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Cologne marathon

The Cologne Marathon started again this year from Ottoplatz in Cologne Deutz. More than 17,000 runners were in the starting blocks on October 4th, 2015 in great weather and had a lot of fun. Because the organizer organized the run well and provided a stage and a lot of music at the start in Deutz.

Exactly 4649 athletes then ran the long distance of over 42 kilometers to the finish: the Cologne Cathedral ! There is no better destination in this city than the huge cathedral, which gives the whole thing an incredible backdrop.

Köln Marathon
Cologne Marathon: Run over the Deutzer Bridge

International runners at the Cologne Marathon

The Cologne Marathon is a run with an international level : Runners from Afghanistan or Kenya are just as much a part of the picture here as the "normal Cologne" who just wants to run. In terms of age, everything was represented again this year: from school classes to over eighty-year-old runners, all age groups were represented again. For the men, Benson Waweru (Kenya) ran the track in an unbelievable time of two hours and sixteen minutes and for the women, the Ethiopian Gelane Senbete made it in the fast time of two hours and thirty-seven minutes.

Prominent runners

Every year the Cologne Marathon also attracts well-known names to the streets and so the spectators at the route were amazed when they met Micki Krause (half marathon) and some members of the group " Cat Ballou "discovered among runners. Well-known faces from RTL also ran to collect donations for the campaign "We're helping children!

 

Statistics and route

 

As already mentioned, the start was in Cologne Deutz at Ottoplatz and then led directly over the Deutz bridge over to the south of Cologne. Then we went to the northern districts of Cologne to then head for the finish run at the Cologne Cathedral . This setting naturally created a great feeling and additional motivation! The runners were supplied with water and bananas at eleven stations. According to the organizers, there were at least 50,000 bananas and over 10,000 filled water cups!

Maybe we could motivate you to move to Cologne next year to take part in the run? Cologne is looking forward to your visit!

Ferienwohnung Köln
Fewo in cologne
Unterkunft Köln

 

Marathon 2016

 

It's that time again on October 2nd! Our popular marathon starts again in the cathedral city and around 500,000 frenetic fans are expected again, who enthusiastically take part in this event. With an altitude difference of 14 meters, the run is not a "mountain and valley ride", but of course it still has its sporty appeal! Especially because of this great backdrop here with the Cologne Cathedral as the destination. Incidentally, the best time is currently 2 hours, 7 minutes and 34 seconds! Can you crack that? Registration is currently possible! So dare to take on this sporting challenge and visit us as guests in the Rhine metropolis! Kölle is happy!

 

2018 will run again!

 

 

For the 22nd time, thousands of runners will chase the fabulous 42.195 kilometers through downtown Cologne! On October 7th there is only one goal that every runner would like to achieve in their prime, Cologne Cathedral! You walk through the Veedel: city center ( Deutz and Co.), Lindenthal , Sülz , of course the old town, the Severinsviertel, Bayenthal , Ehrenfeld and even Nippes . Due to the low number of onlookers in the Nippes district, the route there has now been shortened and instead extended to the south (Rodenkirchen).

The half marathon starts at 8:30 a.m., the marathon at 10 a.m. and the school run at 11:20 a.m. We wish all runners good luck!

Start near the apartments!

If you want to run in the Cologne Marathon, then book accommodation at Ferienwohnung-Koeln.com! We are once again spot on with our Ferienwohnungen Because the starting point of the run is at Ottoplatz in Deutz, right next to the Deuter train station and therefore not far from our holiday apartments! Perfect!

The history of the marathon

There was a Greek storyteller by the name of Herodotus who died in 490 BC. Reported about a messenger named Hemerodromos, who walked the route from Athens to Sparta and only needed 2 days. Hemerodromos wanted to get the help they needed in the war against the Persians. 500 years later, the legend arose of a runner who ran 40 kilometers to Athens to report there about the victory of the Athenians in the battle of marathon. After delivering the news with the words "We have won", he collapsed dead.

When the first country races took place in modern times, this legend was no longer an issue. At the end of the 18th century, the first long-distance running sports competitions were held. These events were for the enjoyment of the audience. Furthermore, the visitors were able to live out their passion in betting at these sporting events. In the US and UK, foot runners covered distances of 20 to 30 miles. The runners did not compete against each other, but ran against time. Since these runs ran from one milestone to the next, an accurate time could be measured. Even then there were athletes who achieved outstanding times in these competitions. In 1808 a man named Blevet covered a distance of 24 miles (38.62 km) in 2 hours and 34 minutes. If you convert this to today's marathon distance, Blewet would have achieved a time of 2 hours and 48 minutes.

When excavations in 1890 unearthed a large tomb in which the dead from the war at Marathon from Athens were lying, the old legend of Pheidippides was remembered again. Then Michel Breal, a linguist, proposed that the famous run of Pheidippides be held as a competition at the Olympic Games in 1896. There should be a trophy for the winner, which he donated himself. Then the first organized marathon took place in 1896.

