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PRACTICAL TIPS

Where to run a marathon in Germany in 2024

The Berlin Marathon is among the most popular in the world, but Germany is home to dozens of interesting marathon routes spread across the country. Here's a list of marathons you can still sign up for in 2024.

Berlin marathon
Berlin's BMW Marathon is among the world's 'Big-5' and attracts tens of thousands of participants each year. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Paul Zinken

Kenyan runner Daniel Ebenyo won first place in Berlin’s Half Marathon on Sunday with a finishing time of 59:30.

With the capital’s annual half marathon already concluded, the running season in Germany is well underway. But for anyone with a half or full marathon still on their 2024 to-do list, there are plenty more races to come. 

READ ALSO: How living in Germany turned me into an athlete

In fact, dozens of lesser known marathon races take place across Germany each year from March to October. Many of the smaller races can be significantly easier and cheaper to sign-up for than those in Berlin, and some of the routes offer runners picturesque views of the countryside along the way.

Here are some of Germany’s upcoming marathon races in 2024:

Germany’s biggest marathons

Included among the ‘Big-5 marathon series’, the Berlin Marathon is one of the most popular marathon races in the world. In 2023, nearly 48,000 runners from 156 countries took part in the event. This year’s race will take place on September 29th.

Part of the Berlin Marathon’s appeal, for professional athletes and record seekers, is that the relatively flat course with few turns is considered one of the world’s fastest – world records have been set here many times.

But the course’s popularity also means that it is the hardest race to register for in Germany.

According to the event website, starting places are allocated by lottery. Registrants for the 2024 marathon already applied in the autumn of last year. Berlin’s Half Marathon can also be quite competitive to register for.

READ ALSO: Runners brave 160km marathon to mark fall of Berlin Wall

Registering with a charity is one way that potential racers can more readily join the race, but even this requires planning well ahead. (When a reporter from The Local tried to register for the marathon in February, multiple charities replied that they could instead join the wait list for a 2025 spot.)

So if you haven’t already secured a spot, joining the 2024 Berlin Marathon is probably out of the question. But marathons elsewhere in Germany can be much easier (and cheaper) to register for.

The country’s next largest marathons, in terms of number of finishers, include the Haspa Marathon in Hamburg, the Munich Marathon, and the Cologne Marathon.

Spreewald marathon

The Spreewald Marathon is one of Brandenburg’s biggest sporting events. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Frank Hammerschmidt

Spring marathons in April and May

Coming up immediately, the Deutsche-Post Marathon in Bonn and the ADAC Marathon in Hanover are both scheduled for Sunday, April 14th this year.

The following weekend will see the Leipzig Marathon on Sunday, April 21st. According to the event website, the Leipzig Marathon dates back to 1897.

One week after that, the Haspa Marathon in Hamburg is scheduled for April 28th.

A few of the bigger marathons in May include: the Gutenberg Marathon in Mainz on May 5th, the Regensburg Marathon on May 12th, and the i-Welt Marathon in Würzburg on May 26th.

Germany’s most beautiful races

For those willing to travel beyond the bigger cities for a foot race, Germany’s forests, mountains, rivers and castles make for some awe-inspiring scenery along some of the lesser-known race routes.

The Spreewald Marathon, for example, offers a number of race events on flat ground with beautiful views of the surrounding waterways and forests. This year’s marathon is scheduled for April 21st, with bike and skate marathons the day before.

The Royal Castles Marathon Füssen offers nearly continuous views of the Alps and runs along several lakes. The race is scheduled for the July 20th this year.

For runners seeking a challenge, the Black Forest Marathon is known to be one of the most challenging and beautiful natural routes in the world, according to Runner’s World. Interestingly, the Schwarzwald race also happens to be the world’s oldest women’s marathon. The majority of the course is on forest paths, and takes place on October 12th and 13th this year.

For more extensive lists of Germany’s marathons check MarathonGuide.com or WorldsMarathons.com.

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For members

HEALTH

Does my German health insurance cover me if I get sick abroad?

If you’ll spend some time abroad this year, it may be worth checking if your German health insurance will cover you while travelling. Many German health insurance policies offer some coverage abroad, but not everywhere.

Does my German health insurance cover me if I get sick abroad?

If you’re planning to travel this summer, you may want to review your German health insurance policy before you leave. It’s wise to know what your insurance will and will not cover in case you or a family member get sick abroad.

As a reminder, health insurance is mandatory for all residents in Germany. So all legal residents here undoubtedly have at least the basic required coverage, provided by one of Germany’s public health insurance providers or a private health insurance plan that meets the minimum coverage requirements.

German insurance does cover medical emergencies in Europe

Statutory health insurance holders in Germany automatically receive a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). In many cases your EHIC is the same as your regular health insurance card (Gesundheitskarte).

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED – Can you switch from private to public health insurance in Germany?

For those with an EHIC, necessary health care is covered in European countries. For example, if you get sick while travelling Europe, or have an accident or need urgent surgery, your German insurance will pay for the immediate emergency treatment you require.

Some health insurance plans may also extend their coverage to a few other countries beyond the EU, such as Switzerland, Iceland or French territories like French Guiana or Guadeloupe, just to name a few examples. 

But generally basic coverage does not extend to Africa, the Americas, Australia or Asia.

A full list of countries where you can use your EHIC is found here.

health insurance cards

Many health insurance cards in Germany double as a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), meaning that they can be used across Europe. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jens Kalaene

Note that this care does not necessarily extend to treatments that are not urgent. Once your condition is stabilised and it is safe for you to travel, you may be transferred back to Germany to finish any further treatments at home.

Generally doctors in other European countries should be able to bill EHIC providers directly, but if not, you’ll want to keep your bill and submit an invoice to your health insurance provider for a reimbursement. In this case, you should collect and keep all the documents you receive related to your care, like prescriptions and receipts.

Generally additional health insurance would be required for long-distance trips. If you are taking a business trip abroad, your employer is responsible for reimbursing health care costs.

Note that health costs can be considerably more expensive in other countries

A standard health insurance plan in Germany won’t cover medical expenses incurred in most countries outside of Europe, so you may want to purchase travel health insurance for trips beyond the continent.

Keep in mind that in some countries, like the United States, the cost of medical care tends to be significantly higher than it would be in Germany. So purchasing additional care insurance may be worth considering when travelling there.

Most major insurers in Germany, like Allianz and AXA, offer supplemental global health coverage that would pay for most of the costs which are un-refunded by your main insurance while travelling.

READ ALSO: Could it soon get harder to get private health insurance in Germany?

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