Half Marathon

Entry fees

The entry fees for the Generali Cologne Half Marathon go by certain contingencies of entry slots. Register early and save money!

Note: plus a late registration fee as of September 1, 2024 of € 20.00

Entry slots	Entry fee
1 – 999	€65.00
1,000 – 2,999	€75.00
3,000 – 9,999	€85.00
10,000 – 18,000	€95.00

Race information & registration

Organiser of the Generali Cologne Relay Team Marathon is the Köln Marathon Veranstaltungs- und Werbe GmbH.

We will offer the following competitions on race day: marathon (42,195 m), half marathon (21,100 m), relay team marathon (42,195 m in 4 stages) and school marathon (41,195 m in 6 stages).

The Generali Cologne Half Marathon will be organised according to Deutscher Leichtathletik-Verband (DLV) e. V.’s international competitions rules and International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) regulations under the supervision of the DLV. These guidelines are obligational for runners with and without German Athletics Federation (DLV)’s pass.

The compliance with these rules will be checked and recorded by the referees.

The age classes will be as follows: 16-17 years, 18-19, 20-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 years and older. Most relevant for this categorisation is your date of birth.

There will be a separate scoring for each gender, relevant will be the net time.

Special scorings

age categories M/F (see above)
teams M/F: the 3 best participants of a club or company
city championship (Stadtmeisterschaft) M/F: official residence in Cologne (ZIP code/post code 50400 – 51300) – ID proof needed for award ceremony!
association’s regional Southeast marathon championships (LVN-Regio Südost Marathon Meisterschaft): single and team scoring
student cup (Studi-Werk Cup) M/F: for matriculated students at German universities

Participation

For the participation in the half marathon you have at least be 16 years of age on race day (birthday in 2008 and older). Relevant is the year of birth not the birthday.

The participant limit will be 19,000: 18,000 starting slots are in free sale, further 1,000 are reserved for our partners, sponsors and travel agencies.

A registration is only possible via this official website.

Health

We recommend an adequate sports medical examination to all participants prior to the participation. As an indication please check the PAPS test on the registration page.

Data process agreement

We store and process the person-related data from your registration for the conduct and realisation of the event, particularly the data necessary for payment (via the raceresult AG) and communications.

Without the following consent a participation in our event is NOT possible: You explicitly agree to the publication of your last name, first name, sex, year of birth, age category, club, bib number and result (position and times) in all race-related media such as online media (e. g. web site, app, live stream, social media), print media and TV.

Online registration for the Generali Cologne Half Marathon (21,100 m)

Registrations will only be possible via this website – prior to 5:00 p. m. on the day before race day as long as the participant limit will not have been reached yet.

After the successful registration you will receive an email confirmation and the entry fee will be charged.

We recommend to also book a Generali entry fee insurance to get your entry fee reimbursed in case of damage (see insurance policy).

Registering another person on your bib number or handing over the bib number to another person is not possible and will lead to direct disqualification.

Race packets

In order to be able to participate you will have to pick up your race packets including the bib number in person at the Running.EXPO. This expo will take place in MOTORWORLD Cologne and be opened on Friday, October 4, from 12:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. and on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 9:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m.

Chronometry

The time of your relay team will be measured with a transponder attached to the bib number by race result.

A participation and chronometry is exclusively possible with this special transponder.

Please fasten your team bib number with the number belt and wear it on the hips. And pin the back numbers on the backs.

Please do NOT use magnetic pins or the like for fixing the bib number. They can have a negative impact on chronometry and the detection of your times.

Make sure that you overrun all chronometry mats normally every 5 k along the course. Lacking interval times may cause in disqualification.

Ranking

The first 10 women and men will be ranked by gross time and will be marked by * in the result list. All other runners will be added by net time.

Please note that, due to a strict timeframe and municipal provisions, you will have to complete the competition within a time of 2:45 hours net. You will have to leave the course then and can be brought to the finish area by the broom wagon or public transportation.

Start

The start will be located on Opladener Straße next to Ottoplatz/Bahnhof Deutz.

