Full effort in the heat: the Sports Centre was in full swing at the Kleeblattlauf

The ‘Heat Sheriff’ had his work cut out for him with temperatures exceeding 31°. Nevertheless, most of the runners kept their cool. Photo: University of Graz/Angele

On 19 June 2026, 2,000 runners and hundreds of supporters made their way to the Rosenhain for a sporting end-of-term event.

With temperatures of 31° in the shade, the starting gun was fired for the 41st Kleeblattlauf. In keeping with the heat, there were once again some original participants in swimming trunks, carrying surfboards or dressed up as paddling pools. The Smurfs and a ‘cucumber quartet’ even threw themselves into the fray in sweat-inducing outfits. The percussion group Grazamba set the rhythm in their usual style, whilst Uwe Holli acted as compère.

The first relay team crossed the finish line after just 36 minutes and 36 seconds; a quarter of the Kleeblatt runners managed a time under 50 minutes. Click here for the results.

©Uni Graz/Angele

Uni and Med Uni set a brisk pace as a team: start number 1, featuring Klemens Fellner, Lisa Ofner-Ziegenfuss, Peter Riedler and Erwin Petek. All photos: University of Graz/Angele

©Uni Graz/Angele

Supposedly many people would have liked to have had wings. The fairies clearly had the upper hand as they ran across Rosenhain

©Uni Graz/Angele

The lifeguards were able to concentrate on the race without being called away on duty.

©Uni Graz/Angele

Fresh, crisp, summery: the cucumbers finished the race bursting with juice.

Dagmar Eklaude

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