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School marathon

School marathon

Entry fees

The entry fees for the RheinEnergie Cologne School Marathon go by certain contingencies of entry slots, not according to certain points in time.

Registration
Entry slots Entry fee
1 – 300 €50.00

Race information – What do I have to know?

We will organise the RheinEnergie Cologne School Marathon according to our regulations as follows:

7 pupils form a relay team splitting the total marathon distance in sections of 5 k, 7 k, 5.5 k, 6 k, 6 k, 8 k and 4.7 k.
There will be 2 categories:
  • female
  • male/mixed

No categories according to age.

In case pupils have to run several sections her/his team cannot compete for the first 3 positionings.

Relay teams have to be officially registered by the school management. The scoring is open for all school types (as of class 5).

For the school marathon challenge you must at least be 10 years of age on race day (birthday in 2014 and older) and possess an official bib number with a transponder.

300 starting slots for school teams are in free sale.

Please note that, due to a strict timeframe, you are to complete the competition within a time of 6:00 hours net. Otherwise you will be taken off the course and brought to the finish area by bus.

The course has to be opened for public transportation then.

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.

The handout of the race packets will already take place in advance:

  • date: tbc
  • time: tbc

Note: Please bring along the email confirmation of participation as well as a list of the shirts sizes. Thank you.

Starting times (may be subject to change)

10:30 a. m. marathon including relay teams and school marathon
starting blocks RED, BLUE, YELLOW and GREEN

 

The start will be located on Opladener Straße next to Ottoplatz/Bahnhof Deutz.

Your time will be measured with a transponder attached to the bib number by race result for the first time.

You must wear a transponder to get an official finishing time!

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 along the course. Lacking interval times may cause in disqualification.

The first 10 finisher relay teams will be ranked by gross time and be marked by * in the result list.

The final composition of your relay team has to be finalised prior to October 5, 2024, at 5:30 p. m.

Transition zones will be selected so that the sections of 5 – 7 – 5.5 – 6 – 6 – 8 – 4.7 k can apply.

Within these transition zones the bib number including the bib number belt has to be handed over to the next runner.

Enjoy the moment! Directly after crossing the finish line your last runner will directed to the school marathon meeting point where the well-deserved finisher medals for all team members will be handed out.

The award ceremony will take place approx. 60 minutes after the finish crossing on stage in the finish area.

All results will be unofficial for the following 7 days.

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
  • exceeding the given time limit
  • undershooting the required age
  • carrying along baby buggies, baby joggers etc.
  • carrying along animals
  • carrying along or using other technical devices
  • accompanying on bikes, inline skates etc.
  • taking illegal performance-enhancing substances (doping)
  • wearing headphones and listening to music via technical devices, e. g. iPods, smartphones etc.
  • violences against DLV and/or IAAF competition rules
  • start with more or less than 4 relay team members
  • handing-over of transponders outside the transition zones

Please find further information in the FAQ section (in German 🇩🇪 only).

School marathon course

The top 10

Here please find the fasted ever run times in Cologne. Note: In the years 2017 to 2019 we organised a single-scoring pupils run instead of the school marathon.

Positioning Name Country Time
#1 Landrat Lucas Gymnasium, Leverkusen DE 02:34:58
#2 Gymnasium Grotenbach, Gummersbach DE 02:40:54
#3 Cusanus Gymnasium, Erkelenz DE 02:41:10
#4 Norbertgymnasium, Knechtsteden DE 02:42:38
#5 IGP Bergisch-Gladbach/Paffrath, Bergisch Gladbach DE 02:43:05
#6 Elisabeth Langgässer Gymnasium, Alzey DE 02:43:27
#7 Gymnasium Herkenrath, Herkenrath DE 02:43:51
#8 Gesamtschule Kürten, Kürten DE 02:44:07
#9 Norbertgymnasium, Knechtsteden DE 02:44:10
#10 Cusanus Gymnasium, Erkelenz DE 02:44:12
Go to all results

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!

Sustainability Icon Nachhaltigkeit