Hold back in the center
The first 13 km wind through the busiest, loudest part of the city. Run them at goal pace and save energy for the quiet stretch along the river.
Frankfurt, Germany · Sunday, October 25, 2026
Frankfurt Marathon race guide
Frankfurt is Germany’s oldest city marathon and a fast one: flat, with the whole course between about 90 and 120 m. It starts by the Messe, loops through the city center and the banking district, crosses the Main to Sachsenhausen, runs west along the river through Niederrad and Schwanheim to Höchst, and comes back through Griesheim and Gallus to finish inside the Festhalle.
Pace plan
Plan your race on this course
Set your goal and start time. Your checkpoints, the time of day you’ll reach each one, and the course guide below all update to match.
Build your plan01
Pacing
A little slower on the climbs, a little faster on the downhills and flats, for the same finish time. Based on where this course climbs. Treat it as an effort guide.
Enter your wave’s start time: 10:00, 10:13, 10:27 or 10:35 a.m., depending on your block. Clocks go back an hour that morning.
Splits
Your Frankfurt Marathon02
Average pace
4:59/km
- First half
- 1:44:58
- Second half
- 1:45:02
- Finish line
Hover or tap a bar to see that km.
| Checkpoint | Elapsed |
|---|---|
| Hauptwache7.5 km · Donation gate. Should feel easy | 37:26 |
| Sachsenhausen15 km · Across the Main. Settle in | 1:14:42 |
| Halfway, Schwanheim21.1 km · Even pace, or a few seconds behind | 1:44:58 |
| Höchst27 km · Western end. Head for home | 2:14:23 |
| Gallus35 km · Gentle rise toward the center | 2:54:09 |
| Hauptwache again39 km · Three km to go | 3:14:10 |
| Finish42.2 km · Inside the Festhalle | 3:30:00 |
Save it to your phone, or send the link to the people cheering for you.
- Date
- Sunday, October 25, 2026
- Start time
- 10:00 a.m. CET, five waves to 10:35
- Start
- Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage, by the Messe
- Finish
- Inside the Festhalle, on the Messe grounds
- Time limit
- You must start by 10:45 a.m.; the finish closes at 5:00 p.m.
- Elevation gain
- About 60 m
- Official site
- frankfurt-marathon.com
- Profile
- Flat, between about 90 and 120 m above sea level
- Best for
- A PR, with an indoor finish
- Biggest mistake
- Running the busy city-center kilometers too fast
- Clocks
- Daylight saving ends that morning. Set your watch
The course
The course, at your pace
- km0–5
Messe & the Bahnhofsviertel Flat
You start on Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage by the Messe and head into the city along Mainzer Landstraße through the station district. Wide and flat. Let the waves spread out.
5:00 /km5 km at 24:59
- km5–13
Westend & the city center Flat
Out along Bockenheimer Landstraße through the Westend and back through the center, with the skyline all around. The donation gate at the Hauptwache is around km 7.5. This is the course’s slightly higher ground, about 115 m near km 10.
4:58 /km13 km at 1:04:46
- km13–17
Over the Main to Sachsenhausen Flat
Across the river into Sachsenhausen and along Kennedyallee. It’s a good time to settle and take your first gel.
4:59 /km17 km at 1:24:38
- km17–24
Niederrad & Schwanheim Flat
West through Niederrad and into Schwanheim, where you pass halfway. Quieter streets close to the river. Find a group and share the work.
4:58 /km24 km at 1:59:23
- km24–30
Höchst Flat
Out to Höchst’s old town, the course’s western end, then back east through Griesheim. Flat and close to the river, at about 97 m.
4:59 /km30 km at 2:29:15
- km30–37
Griesheim & Gallus Flat
Along Mainzer Landstraße through Gallus and the Europaviertel. The road climbs gently, about 15 m, back toward the center. It’s barely visible, but you’ll feel it this late.
4:59 /km37 km at 3:04:10
- km37–42.2
Through the center to the Festhalle Flat
Back past the Hauptwache donation gate around km 39 and the Roßmarkt, then out to the Messe and into the Festhalle for an indoor finish.
