44th Pankower GESOBAU Pancake Run

A Berlin Running Tradition

The Pankower Pfannkuchenlauf marks the start of the running season in the Berlin annual calendar. Around 1,000 participants gather at the Kissingenstadion on the first or second weekend of January to complete the first kilometers of the year. The run has been organized since 1983 by Karower Sportverein KSV 90 e.V., a traditional sports club in Pankow. The main sponsor is the Berlin housing association GESOBAU, which is closely linked to Pankow.

Pancakes – Berliners for everyone else

The fun of the event lies in its name: In Berlin, 'Pfannkuchen' doesn't mean the thin crêpe from the pan, but what the rest of Germany calls 'Berliner' or 'Krapfen' – the sweet, deep-fried yeast pastry filled with jam or plum jam. Every finisher receives a fresh pancake at the finish line – a Berlin peculiarity that makes the event unique.

Distances and Course

In 2026, there are distances to choose from: 6.5 km (classic level), 2.3 km (families and children aged 10 and up), and 1.2 km (children). Starting at 10 a.m. at the Kissingenstadion on Binzstraße in Niederschönhausen. The course leads through the Schönholzer Heide – a park-like wooded area in the north of Berlin – and is manageable even for first-time runners.

Niederschönhausen – the quiet side of Pankow

The Niederschönhausen district in Pankow is one of Berlin's greenest residential areas, characterized by Schönhausen Palace (now a conference venue for the Federal President's Office), the Niederschönhausen Palace Park, and the Volkssolidarität housing estates. Running through the Schönholzer Heide on a Sunday morning in January, you'll experience Berlin at its quietest – and return to the finish line with a pancake that has already half saved the day.