Starting blocks

The starting blocks will be kicked off approximately every 4 minutes. The first runner of your team will have to pin the team bib number visible with the belt and the back number on the reverse of the shirt. No start without any bib number!

Starting times (may be subject to change)

9:00 a. m. half marathon

The order of the starting blocks will be RED – BLUE – YELLOW and GREEN.

IMPORTANT!

If you will feel ill on race day should stay at home. You will not only risk an infection of other participants, but also your own health. No wrong ambition please!

Finish area

The finish area will be located on Komödienstraße next to the city’s landmark, Cologne Cathedral. After the finish crossing you will pass the refreshment village and check out from the closed area to pick up your kit bags.

This will be the time when you could meet with your fans again.

Awards

Directly after crossing the finish line within the given time limit you will obtain your finisher medal. The award ceremony of the overall winners will take place after the finish. Winners of the age categories and special scorings will be awarded after the race via mail.

You can have a look onto a first, unofficial preliminary certificate with a click on your name in the result list. Your official certificate with the final time and positioning will be available approximately one week after the race (after the period for objection) at the same place.

Note: Within this period positionings may change.

Our race will be organized according to our, IAAF and DLV guidelines and specifications.

A violation of these provisions will directly lead to disqualification, i. e.:

starting without any bib number or any transponder or manipulation of transponder or chronometry (lacking intervall times, abandoning or shortening the course)
starting with more than one transponder
starting in the wrong starting block ahead, to be monitored via chronometry!
alteration of the bib number such as concealing or deviating the sponsors bar
transfer of bib number and/or transponder to another person
exceeding the given time limit
undershooting the required age
carrying along baby buggies, baby joggers etc.
carrying along animals
carrying along or using other technical devices
accompanying on bikes, inline skates etc.
taking illegal performance-enhancing substances (doping)
wearing headphones and listening to music via technical devices, e. g. iPods, smartphones etc.
violences against DLV and/or IAAF competition rules

The right to participate is a personal right and is not transferrable. You may not transfer your bib number to another person. Otherwise you will be disqualifíed.

Should you realise during your training that you can also run the double distance and dare the challenge the marathon (upgrade from half marathon to marathon) you could change the competition to the marathon prior to August 31, 2023 at the latest.

For the upgrade you are to pay the remaining amount of the already paid half marathon rate to the current marathon tariff.

You can change the competition by yourself via the link in your email confirmation of registration. Just click on “In order to edit your data please use this link” and go on.

Please find further information in the FAQ section (in German 🇩🇪 only).

Discover the course

All-time best

Since 2006 more than 183,000 runners have finished the Generali Cologne Half Marathon. Here please find the top 10 women and men with the fasted times ever and some further interesting statistics.

Positioning	Name	Country	Time
#1	Sabrina Mockenhaupt	DE	01:08:51
#2	Alina Reh	DE	01:09:31
#3	Irina Mikitenko	DE	01:10:09
#4	Sabrina Mockenhaupt	DE	01:10:33
#5	Sabrina Mockenhaupt	DE	01:10:35
#6	Luminita Ziatuc	DE	01:11:54
#7	Sabrina Mockenhaupt	DE	01:10:55
#8	Sabrina Mockenhaupt	DE	01:12:05
#9	Eleni Gebrehiwoth	DE	01:12:24
#10	Simret Restle-Apel	DE	01:12:28

Positioning	Name	Country	Time
#1	Leonard Langat	KE	01:03:00
#2	Melaku Belachew	ET	01:03:26
#3	Hendrik Pfeiffer	DE	01:03:42
#4	Tom Gröschel	DE	01:04:49
#5	Collins Kibet	KE	01:05:08
#6	Hendrik Pfeiffer	DE	01:05:11
#7	Jan Fitschen	DE	01:05:19
#8	Karol Grunenberg	DE	01:05:20
#9	Vitaly Rybak	UA	01:05:27
#10	Marcel Bräutigam	DE	01:05:35

