27th Generali Cologne Marathon on October 5, 2025
Source: https://generali-koeln-marathon.de/en/ and https://www.instagram.com/generalikoelnmarathon
The Cologne Marathon (Köln-Marathon) is a major running event in Cologne, Germany, known for its unique atmosphere that blends a competitive race with a folk festival spirit.
Here is a summary of its history:
- Establishment: The Cologne Marathon was first held on October 5, 1997, as the “Ford Cologne Marathon.”
- Motivation: The event was established to join the trend of city marathons in Germany, following major races already established in cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Frankfurt.
- Initial Success: The inaugural race was an immediate success, attracting at least 13,000 registered runners, which was a world record for an inaugural marathon at the time.
- Organization: The event is organized by the Kölner Verein für Marathon e.V. (Cologne Marathon Association), which was founded on March 15, 1996, with the goal of hosting a city marathon.
- Annual Date: The marathon traditionally takes place annually in early October.
- Expansion of Events: Over the years, the event expanded beyond the full marathon distance (42.195 km):
- The Half Marathon (21.0975 km) was introduced in 2006, significantly increasing the event’s appeal to recreational runners.
- The Relay Marathon and other categories like the Inline Marathon and Handcyclist Marathon were also added.
- Course and Finish: The course has been modified over the years, but today it starts at Ottoplatz in Deutz and features a spectacular finish at the Komödienstraße near the iconic Cologne Cathedral.
- Sponsors and Naming: The name of the event has changed several times due to sponsorship:
- It started as Ford Köln-Marathon.
- It was officially named the RheinEnergie Marathon since 2012.
- It is currently known as the Generali Köln Marathon.
- Recent Records: The event has seen record participation in recent years, with over 37,000 registrations for the 27th edition in 2025.
The Cologne Marathon is distinguished by its flat course and the enthusiastic support from spectators, who create an atmosphere often described as a “running and folk festival” or “autumn carnival.”
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