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Relay marathon

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1 team, stages of different lengths, 42.195 kilometres – that is the Generali Cologne Relay Marathon. Complete the marathon distance together! One for all, all for one!

Course

flat & fast

Start

Deutz

Finish

Cologne Cathedral

Best refreshments

Yummy!

Stages

4

Entry fees

entry slot 1 – 99
Fully booked
entry slot 100 – 249
Fully booked
entry slot 250 – 1,000
€199.00

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

Race information

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

 

Competition rules

The Generali Relay Team Marathon will be organised according to International competition rules (Internationale Wettkampfbestimmungen (IWB) of the Deutscher Leichtathletik-Verbandes (DLV) e. V. and International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) rules under the supervision of the DLV.

All relay teams will be ranked according to their finish time (the first three relay teams), all others according to their net times.

Four runners form a relay team that is to absolve the total distance of 42.195 kilometres (12 – 11.5 – 6 – 12.7 k).

There is not any separate scoring for each gender and/or age classes.

This competition is open for private, club and school teams.

Participation

For the participation in the relay team marathon you have at least be 14 years of age on race day (birthday in 2010 and older). Relevant is the year of birth not the birthday.

The limit for the relay team marathon is 1,000. 750 starting slots are in free sale, further 250 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 Sport Health Check 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.

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.

The composition of your relay team has to be finalised prior to October 4, 2025, at 5:30 p. m. at the latest.

Handing over the bib numbers to non-registered persons/teams are not possible and will lead to direct disqualifcation.

The relay team runners should arrive early enough at the transition zones to be able to orientate themselves.

The team members will share the total distance of 42.195 kilometres. These four stages will have different distances:

  • 1st runner approx. 12.0 k
  • 2nd runner approx. 11.9 k
  • 3rd runner approx. 6.0 k
  • 4th runner approx. 12.3 k

At the end of each stage the runner will have to enter the transition zone and hand over the team bib number with the belt to the next runner of your relay team.

The next runner should have lined up in the transition zone before early enough waiting for the runner in the section according to the team bib number.

Please consider not to disturb other relay teams in the transition zone.

Find an overview of the transition zones here:

Race packets

In order to be able to participate your team captain will have to pick up your bib numbers and race packets in person at the Running.EXPO. This expo will take place in MOTORWORLD Cologne and be opened on Friday, October 3, from 10:00 a. m. to 8:00 p. m. and on Saturday, October 4, 2025, 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 relay teams will be ranked by gross time and will be marked by * in the result list. All other relay teams will be added by net time.

Please note that, due to a strict timeframe and municipal provisions, you are to complete the competition within a time of 6:00 hours net. The course has to be opened for public transportation then. Should your relay team exceed this time limit your runner will be addressed accordingly by the marshals and the broom wagon driver. The runner has 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)

10:30 a. m. marathon including relay teams and school marathon

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

 

IMPORTANT!

Those who 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 the final runner of your relay team you can meet again outside the closed area to pick up your kit bags.

Please desist from a mutual finish crossing of all four relay team runners in respect for the marathoners. These have run the 42.195 kilometres on their own and thus are exhausted accordingly.

 

Awards

Directly after crossing the finish line within the given time limit your last runner will obtain all four finisher medals for the team members. The award ceremony will take place after the finish.

You can have a look onto a first, unofficial preliminary certificate with a click on the name of your relay team 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.

We are going to compile all relevant information for race day in the race information (PDF file) asap for you. Please read thoroughly!

Note: Pick-up of race kits: on Friday and Saturday at the Running.EXPO in der MOTORWORLD Köln only

Getting there with public transportation: We recommend to get there with bus and train – alternatively navigate by car via Waze

Own beverages: Hand-in on October 4 for marathoners from 9:30 to 10:15 a. m. in the starting area (Auenweg)

Service package

  • closed-off, officially measured and AIMS-approved course
  • professional timekeeping: bib number with transponder
  • high-quality, sustainable start bag
  • sustainable medal
  • 11 refreshment stations along the course
  • event points and party atmosphere along the course
  • moderation iat the start and finish as well as along the course
  • year-round participant support
  • year-round communication and information
  • data access and control via change link

Optionally

  • photo flat including video
  • despatch of race kit within Germany and BeNeLux
  • merchandise: shirt, jacket, shoes etc.
  • preferred bib number

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