Positioning	Name	Country	Time
#1	Maike Schön	DE	01:15:55
#2	Ulla Gatzweiler	DE	01:18:38
#3	Susanne Schulze	DE	01:19:39
#4	Vera Coutellier	DE	01:20:09
#5	Ulla Gatzweiler	DE	01:20:28
#6	Vera Coutellier	DE	01:21:09
#7	Marlies Meyer	DE	01:21:48
#8	Aude Salord	FR	01:21:57
#9	Rike Westermann	DE	01:22:12
#10	Ulla Gatzweiler	DE	01:23:32

Positioning	Name	Country	Time
#1	Lars Haferkamp	DE	01:07:35
#2	Bob Greis	DE	01:08:11
#3	Bob Greis	DE	01:09:36
#4	Lars Haferkamp	DE	01:09:51
#5	Marc Fricke	DE	01:10:03
#6	Sebastian Meurer	DE	01:10:25
#7	Roland Emmerich	DE	01:10:56
#8	Noureddine Mansouri	DE	01:11:14
#9	Sebastian Meurer	DE	01:12:22
#10	Idriss Oubaha	MA	01:12:50

Positioning	Name	Country	Time
#1	PSV Grün Weiß Kassel	DE	03:50:55
#2	LAZ PUMA Rhein-Sieg	DE	04:02:09
#3	LAZ Puma Troisdorf Siegburg	DE	04:07:27
#4	LG ASV DSHS KÖLN	DE	04:09:23
#5	Ski-Keller Kaulard & Schroiff 1	DE	04:09:36
#6	SG Wenden	DE	04:13:08
#7	LAZ Puma Rhein-Sieg	DE	04:23:33
#8	Laufsport Bunert Köln	DE	04:30:54
#9	LAZ Puma Rhein-Sieg	DE	04:33:41
#10	Saucony	DE	04:37:09

Positioning	Name	Country	Time
#1	LG Telis Finanz Regensburg	DE	03:20:21
#2	LAZ Puma Troisdorf/Siegburg	DE	03:25:30
#3	PSV Grün Weiß Kassel	DE	03:26:32
#4	LG Olympia Dortmund 1	DE	03:26:53
#5	LAZ Puma Troisdorf/Siegburg	DE	03:34:20
#6	LG Dorsten	DE	03:34:37
#7	TV Refrath	DE	03:34:57
#8	ASV Duisburg	DE	03:36:30
#9	LT DSHS Köln	DE	03:41:07
#10	TV Refrath 1	DE	03:42:00

Positioning	Name	Country	Time
#1	Debbie Schöneborn	DE	01:06:42
#2	Laura Hottenrott	DE	01:13:12
#3	Laura Hottenrott	DE	01:15:11
#4	Inga Hundeborn	DE	01:22:43
#5	Leonie Schelp	DE	01:26:58

Positioning	Name	Country	Time
#1	Hendrik Pfeiffer	DE	01:03:40
#2	Tobias Blum	DE	01:05:39
#3	Florian Röser	DE	01:06:42
#4	Tobias Blum	DE	01:06:46
#5	Ralf Ulmer	DE	01:11:46

Go to all results

PUMA 2023 event shirt

This year’s PUMA event shirt will be white-blue (for men) and white-red (for women) for the first time. It shows the skyline with Cologne’s city centre – exactly the same panoramic view you will get to see at your (half) marathon!

The shirt in regular fit is made of recycled fabrics, available in the sizes XS to XL (women) and S to XXL (men) and will be handed out at the Running.EXPO – our two-day expo in Motorworld Colgone – on Friday and Saturday, September 29 and 30.

Just book it within the online registration process – or via the edit link in the email confirmation of registration – while stocks last!

PUMA 2023 anniversary shoe

This does not exist very often: a pair of shoes for a race! However, we offer it to you:

Order your exclusive and limited Puma Velocity NITRO 2 in the classy Generali Cologne Marathon look “white-for all time red” for the 25th anniversary.

The shoe is made of high quality raw materials infused with Nitrogen, becomes extremely lightweight and comfortable and provides superior responsiveness and cushing by the advanced NITRO foam technology, with PUMAGRIP.

