Cologne Marathon: Records broken and 37,000 runners at the spectacle!

Cologne Marathon: Records broken and 37,000 runners at the spectacle!

On October 13, 2025, more than 37,000 participants showed what is involved in sporting Kölle at the latest Generali Cologne Marathon. The event was a colorful spectacle for running enthusiasts and spectators, even if the weather didn't quite cooperate. Occasional rain showers and gusts of wind accompanied the athletes on their routes.

At 8:30 a.m. the starting signal was given for around 20,000 runners in the 21.0975 kilometer half marathon in Cologne-Deutz. The route led through lively and historic districts such as Sülz, Lindenthal and the city center, past the sights to the majestic Cologne Cathedral. At 10:30 a.m., 11,000 individual runners followed the marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers.

Records and top positions

The event stood out not only because of the large number of participants, but also because of top sporting performances. Two new course records were set: Esther Pfeiffer achieved a new half marathon record of 67:28 minutes, which was previously set by Sabrina Mockenhaupt-Gregor at 68:51 minutes. In the marathon, Barnaba Kipkoech broke the old record with a time of 2:19:12 hours.

The appearance of the athletes from the LG Alpen was particularly pleasing. Ingrid Mosters took 1st place in the W70 age group with a time of 5:16:36 hours. Annika van Hüüt finished 13th in the W35 competition with 3:15:14 hours, while Hermine van Nahmen achieved 11th place in the W60 with 4:21:02 hours. Christoph Neumann also demonstrated his strength in the M55 age group by taking first place with 2:53:25 hours.

An experience for everyone

The unmistakable party atmosphere ran throughout the entire event, supported by music and moderation along the routes. Event points ensured sufficient food at the six food stations available to runners during the race. The starting places on offer also underlined the popularity of the competition: the first 3,000 starting places were already fully booked, so only participants between 3,001 and 20,000 could get a place for €95.00.

One of the participants was Bernd Diekmann from the running friends Hadi Wesel, who took Annika's starting number under his arm for the first time. The conversation with the wife of Thomas Müller, another runner, resulted in a friendly exchange among the participants. Despite the canceled children's runs and the SHAKE OUT RUN on Saturday, it showed that the community of runners and the event itself are strong and vibrant.

With an extensive service package that ranged from a sustainably produced medal to a high-quality starting bag, the Generali Cologne Marathon once again left a lasting impression this year. Perfectly organized, popular and inviting – Kölle once again proved that passion and a large community collide here.

For more information about the half marathon and the event, visit the website Generali Cologne Marathon available.