Copenhagen Sunday 14th SEPTEMBER 2025
Source: https://cphhalf.dk/en/ and https://www.instagram.com/cphhalf/
The Copenhagen Half Marathon (CPH Half) is a relatively new but highly successful road race that has quickly established itself as a premier event on the international running calendar. Its history is marked by a rapid rise to prominence, fueled by its fast course and a commitment to attracting top-tier elite runners.
Origins and Inaugural Event
The roots of the Copenhagen Half Marathon can be traced back to the 2014 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, which were hosted in Copenhagen. The event’s success, which saw over 30,000 participants including both elite and public runners, demonstrated the city’s potential as a major running destination. The positive reception of the championship race led to the decision to create an annual half marathon event.
The Copenhagen Half Marathon was officially established in 2015. The debut edition was an immediate success, attracting nearly 20,000 runners. The race organizers, a collaboration between the Danish Athletics Federation, Sparta Athletics & Exercise, and the City of Copenhagen, were focused on creating a world-class event. Even before the first race, it was awarded the International Athletics Federation’s Road Race Bronze Label.
A Record-Breaking Course
The CPH Half is renowned for its flat and fast course, which winds through the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods and past iconic landmarks. This design has made it a favorite for elite runners and has led to a series of impressive performances and record-breaking times.
- 2017: Abraham Cheroben of Bahrain set a new course record with a time of 58:40.
- 2018: Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands set a new European record for women with a time of 1:05:15.
- 2019: Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya made history by setting a new world record with a time of 58:01. This performance solidified the CPH Half’s reputation as one of the fastest half marathon courses in the world.
Rapid Growth and Accolades
The CPH Half’s reputation grew quickly in its early years.
- 2016: It became the first race in the Nordic region to be awarded the IAAF Road Race Silver Label.
- 2017: It achieved the prestigious IAAF Gold Label status, an honor reserved for the world’s leading road races.
The race has also seen a consistent increase in participation, with record numbers of runners registering each year, except for 2020 when the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event has sold out multiple times, reflecting its popularity among both local and international runners.
Looking Ahead
The Copenhagen Half Marathon continues to evolve and grow. In 2026, the city will once again host the World Athletics World Road Running Championship, a testament to the success of the annual event and the legacy of the 2014 championships.
The Copenhagen Half Marathon combines a world record course with sightseeing in a cool city.
When the gun launching the CPH Half goes off, it is not only heard in Denmark.
Being an World Athletics Road Race Gold Label event boasting a world record course and part of the international running series SuperHalfs, the CPH Half attracts thousands of runners from all over the world. Top athletes as well as recreational runners choose Copenhagen as the backdrop for their once in a lifetime running experience, regardless of pace and ambitions.
