Cologne · Germany
Marathon races near Cologne
10 races in 2026
next one in 37 days
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Race calendar
Upcoming Marathon races near Cologne
AUG 5
7AUG
Run · road · Marathon
48. Monschau Marathon
Monschau-Konzen · 63 km away
7AUG
Run · trail · Marathon
Monschau Marathon
Monschau · 66 km away
8AUG
Run · road · Marathon
48. Monschau-Marathon warm-up
Monschau-Konzen · 63 km away
8AUG
Run · trail · Marathon
Monschau Marathon
Konzen · 63 km away
29AUG
Run · road · Marathon
Nachtmammut Ruhrgebiet (Duisburg)
Duisburg · 57 km away
+5 more Marathon racesShow fewer ↓
SEP 5
4SEP
Run · road · Marathon
Straberger Drittel-Marathon
Straberg · 22 km away
4SEP
Run · road · Marathon
Straberger 1/3 Marathon
Dormagen · 19 km away
11SEP
Run · trail · Marathon
P-Weg Marathon - Plettenberg
Plettenberg · 71 km away
13SEP
Run · road · Marathon
P-Weg Marathon
Plettenberg · 71 km away
27SEP
Run · road · Marathon
126. Bertlicher Straßenläufe
Herten · 74 km away
Cologne · 80 km
10 races mapped
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Recurring Marathon races near Cologne
Races that repeat — weekly, monthly or yearly
Wilhelminaberg Trappen Marathon
The Wilhelminaberg Trappen Marathon course for runners includes a 248-meter staircase with 508 steps. This race takes place in Landgraaf, South Limburg, situated on the 93-meter Wilhelminaberg, which is the highest slag heap in the Netherlands. It is a lap-based road and stair race, offering distances from 5 km up to a marathon, alongside a kids run and a Business Run for teams of up to five.
Each standard lap is 1,090 meters. Consequently, the 5 km requires 5 laps, the 10 km is 10 laps, the 10 mile is 16 laps, the half marathon is 21 laps, and the marathon is 42 laps. The full marathon involves runners ascending the staircase 44 times, totaling 22,350 steps. This is why Dutch media refers to it as the toughest marathon in the Netherlands. The kids run features a scaled-down version of the central element: it begins at the base of the stairs and concludes at the summit.
Marathon de Cologne
The Marathon de Cologne takes place in early October in Cologne, Germany, offering a full marathon, half marathon, relay marathon, and a school marathon. The main marathon is a 42.195 km road race on mostly asphalt. The shorter and team formats attract runners seeking the city's atmosphere without the full distance. It ranks among Germany’s larger marathon events, with the day emphasizing crowd energy and local cheers as much as fast racing.
The marathon begins at Ottoplatz in Deutz, crossing the Deutzer Bridge toward Cologne Cathedral. The course is a flat single loop through the historic center and adjacent districts, featuring wide streets, no sustained climbs, and minor elevation changes of approximately 42 to 53 meters above sea level. Participants will pass the Rhine promenade, the Sport and Olympia Museum, the Kranhäuser, the Bismarck Column, Severinstraße, Sülz, Dürener Straße, Aachener Weiher, Ehrenfeld, Neusser Straße in Nippes, and Rudolfplatz multiple times. Neumarkt provides a significant crowd late in the race, and the consistent course profile appeals to runners aiming for controlled pacing or a quick finish.
22. BKK Walking am Baldeneysee mit Mini-Marathon
BKK Walking at Baldeneysee is part of the Westenergie Marathon – Rund um den Baldeneysee weekend in Essen, Germany. The main marathon is a 42.195-kilometer race around Baldeneysee, held annually on the second Sunday in October. The Walking-Day for walkers and Nordic walkers takes place the day before. The walking program, which began in 2003, offers routes up to 14 kilometers, ensuring the weekend appeals to more than just marathon runners.
