Hannover Marathon

Location: Hannover
Country: Germany
Website: https://www.marathon-hannover.de
2025 Marathon Date: 06/04/2025
2026 Marathon Date: 12/04/2026
Winning Time 2025: 2:06:29
% Sub-3s: 10–15%
# Sub-3s: 100–499
Total Runners: 3k–10k

The Hannover Marathon is a spring event held in northern Germany, known for its flat, fast course and strong organisational pedigree. It has built a reputation among serious runners across Europe as a reliable PB course and a practical alternative to the continent’s larger city marathons.

The race begins and ends in Hannover’s historic city centre, close to the New Town Hall and Maschsee Lake. The route takes runners through broad boulevards, parkland and residential streets, with minimal elevation and only a few mild turns. The course is well designed for consistent rhythm, with long, flat straights and ample space for overtaking.

April in Hannover typically brings mild weather, with start-line temperatures often between 8–13°C and a mix of cloud, light sun or gentle rain. Wind conditions vary but are rarely disruptive. These temperate spring conditions, coupled with the forgiving layout, help make Hannover one of Germany’s more accessible sub-3 options.

The event is professionally organised, with good crowd support in central sections and an experienced team behind logistics, pacing and aid delivery. The marathon shares its schedule with shorter distance events, but marathon runners are kept on clear paths and benefit from dedicated pacers at key target times.

For sub-3 marathoners, the Hannover Marathon combines German efficiency with a runner-focused layout. The course doesn’t just suit elites - it provides the steady pacing environment and comfort of space that many club runners need to perform at their best. It’s especially well regarded for its clean splits and lack of congestion, even in the final miles.

While Hannover lacks the scale of Berlin or Frankfurt, it makes up for it with a focused and fast experience. The atmosphere is friendly rather than overpowering, and the emphasis is on performance over spectacle. For runners seeking a European marathon that blends speed, simplicity and structure, the Hannover Marathon is an excellent spring choice.