The Velocity NITRO 2 will be available in the EU size 36 to 43 for women and 39 to 49 for men.

Just book it within the online registration process – or via the edit link in the email confirmation of registration – while stocks last!

Insurance

What to do when you get ill prior to the race or you cannot come due to important reasons?

The Generali entry fee insurance (managed by Europ Assistance) will cover the costs of the entry fee e. g. in the case of illness, accident, unemployment, short-time work or extensive damage to your property (cf. insurance policy, in German 🇩🇪 only).

Book the entry fee insurance – depending on the entry fee contingency for

€ 13.92 (1st contingency)
€ 16.07 (2nd contingency)
€ 18.21 (3rd contingency)
€ 20.35 (4th contingency)

– and you can start your training without any stress! :o)

Please find further information on the coverage of the policy here (in German 🇩🇪 only!).

What is to do in the case of an insured event?

As long as you have booked this insurance and you cannot take part in the race please send us an email with the corresponding information. You will then receive a deregistration form from us which you can then submit for your claim via the online tool (in German 🇩🇪 only) when having an IBAN code:

copy of your email confirmation of registration
fully filled deregistration form
proof of illness, damage etc. (e. g. medical certificate)
your bank details (IBAN and BIC)

NOTE: A reimbursement is only possible with an IBAN account.

Cologne student cup

Those who learn a lot need to keep a level head! And to keep this, as is well-known, you have to do sports and go running. Therefore, we would like to award running students in Cologne and will again introduce the Cologne student cup (‘Kölner Studi-Werk Cup’ in German 🇩🇪) in cooperation with the Kölner Studierendenwerk for the marathon and half marathon like year before.

When you are currently matriculated at a Cologne-based university you may register online prior to September 15, 2024 for cheaper rates (after the first entry fee contingency 10% off the entry fee). Note: This scoring is not available for elite runners.

And we will have fancy prices for the fastest Cologne would-be graduates:

#1: trip to Uni-Champ by E&P-Reisen
#2: € 250.00 contribution to the semester fee, sponsored by Generali Cologne Marathon
#3: € 150.00 contribution to canteen meals, sponsored by Kölner Studierendenwerk

NEW: The award ceremony will directly take place on stage in the finish after the race for the first time. Please bring your valid student ID to race. We will check it before the award ceremony.

Note: Should you already be registered for the race we still may enroll you for the special Cologne student scoring. A reimbursement will however not be possible.

Sustainability

Sustainability is dear to our hearts. Together with our partners we set the goal to convert the Generali Cologne Marathon into one of the most sustainable running events. We did not only want to ‘buy’ a clear conscience with some euros and set the event climate-neutrally. We really wanted to change things! Therefore, we examined the entire organsational structure and carved out several starting points that we will go about step by step despite some discussions and opposition.

Already in the premiere year of 1997 we focussed on conservation. At that time we were the first marathon in Germany to offer a public transportation ticket free of charge for all participants and three (!) accompanying persons each. Due to large-scale road closures downtown Cologne is almost free of car traffic. Certainly conducive for a better air quality in the city – at least on race day.

This topic gained more and more traction in the end of 2018. For the 2019 edition we developped a concept for waste avoidance. Instead of handing out beverages in 300,000 one-way plastic cups we replaced parts of these by returnable cups. These multi-trip cups were collected in nets and by volunteering ‘cup angels’. A trial with a big success – almost 100% of the cups were returned and could be washed for the next use. In the medium term we intend to fully abstain from one-way cups.

Moreover, we produced wood medals in 2019 for the first time. At first the participants discussed this controversial issue, but in the finish they all received these medals excitedly.

In 2019 even the finisher shirt was made of wood. Also here scepticism among the runners was high. But in the end the shirts were sold out.

We have not finalised the sustainability journey yet, we still have some ideas. We cannot implement them alone, you are also challenged to participate. The cups are not to be thrown onto the roads as practised for years, but into the nets! Preferably travel by public transportation or by bike. And in case you have any further cool ideas please let us know. We are looking forward to every single creative support!

Sustainability