The marathon has been held continuously since 1963, making it Germany’s oldest such event. The current course circles Baldeneysee twice, with an additional turnaround loop on the first lap. Its flat profile, early autumn weather, and lakeside cycle paths contribute to its fast nature. TUSEM Essen’s athletics department organizes the event, with volunteers managing the entire operation—a rarity for a German race of this scale. Entry is limited to 3,000 participants due to narrow sections of the course where faster runners might overtake slower ones.
Welterbe-Trail und Rhein-Mosel-Marathon
The Welterbe-Trail und Rhein-Mosel-Marathon is a running event held in Winningen, Germany, offering races from 5 km to 60 km. Scheduled for an October weekend, it provides participants with options ranging from short trail runs to a lengthy endurance race.
The main event is the 60 km Rhein-Mosel-Marathon, with additional routes of 30 km, 20 km, 11 km, and 5 km. The name reflects the Rhine-Moselle region and the Welterbe-Trail, indicating the event is designed for runners seeking distances beyond a typical road race selection.
Rursee Marathon
The Rursee Marathon takes place in Germany's Eifel National Park on the first Sunday of November, with its origins dating back to 1997. This full marathon utilizes natural trails, attracting approximately 400 to 500 participants annually. It is a challenging race, distinct from a straightforward road event.
The course winds through the Rursee region, offering participants forest paths, hilly sections, and lake-adjacent terrain, deviating from urban environments. The event also features a 16.5 km run, introduced in 2004, and a 5 km race held the day prior to the marathon, catering to those seeking the Eifel environment without committing to the full marathon distance.
Walk beim Rursee-Marathon
29 Rursee-Marathon
The Rursee-Marathon is a running event held in Simmerath-Einruhr during a November weekend. Its races are centered around the Rursee, rather than a single road distance. The program includes a 52 km ultra, a full marathon, a 16.5 km run, a 5 km run, a 16.5 km walking and Nordic walking event, and two children’s races of 600 m and 2 km. This setup allows families and groups of varying abilities to participate in the same event weekend, from young children in free races to adults selecting between short, marathon, and ultra distances.
The primary route concept involves participants running around the Rursee, a reservoir in the Eifel region near the Belgian border. Saturday's schedule generally features walking, children's events, and the 5 km race, while Sunday is dedicated to the longer distances, including the ultra, marathon, and 16.5 km run. Rursee-Marathon e. V. is the organizing body. The event website provides practical information such as course maps, directions, parking details, past results, and photo galleries from previous editions. Entry fees are reasonable compared to larger events, with free children's races and early registration discounts for the longer Sunday races.
Rursee Marathon
The Rursee Marathon begins in Einruhr-Simmerath, within Germany’s Eifel National Park. The main race starts at 10:30 on the first Sunday in November. First held in 1997, it is a trail-heavy marathon, not a flat city race, covering 42.2 km of nature tracks with approximately 370 metres of elevation gain. The marathon typically attracts 400 to 500 runners, and the entire event draws about 1,000 to 3,000 participants across multiple distances.
The weekend offers several event options for runners and walkers: a 16.5 km race, a 5 km race, a 2 km children’s race, and a 16.5 km walk or Nordic walk on Saturday. The 16.5 km run was introduced after the marathon was established, and the Rursee-Ultra, a longer distance, is held every second year. While the course setting is a primary attraction, it is not a simple sightseeing run; the marathon is generally considered a challenging race on natural paths around the Rursee area.
Karneval Marathon Köln
The Karneval Marathon Köln is a small fun-run marathon in northwest Cologne, centered on two local passions: running the marathon distance and observing Carnival. It takes place at the beginning of Cologne’s Carnival period, and the field is limited to 50 runners, with a waiting list available. The race is explicitly non-commercial, with organizers stating the aim is enjoyment over a refined big-city race format.
The course follows a repeating loop around Pescher See on Pescher Straße, requiring runners to complete the circuit 15 times to achieve the marathon distance. Costumes are highly encouraged, meaning the participants are more likely to be costumed Carnival enthusiasts than typical serious road racers. Event planning commenced in 2016, and its limited size, lake loop, Carnival timing, and costume tradition give it the feel of a private running gathering rather than a standard marathon.