4:58 /kmFinish at 3:30:00
Every km split for 3:30:00
| Km | Terrain | Pace /km | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flat | 5:01 | 5:01 |
| 2 | Flat | 5:00 | 10:01 |
| 3 | Flat | 4:57 | 14:58 |
| 4 | Flat | 5:00 | 19:58 |
| 5 | Flat | 5:00 | 24:58 |
| 6 | Flat | 5:00 | 29:58 |
| 7 | Flat | 4:59 | 34:57 |
| 8 | Flat | 4:58 | 39:55 |
| 9 | Flat | 4:58 | 44:54 |
| 10 | Flat | 4:59 | 49:52 |
| 11 | Flat | 4:59 | 54:52 |
| 12 | Flat | 4:57 | 59:49 |
| 13 | Flat | 4:56 | 1:04:45 |
| 14 | Flat | 4:59 | 1:09:44 |
| 15 | Flat | 4:59 | 1:14:42 |
| 16 | Flat | 4:59 | 1:19:41 |
| 17 | Flat | 4:58 | 1:24:39 |
| 18 | Flat | 4:58 | 1:29:37 |
| 19 | Flat | 4:57 | 1:34:34 |
| 20 | Flat | 4:57 | 1:39:32 |
| 21 | Flat | 4:57 | 1:44:29 |
| 22 | Flat | 4:59 | 1:49:28 |
| 23 | Flat | 4:59 | 1:54:26 |
| 24 | Flat | 4:58 | 1:59:25 |
| 25 | Flat | 4:58 | 2:04:23 |
| 26 | Flat | 4:59 | 2:09:22 |
| 27 | Flat | 5:00 | 2:14:22 |
| 28 | Flat | 4:58 | 2:19:20 |
| 29 | Flat | 4:57 | 2:24:17 |
| 30 | Flat | 4:59 | 2:29:16 |
| 31 | Flat | 4:59 | 2:34:14 |
| 32 | Flat | 4:58 | 2:39:13 |
| 33 | Flat | 4:59 | 2:44:12 |
| 34 | Flat | 4:59 | 2:49:11 |
| 35 | Flat | 4:57 | 2:54:08 |
| 36 | Flat | 5:00 | 2:59:08 |
| 37 | Flat | 5:02 | 3:04:10 |
| 38 | Flat | 5:02 | 3:09:12 |
| 39 | Flat | 5:00 | 3:14:12 |
| 40 | Flat | 4:57 | 3:19:09 |
| 41 | Flat | 4:56 | 3:24:05 |
| 42 | Flat | 4:56 | 3:29:02 |
| Finish | Flat | 4:58 | 3:30:00 |
Lap your watch at each marker; GPS distance drifts over 26.2 miles. Even-pace card for 3:30:00
Race strategy
How to pace the Frankfurt Marathon
Work in a group out west
Niederrad to Höchst is flat but quieter and can be breezy by the river. Running in a pack makes these kilometers easier.
Expect the gentle rise home
The last 10 km climb about 15 m back into the city. It’s small, but plan to keep your effort steady rather than your exact split.
The last few weeks
Train for this course
- Do long marathon-pace blocks on flat ground.
- Rehearse a mid-morning start: the 10 a.m. gun means a later breakfast than most races.
- Practice fueling every 5 km, since aid stations come at that spacing.
Race-day weather
Late October in Frankfurt is usually cool, often around 5–12°C, with a chance of rain or wind. The late-morning start gives it a little time to warm up.
Race morning
Getting to the start
- Daylight saving time ends that morning, so clocks go back an hour. Check your watch and alarms.
- Your bib is your ticket on Frankfurt public transport on race day. The Messe and Festhalle/Messe stations are right by the start.
- Start-area line-up opens at 9:15 a.m. You must start by 10:45.
- Bag drop is in Hall 1, level 1, from 8 a.m., using the official starter bag. Pick it up there by 5 p.m.
Questions runners ask.
Is Frankfurt a fast course?
Yes. It’s flat, between about 90 and 120 m, with long, wide roads. It’s one of Germany’s fastest marathons.
What is the time limit?
You must cross the start by 10:45 a.m., and the finish in the Festhalle closes at 5:00 p.m.
What are the start waves?
Blocks 1–3 start at 10:00, block 4 at 10:13, the relay at 10:21, block 5 at 10:27 and block 6 at 10:35 a.m. Your block is on your bib.
Where does the race finish?
Indoors, inside the Festhalle on the Messe grounds. Spectators get in free.
Last checked October 20, 2026. This is an independent guide from Miles. We’re not affiliated with the race organizer. Start times, cutoffs, and logistics can change, so confirm everything on the official race site before race day.
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