Hamburg Marathon

The Hamburg Marathon was founded in 1986, during the golden age of mass-participation running. Now 40 years old, it has established itself as a beloved fixture in Hamburg, growing from its early editions into a race with genuine character and loyal following.

The course record of 02:05:30, set by Moses Kiptanui in 2016, speaks to what the Hamburg Marathon offers elite athletes: a fast, honest course where serious times are achievable. The record has drawn increasingly competitive fields year after year.

Runners come to the Hamburg Marathon for one reason: personal bests. The flat, fast course through Hamburg has a reputation as a PB factory, with the roads seemingly designed to keep your pace honest and your splits consistent from start to finish.

For thousands of runners each year, the Hamburg Marathon is their first marathon. The combination of a forgiving course, generous time limits, and supportive crowds has earned this race a reputation as the place where marathon journeys begin. The first-timer energy on race morning is palpable.