Karneval-Marathon Köln-Pesch
The Karneval-Marathon Köln-Pesch is a small marathon in Cologne’s Pesch district, centered on the opening of Cologne Carnival, not a large city race weekend. It merges the full marathon distance with the atmosphere of the city’s “fifth season.” The field is limited to 50 runners, with a waiting list if more wish to participate. The organizers emphasize that it is not a commercial event and that enjoyment is the primary goal.
The course is officially measured by the German Athletics Federation under International Competition Rules TR 55.3, meaning results can count for records and ranking lists despite the informal setting. Costumes are highly encouraged, though participants can run without one. The concept originated from planning that began in 2016, combining marathon running and Cologne Carnival for a unique carnival session opening. Expect local running enthusiasts and costumed revelers rather than a large crowd or elite field.
127. Bertlicher Straßenläufe
The Bertlicher Straßenläufe is a road-running event in Bertlich organized by the athletics department of SuS Bertlich 1945 e.V. The race program is unusually broad for a club event: runners can enter anything from 5 km to 100 km.
The listed distances are 5 km, 7.5 km, 10 km, 15 km, 20 km, half marathon, 25 km, marathon, 50 km, and 100 km, so the same meeting can serve short-distance runners, marathoners, and ultrarunners. It appears in the laufen.de Laufkalender, a German running calendar tied to the DLV registration system and its state associations.
Siebengebirgsmarathon
Looking for something else near Cologne?
Other races in the next 90 days
JUL 437 km away
cycling
Mauer von Uckerath
JUL 553 km away
cycling
RTF Ruhrschleife
JUL 520 km away
cycling
Kerpener Eifel-Rursee-Tour
JUL 1254 km away
triathlon
Raiffeisentriathlon
JUL 1263 km away
triathlon
5. Stadtwerke-Bochum-Triathlon
JUL 1865 km away
cycling
BRM200 Ardennentrip
JUL 2466 km away
cycling
Rad am Ring 24h
JUL 2560 km away
other
30. HTV-Sparda-Rheinuferlauf
About Marathon races in Cologne
Köln Training Notes
Cologne hosts 27 Marathon races in 2026 within 80 km of the city centre — upcoming dates, recurring series, and other races nearby, all in one place.
Locals run the Rhine, the Innerer Grüngürtel, the Äußere Grüngürtel, Aachener Weiher, Stadtgarten, Volksgarten, and Beethovenpark when the week needs easy Z2. The loop runs 0 km, and kicks hard at Herkulesberg before Mediapark and the cathedral spires show up. RUN FOR LOVE meets every Monday at 7 pm at Zappes Süd, UNITYRUNCOLOGNE brings the 8 km vibe, and Cologne Running Crew owns Wednesdays. The Generali Köln Marathon, Kölner Halbmarathon, Stadionlauf Köln, B2Run Köln, and Lauf Rund um den Fühlinger See are the anchor races.
Locals ride the Rhein, Dürener Straße, Rodenkirchen, Lindenthal, Ehrenfeld, Venloer Straße, and Deutz for steady base miles and city legs. rtc Köln e.V 1972 gives the road crowd a proper club name, and the 53. Forsbach-Tour des Rtc Köln e.V 1972 sits nicely beside Rund um Köln as an anchor event. The climbs live more in short punches than alpine drama. Herkulesberg gives the Grüngürtel-Runde its sting, and Monte Troodelöh marks the city high point at 134 m. The west side through Dürener Straße and Lindenthal works for intervals when you want urban_dense rhythm.
July is the best month here, and locals use the long light for river runs, crit legs, gran fondo prep, and relaxed Sunday Long Run laps by the water. Average highs hit 25°C, so the inner neighborhoods can feel properly warm after dark. Summer showers and thunderstorms keep the green belt fresh, and the city still turns out, typisch Köln eben. Winter lows average 3°C, but snow or ice stays rare, so runners and cyclists keep the Z2 habit alive.