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 1,100. 950 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 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 Relay Team Marathon (42,195 m)
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 5, 2024, at 5:30 p. m. at the latest.
Should anyone of your team members resign shortly please check our Facebook marketplace for relay teams (Facebook-Staffelbörse) and search for alternative runners.
Handing over the bib numbers to non-registered persons/teams are not possible and will lead to direct disqualifcation.
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 4, from 10:00 a. 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 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!
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.
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.
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
Since 2007 more than 6,600 teams have finished the Generali Cologne Rleay Team Marathon. Here please find the top 10 teams with the fasted times ever. Note: The carnival teams are not included as there was no chronometry for them at the time.
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!
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!
