Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon Duisburg

Since 1984 — the Marathon of the Ruhr Area

With 42 editions since 1984, the Schauinsland-Reisen Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon is one of North Rhine-Westphalia's most traditional running events. Organized by the Stadtsportbund Duisburg in cooperation with LC Duisburg, it's not a classic big-city marathon with a dense crowd of spectators — but rather a runners' race, organized by the athletic community for the athletic community. This is precisely what makes it popular: honest organization, fair prices, a wide range of disciplines, and a very fast course.

43rd Edition on May 10, 2026

The 43rd edition will take place on Sunday, May 10, 2026 — an early summer date, providing ideal training conditions in the run-up and usually favorable weather. The start and finish line is the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena in Duisburg-Wedau, the traditional home stadium of MSV Duisburg.

Six Competitions in One Day

Unlike pure marathon races, the Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon offers a broad spectrum of parallel disciplines — all with their own rankings and traditions:

• Marathon — 42.195 km, the classic, 18 aid stations
• Half Marathon — 21.1 km, 10 aid stations
• Relay Half Marathon — 4th edition, in teams of 2 to 4 people
• Inline Skating Marathon — 27th edition, one of Germany's oldest inline marathons
• Handbike Marathon — 18th edition, inclusive discipline
• AOK School Marathon — 26th edition, for school classes

Flat Course for Personal Bests

The Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon course is considered one of the fastest in Germany: completely flat, without significant inclines, very accurately measured, with turnarounds in the forests around the Wedauer See. The route runs along the Wedauer See multiple times and through the city's sports parks — a green, quiet backdrop, not nervous big-city asphalt. This exact combination has earned the marathon the reputation of a "PR Marathon" — Personal Record Marathon. Anyone starting in Duisburg wants to achieve a time.

Service and Atmosphere

What brings the athletes back is the quality of service: 18 aid stations over the marathon distance (every 2.3 km!) — that's top-class in Germany. Live tracking with video finish, masseurs at the finish line, a finisher medal, an adidas shirt, and a König Pilsener after crossing the finish line. Plus, free public transport with your race bib on race day — a service not every German marathon offers.

Marathon Expo on the Day Before

The Marathon Expo takes place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena. Here you'll find: bib collection, exhibitors (sports equipment, nutrition, travel), talks, photo opportunities. A mandatory event for all athletes the day before.

Duisburg-Wedau — the Sports City on the Sechs-Seen-Platte

Wedau in southern Duisburg has been an Olympic training center for decades and home to the Federal Performance Center for Water Sports. The Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena (formerly: Wedaustadion) is the venue for MSV Duisburg and the site of numerous major sporting events. The Sechs-Seen-Platte (Six Lakes Plateau) with Wedauer See, Masurensee, Wildförstersee, and three other lakes provides the scenic environment for the marathon — a sports district with decades of elite sports tradition.