Fast-paced running action: The Frankfurt Marathon inspires 17,000 participants!

Fast-paced running action: The Frankfurt Marathon inspires 17,000 participants!

On Sunday, October 25, 2025, Frankfurt will once again be transformed into a running metropolis, as the 42nd Frankfurt Marathon is approaching. The event set a new record with almost 17,000 registrations, which impressively demonstrates the “boom of running,” in the words of race director Jo Schindler. The route of 42.195 kilometers leads from the exhibition center through the Westend, the city center, Niederrad and Schwanheim, to Höchst, and finally brings the participants to the finish in the festival hall on a red carpet with a return via Mainzer Landstrasse and the Europaviertel.

There will be numerous road closures around the race: some starting as early as 5 a.m. to prepare the roads for spectators and runners. Motorists are encouraged to use public transport as many tram and bus routes are restricted between 6.30am and 6.30pm. The subway and S-Bahn, however, run as scheduled. The most important facilities, such as the main train station and the airport, are easily accessible via various motorways.

Stars and favorites

Among the athletes in attendance are some well-known names in the marathon circuit. For the men, everyone can look forward to Shura Kitata from Ethiopia, who was already victorious in 2017 and has a personal best time of 2:04:49 hours. In the women's race, Magdalyne Masai from Kenya is considered a candidate for victory after finishing second last year with a best time of 2:18:58 hours. The course record of 2:17:25 hours, held by Hawi Feysa, may also be under attack.

The German participants don't have to hide: Filimon Abraham has the sixth fastest German time with 2:08:11 hours, and his goal is a time under 2:08:00 hours, which is definitely feasible considering the fast route. The Frankfurt Marathon is one of the fastest in Europe, thanks to its flat and well-planned route. This gives the spectators hope not only for exciting races, but also for interesting records.

A celebration for the spectators

Runner or not – the Frankfurt Marathon also offers an exciting experience for spectators. 44 music groups will create a great atmosphere along the route, and popular hotspots such as the Opernplatz and the Hauptwache are ideal places to experience the action up close. The finishes in the festival hall will be broadcast live on large screens, and Hessischer Rundfunk will provide a TV broadcast from 10 a.m. Culture and sport come together, meaning many citizens don't want to miss the opportunity to cheer on their favorite runners.

The Frankfurt Marathon has a long history, starting in 1981 with the Hoechst Marathon, when 3,169 athletes registered. The first winner, Kjell-Erik Stahl from Sweden, covered the distance in 2:13:20 hours. Since then, the event, which now attracts over 20,000 participants, has taken place continuously, even if 2020 and 2021 were canceled due to the pandemic. Every year brings new stories and highlights, with the popularity of the marathon constantly increasing, as well as the number of participants, who passed the 20,000 mark in 2022 and even set numerous new best times in 2023.

The marathon race already had a special meaning in ancient Greece. The 42,195 kilometer route has its roots in the legend of Pheidippides, who lived in 490 BC. BC ran from Athens to Sparta. The first modern marathon took place in Greece in 1896, and since then the format has been adopted worldwide. In Germany, events like the Frankfurt Marathon are very popular and make the city run a social event that brings people of all ages together.

The Leipzig tram will bring spectators into the city with a clear conscience while the runners prepare for the course. Whether as a participant or spectator – here’s to an atmospheric marathon in Frankfurt!