The Olympic Games

Already 7 days before the start of the Olympic Games, the Greek championship was held from the village of Marathon to Athens. 11 runners took part in this competition, which was about 40 kilometers in length. A second marathon competition with 38 participants followed 14 days later. This run served as a rehearsal for the Olympic Games. Ioannis Lavrentis won the race with a time of hours and 11 minutes.

The marathon has only been an Olympic discipline for women since 1984. In Germany, on July 3, 1898, from Paunsdorf near Leipzig to Bennewitz and back, the first official marathon was held. Arthur Techtow was the first runner to cross the finish line in 3 hours and just under 16 minutes. The second runner arrived at the finish line 20 minutes later.

The way to today's marathon length

At the Olympic Games the distance from Marathon to Athens was 40 kilometers. Today it is assumed that this distance does not coincide with the actual distance traveled by the messenger, because he took the shortest route over the Pentelikon Mountains and only reached about 34 kilometers. In the Olympic Games, on the other hand, the participants lie across the road around the mountains.

The International Olympic Committee did not consider it important to set the marathon competition at a certain distance because the participants competed directly against each other. The organizers were able to decide for themselves how long the running route should be based on the prevailing conditions and circumstances. The 40 kilometers only served as a rough guide.

Olympic Games in London

In 1908 the Olympic Games took place in London. According to a survey slip, the distance was 26 miles and 385 yards. This equates to 42.195 kilometers . The explanations for the origin of this distance are very different. The new Olympic Stadium in Shepherd`s Bush is the starting point in the survey report. Windsor Castle should be the starting point. When the usual length of 25 miles had been measured, the lock was still 1 mile away. It was twenty-six miles to the east terrace of Windsor. But then there was still no way from the measuring point in the stadium to the royal box, so that another 385 yards were added. Even today there are still runners who say “God save the queen” on the last 1000 meters.

A dramatic incident occurred in the 1908 Olympic marathon between runners Doranda Pietri and John Hayes. Doranda Pietri fell several times shortly before the finish line and was eventually carried to the finish by officials. This is followed by a disqualification and then some revenge competitions between the two in the USA. The conditions should always be the same and the distance was 42.195 kilometers . But not only Pietri took part in the races, more and more supporters took part in the competitions. They went from place to place and then even across the world. Often the runs took place in halls, such as in Madison Square Garden. There the participants then had to run 262 laps.

After most events chose a distance of 42.195 kilometers, the International Olympic Committee did not use this length of the route either at the Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912 or at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920 firmly. The international association for athletics only declared 42.195 kilometers as the official distance for a marathon in 1921.

Difference between half marathon and marathon

The half marathon has found more and more fans in recent years. the marathon, on the other hand, even recorded a slight decline in the number of starters. For beginners, it is almost unimaginable to run a distance of 21.1 kilometers. When you reach the finish line completely exhausted after a 10-kilometer route, the very idea of ​​having to run this route again is utopian. A half marathon is not automatically doubled as a 10-kilometer run. If you manage to run 10 kilometers in a row, then a half marathon with a little preparation is a realistic goal.

A half marathon and a marathon have significantly less in common than the terms suggest. The training for a half marathon is completely different than for a marathon, because both require a completely different energy supply. On the other hand, they hardly differ in terms of running speed. The clearest difference takes place in the area of ​​metabolism. In a marathon runner who is on the road for 4 hours, the glycogen reserves are not sufficient for the entire distance, so that the body falls back on the fat metabolism, which is well trained. For a half marathon runner, however, their own glycogen reserves are usually sufficient. Because of this, training plans for a half marathon are more similar to plans for a 10-kilometer run.

Training plan goals for a half marathon

There are specific training tools for every running distance. In a training plan for the marathon, the focus is on developing fat metabolism . A half marathon is more about covering a long distance on the anaerobic threshold. The anaerobic threshold is the pulse rate at which a runner is just able to perform without developing an oxygen debt. Therefore, the training plans for the half marathon focus on increasing the anaerobic threshold and training hardness. You can only run a half marathon in the time in which a 10-kilometer run can be run if you have trained well with the tempo.

Accommodation in downtown Cologne!

Do you want to walk to the cathedral? Do you want to walk to the fair? Then book our Apartment Cologne , then you can easily walk to Cologne Cathedral! Just cross the Rhine over the Deutzer Brücke and stroll through the old town. In about 14 minutes you have reached the cathedral! We look forward to your inquiry!

Ferienwohnung Köln
Fewo in cologne
Unterkunft Köln

 

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The Cologne Marathon 2023

The Cologne Marathon is an adventure marathon. The marathon runs through the entire inner city of Cologne. An audience with countless onlookers actively cheers on the runners. In this year 2023 there is a highlight that is a special piece of taste. At this 25. event in Cologne, the "German Championships 2023" will also be held on this marathon route.

