Half Marathon races near Odenthal

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.

The Herbstlauf des LSV Porz is an established autumn race day in Köln-Porz-Eil, with its 54th edition centered at the Haus des Waldes at Gut Leidenhausen. The event offers multiple distances: runners can select 5 km, 10 km, or a half marathon, and walkers and Nordic walkers have a 5 km option. Separate races for students are available over 1 km, 5 km, and 10 km. LSV Porz organizes the event, with registration managed via time-and-voice.com. All finishers will receive a commemorative medal. Dogs are prohibited on the course, and the event is not wheelchair accessible.

The Blumensaatlauf is a race day organized by TUSEM Essen's athletics department in Essen, featuring a half marathon and a 10 km race. This marks the event's 35th year. Current information suggests the race takes place in late autumn, with registration opening after the summer holidays, not significantly earlier. The route details are not extensively provided, suggesting it is primarily a local club-organized running event rather than a destination race known for a famous course. TUSEM Essen also promotes trial training for youth athletics, catering to U10 to U16 age groups, at the same location. This situates the Blumensaatlauf within a larger athletics club environment.

Eulenkopflauf is a December road race in Wuppertal, Germany, with half marathon and marathon options for adult runners. The races start in the morning, and the shared finish is at Freibad SV Wuppertal-Neuenhof 1930 e.V. The route follows the Eulenkopfweg on a rolling course rather than a flat city loop. Listings put the longer race at about marathon distance, with one source giving 42.6 km and more than 700 metres of climbing and descending, while the shorter race is just over 21 km.

The Essener Rhein-Herne-Kanal Marathon is a self-supported run and walk in Essen-Dellwig, starting at Prosperstraße and Scheppmannskamp along the Rhein-Herne Canal. TUSEM Essen organizes the event, with a standard 10:00 a.m. start. Flexible early or late starts are available, including a very early option for the ultra distance. The race uses a single short canal lap of 7.1 km for its distances: 7.1 km, 14.2 km, half marathon, 28.4 km, 35.5 km, marathon, 50 km, and 71 km. This is a practical, no-frills race where participants manage their own supplies, timekeeping, and route verification for an official result. The course begins by crossing a bridge, then follows the canal bank towards Oberhausen. It crosses again at OB-Osterfeld and returns along the water to the start. One lap measures 7.06 km by GPS and 7,098 meters by measuring wheel. Longer races consist of repeated laps, with the 71 km ultra requiring ten laps. Walkers are welcome, and only the specified distances are scored. Finishers get a certificate via email and a medal on site. With 25 editions completed, this small canal-side event has established local running history.

The Winterserie des LSV Porz 2. Lauf is the second race in LSV Porz’s winter running series in Köln-Porz. It begins in the morning and provides several straightforward, practical distances: 1 km for school students, 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km, plus a 5 km Nordic Walking and walking option. The event is approved by the German athletics federation and officially measured, allowing results to count for ranking lists. The route circles Gut Leidenhausen, with the meeting point at Haus des Waldes. The field is intended to accommodate a wide range, from beginners and walkers to experienced runners using the measured course for a serious effort. Series finishers receive a trophy or towel when they submit their series bib, while students in the 1 km race get an additional commemorative medal at the first winter run. Dogs are not permitted, and the event is listed as not barrier-free.

The third race of the LSV Porz winter series is a club-run race day in Köln-Porz, held at Portal Gut Leuk. LSV Porz e.V. organizes this event as part of its long-running Winterserie, offering categories for walkers, Nordic walkers, schoolchildren, and runners seeking distances from short youth races to longer road races. The program features a 5 km walk or Nordic walk, a 1 km U12 schoolchildren's run, 5 km and 10 km races, and a half-marathon distance included in the overall event schedule. Age restrictions apply, with the youngest race designated for children. The 5 km events are open from older school age upwards, and the 10 km begins for slightly older age groups. Participants who complete the series can exchange their series bib for a trophy or towel. Children participating in the 1 km race receive an additional commemorative medal at the initial winter run.

The GVG-Donatuslauf is a March road race in Erftstadt-Liblar, subtitled in German “Rund um den Donatussee,” translating to “around Donatussee.” LG Donatus Erfstadt e.V. organizes the event, which offers a 400 m Bambini race for very young children and a 21.1 km half marathon for older participants. The race program caters to a local club audience with various categories: U12 girls and boys compete in 1,200 m races, U16 runners also have a 1,200 m race, and adults and older teens can select the 10 km main race or the half marathon. Additionally, a 5.5 km family run is available. Nordic walkers can participate in a separate 5.5 km event. This setup unites children, families, runners targeting standard road distances, and walkers for a day centered around Donatussee.