Features ADAC Marathon Hannover

01 July 2014, 7am

Distance Running 2014 Edition 3 > Features > In the heart of Europe

The fair city of Hannover offers a variety of cultural, historic and scientific highlights, but the marathon has played a leading role in making Hannover one of the foremost sporting cities in the country.

In the heart of Europe

TUI Marathon Hannover
Sun 27 April 2014

On 19 April next year the Marathon Hannover celebrates its 25th anniversary. Twenty thousand runners from around 80 countries will converge on the capital of Lower Saxony. This year’s event enjoyed a 20% increase in the number of participants over 2013 and more than 200,000 excited spectators lined the route. The flat course, with only 17m of difference in elevation, attracts runners from far and wide who want to improve their personal best times. The journey is short, whether you travel by car, plane or train: Hannover, in the heart of Europe, has smooth and efficient transport connections to all parts of the continent.

This is a compact marathon, with the start and finish area right in front of one of the most beautiful town halls in Europe, the ”Neues Rathaus”. As well as the smooth and successful organisation, there is a friendly mix of professional and casual runners which adds to the atmosphere of the race.

Course records are held by South Africa’s Lusapho April (2:08:32) and Ukrainian runner Olena Burkovska (2:27:07). Those times were not threatened this year, but the tactical battles within the large leading group gripped the spectators’ attention right up until the finish line. In the end the underdog came out on top. Henry Kipsigei Chirchir from Kenya outpaced his more favoured countrymen, Francis Bowen and Evans Ruto, in the last few metres. Souad Ait Salem from Algeria won the women’s race in a tight finish against Nadesha Leonteva from Russia and Kenyan Bornes Kitur.

The 18,000 participants in this year’s events could choose between various races including the marathon, half-marathon, 10km and walking/Nordic walking. They pulled on their running shoes and transformed the city into a unique scene set. It started with the kids and family Saturday as 2,000 little runners took part in the Kids’ Run. Sunday belongs to the “big” guys.

Right after the start of the marathon runners pass the 47m-high Waterloo column and Hannover’s 2006 World Cup soccer stadium, the HDI-Arena, continuing along the edge of the “Maschsee” (Hannover’s popular lake) and into the city forest Eilenriede. Further landmarks follow, including the opera, the central station, the city zoo (which has regularly won the title of best zoo in Germany), the Herrenhausen Palace with its fantastic baroque gardens, Leibnitz University’s grand main building and the ‘sculpture mile’ with the famous “Nanas” by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle. With all that to experience, it is no wonder if runners feel slightly overwhelmed by the time they get to the end of their tour.

Next year’s event will generate a great atmosphere and provide a colorful and wide-ranging programme. There will be a three-hour live television broadcast and the Marathon-Expo and many special events will round out the marathon weekend for our silver jubilee marathon on 19 April 2015.

Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH is offering special hotel packages for the 25th Hannover Marathon for all participants and visitors. For further information and registration please visit our homepage: http://www.marathon-hannover.de/eng

The road to Hannover is short – we want you to celebrate our 25th anniversary with us.