The most important things in brief

The date: the 25th Cologne Marathon will take place on October 1st, 2023. The venue: is 50679 Cologne, on Opladener Straße/ am Ottoplatz 1 (at Deutz train station). The organiser: This marathon is organized by www.koeln-marathon.de. Information about the marathon: at info@koeln-marathon.de. The phone number is: +49 221 33777311.

The distances and start times are

At a distance of 42.195 km, the start time is 10:00 a.m. and the entry fee is between 95.00 and 125.00 euros. For the distance 42.195 km relay, the start also begins at 10:00 a.m. and the entry fees are between 155.00 and 195.00 euros (for 4 team members). For the distance 42.195 km relay/school marathon, the start is also at 10:00 a.m. and the entry fee is 50.00 euros (for 6 team members). And for the distance over 21.2 km, the start will be at 8:30 a.m. The entry fee is between 60 and 80 euros for the participants.

For registration: Training is optimal for success in the run

For a marathon you have to prepare well. There are also many training plans for the upcoming Cologne Marathon.

There are various performance targets - an overview: every marathon runner can find something for themselves: be it a marathon, a half marathon or a relay marathon. There are also training plans for children. The Cologne Cathedral is the goal for all training runs. The routes lead through all the typical districts of Cologne. There is almost a carnival atmosphere at the marathon itself. More than 10,000 onlookers line the streets along the route. The Cologne Marathon is considered one of the most important and most beautiful marathons in the world!

In 2006 a half marathon was added. Since then, this half marathon has become the second largest event in Germany in terms of this distance. There is also a company relay. This rounds off the upcoming programme. In the company relay, four marathon runners form a team. The 42 km are divided between the four runners. Each runner only has to run a little over 10 km.

It doesn't have to be a marathon to enjoy Cologne. Even as a spectator you can enjoy and feel the special flair of running. At the Cologne Marathon, visitors can expect a combination of popular and elite sports. Cheerfulness from the Rhine area can also be expected. The runners start with high motivation. In addition, there are also carnival costumes to see. This will be an overwhelming marathon spectacle in Cologne! Hundreds of thousands of onlookers are expected to line the streets. All marathon runners are cheered on. But all half marathon and relay runners don't miss out and are cheered on while running.

The German Marathon Championships 2023

This year, in addition to the Cologne Marathon, the "German Marathon Championships" will be organized at the same time. On the first day of October this year, all the leaders of the German marathon will come together. The event takes place in Cologne. Not only top German athletes compete for victory in running. In addition, about 700 athletes of all ages will be there and want to win the championship title.

Markus Frisch is the managing director of this Cologne marathon event and confirms that it is organized and held together with the German Athletics Association. Furthermore, Frisch says that it is a pleasure to be 25. Year anniversary to welcome Germany's running elite to Cologne. Markus Frisch is also the managing director of “Veranstaltungs- und Werbe GmbH”.

But not only Germany's running elite will be there at the Cologne Marathon. A total of around 700 runners are expected. And each of these athletes has hopes of winning in their age groups.

The route

The athletes will run all over Cologne. Cologne is a diverse city and the route will also be multifaceted. The circuit through the Domstadt Köln am Rhein will start with around 25,000 athletes. In the previous year, 2022, work began in Deutz on the right bank of the Rhine. We continued over the bridge in Deutz. A true postcard panorama can be admired there. The Cologne Cathedral and the old town are wonderful to see from here. We continued past the chocolate museum. The runners passed the Crane Houses in Bayenthal, which are architecturally truly unique. The Bismarck Column is also located here. We continued to Rodenkirchen, where the marathon runners were greeted with cheers.

We passed Rudolfplatz and continued to Sülz on Sülzburgstrasse. So Kölscher is almost impossible and the whole of Cologne is run at the marathon. The athletes also ran on Dürener Strasse, which is called "Kö" in Cologne. All athletes passed the Melaten Cemetery, the final resting place of Cologne's celebrities. In 2022, the Rudolfplatz was circled three times. At the second attempt we continued to Friesenplatz.

In the city center of Cologne, the runners met a veritable sea of people! The athletes came to Nippes for the third run around the Rudolfplatz. On the last kilometers of the course the last thing was taken out of the runners. They were energetically spurred on with much cheering. There was a loud cheer at Neumarkt. The destination of the route was the Cologne Cathedral! Thousands of onlookers patiently waited for the arrivals. The athletes ran past the cathedral and arrived at their destination, Komödienstrasse. This year's route is not yet known, but it will probably be about the same.

Looking for accommodation?

Of course you've come to the right place! 3 apartments right in the city center in Cologne Deutz! Request your non-binding offer now!