Half-marathon statistics in Germany 2026: times, finishers and trends

How many people run Germany’s major half marathons? How fast is the distance growing — and what pace do you need for 1:45, two or two and a half hours? This overview brings together figures from official results and race organisers and explains which numbers can genuinely be compared.

The most important distinction comes first: finishers, starters and entries are three different measures. They are often mixed together in statistics. Every figure here therefore specifies what was counted. For 2026, we only include data already published: the major spring races have been evaluated, while the autumn races in Cologne and Munich are still ahead.

Half-marathon statistics 2026: key figures at a glance

Sources: official organiser publications from Berlin, Cologne and Hannover, linked below. The Hannover percentage is calculated from the published participant figures.

How large are Germany’s major half marathons?

A simple ranking would be misleading because organisers publish different measures. Berlin reports actual finishers, Cologne reports entries, Hannover reports participants and Hamburg reports the number of allocated places. The table therefore presents officially reported figures, not a like-for-like ranking.

These figures cannot be ranked directly: an entry does not guarantee a start, and a start does not guarantee a finish. Cologne will be updated with the official finisher count after the race on 4 October.

Berlin: 37,355 finishers and a German record

According to the organiser, the 45th GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON on 29 March 2026 was a race of records: 37,355 athletes finished, more than ever before. Women made up 44.9% of finishers — also a record.

In cold but sunny conditions, Kenya’s Andrea Kiptoo won in 59:11 and Likina Amebaw took the women’s race in 65:07. Amanal Petros finished third in 59:22, setting a new German record.

Cologne: 20,000 places, sold out earlier than ever

The half marathon at the Generali Köln Marathon is sold out in 2026 with 20,000 participants — according to the organiser, since the start of the year and therefore earlier than ever before. Across all events of the weekend, the organiser reported 40,990 entries, 10.6% more than the previous year.

The race takes place on Sunday, 4 October 2026, from Deutz to the cathedral. We will add the official finisher figures once they are published.

Hamburg and Munich: sold-out fields

At the Haspa Marathon Hamburg on 26 April 2026, 8,000 places were allocated in the half marathon; the entire weekend was sold out seven months in advance. Hamburg also holds a separate half marathon in September.

In Munich, the half marathon at the Munich Marathon takes place on 11 October 2026 and, according to the organiser, is sold out. No official participant figure was available at the data cutoff.

How is half-marathon participation changing?

The longest official time series in the sources reviewed comes from the ADAC Marathon Hannover. It shows the half marathon as a driver of growth: from 2,273 participants in 2001, the figure rose to 13,758 in 2026 — six times as many. Since 2024 alone, participation has grown by 39.7%, and the pre-pandemic 2019 figure has been exceeded by 36.8%.

Hannover organiser data, half-marathon category. The pandemic years 2020 to 2022 have no regular comparable figures and are omitted. Bars represent selected observations, not a continuous annual series.

For comparison: Hannover’s marathon grew even faster between 2024 and 2026, by 71.4%, but from a much lower base. Details are in our marathon statistics for Germany.

What is the average half-marathon time in Germany?

The honest answer: there is no centrally published, official German average. In the organiser sources reviewed, we also found no published average finishing time for individual races. Claims such as “the average German runs X:XX” almost always come from analyses whose data basis cannot be verified.

As an orientation point, two hours is a common half-marathon benchmark — not because it is the average, but because it is a round target. It requires the same pace per kilometre as a four-hour marathon.

What pace do you need for your half-marathon target?

Your own target time is more useful for planning than an average. The table converts common half-marathon goals into a constant pace per kilometre, calculated exactly over 21.0975 km; aid-station stops and GPS differences are not included. For other distances use the pace calculator, and for preparation the half-marathon training plan.

From half marathon to marathon: estimating your target time

Many runners use a half marathon as a benchmark for a marathon. A widely used approximation is the formula published by engineer Peter Riegel in 1981: marathon time = half-marathon time × 2^1.06. A 1:45 half becomes roughly 3:39, and a 2:00 half roughly 4:10.

The formula assumes you are just as well prepared for twice the distance. For many recreational runners it is therefore too optimistic, because long runs and volume are missing. Treat the result as an upper limit, not a target. Our marathon statistics show what times are actually run at German marathons.

How to read half-marathon statistics

• Entries: allocated or registered race places. Some entrants never start.
• Starters: people who actually cross the start line.
• Finishers: people with a valid recorded finish in the race results.
• Chip time: an individual’s time from crossing the start line to crossing the finish line; usually more useful for recreational comparisons.
• Gun time: time from the official starting signal; affected by time spent reaching the start line in large fields.
• Median: the middle result in the sorted field; often more representative than the mean, but rarely published.

Methodology and limitations

This overview uses only figures published by race organisers or their official results services. Percentages and paces are calculated from those figures and from the half-marathon distance of 21.0975 km. Unverified statistics roundups are not used as sources.

Not every event publishes the same detail. We therefore avoid a seemingly exact Germany-wide total and label different counting methods. The 2026 autumn races in Cologne and Munich will be added once their final results are published.

Primary sources

Source links open in a new tab. Some original publications are in German.

1. GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON — official magazine, 2026 review (German): 37,355 finishers and share of women.
2. GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON — official race report 2026: winning times, German record and conditions.
3. Generali Köln Marathon — press release, 25 September 2026 (German): 20,000 half-marathon entries and 40,990 entries in total.
4. Generali Köln Marathon — announcement, 26 August 2026 (German): half marathon sold out since the start of the year.
5. ADAC Marathon Hannover — participant statistics 2001–2026 (German): time series by event and 2027 race date.
6. Haspa Marathon Hamburg — 2026 entry figures (German): half-marathon allocation and race dates.
7. muenchen.de — Munich Marathon 2026 (German): race date and half-marathon booking status.

Data cutoff and source review: 30 September 2026

Frequently asked questions

How long is a half marathon?

A half marathon is exactly 21.0975 kilometres long, half the marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres. Courses must be measured in accordance with the applicable rules to qualify for official performance rankings.

What is a good half-marathon time?

A good time depends on your age, training history, course and goals. Two hours is a common benchmark, not a judgement of your ability. For a first half marathon, a controlled finish is often the more useful goal; experienced runners base their targets on recent race performances.

What pace do you need for a sub-two-hour half marathon?

A half marathon of exactly 2:00 hours requires an average pace of roughly 5:41 minutes per kilometre. That is the same pace as a four-hour marathon. For a small buffer, plan a race pace a few seconds faster.

What is the largest half marathon in Germany?

Measured by actual finishers, the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON is the largest half marathon in Germany. According to the organiser, 37,355 athletes finished in 2026, more than ever before.

When are Germany's major half marathons?

In autumn 2026, the half marathons at the Generali Köln Marathon on 4 October and at the Munich Marathon on 11 October take place. Berlin, Hannover and Hamburg are traditionally held in spring; Hannover is scheduled for 11 April 2027 and Hamburg for 25 April 2027.

How do you convert a half-marathon time into a marathon time?

A widely used approximation is Peter Riegel's formula: marathon time equals half-marathon time multiplied by 2 to the power of 1.06. A 2:00 half marathon becomes roughly 4:10. The formula assumes you are adequately trained for the longer distance and is too optimistic for many recreational runners.