did I hit my 2:15 goal, or did the 500m of climbing claim another victim? If you enjoyed the suffering, hit Subscribe for more race challenges, and drop a comment below with the hardest trail race you've ever completed! Follow me on socials: 🏃🏻 Strava:   / strava   📸 Instagram:   / racetosubthree   📹 Tiktok:   / racetosubthree   0:00 Intro 1:31 The Sand Trap 2:37 The Climbing Begins 3:03 What Goes Up, Must Come Down 3:29 The Wall of Sound 4:02 Paper Cups 4:31 The Kammweg Climb 4:57 The Conspiracy Theory 5:18 Half Way 5:59 The Steps... 6:35 The Fall 7:20 The Finish 7:46 The Debrief