Sparkassen-Phoenix-Halbmarathon Dortmund

Phoenix Half Marathon — The Structural Change Run

The Sparkassen-Phoenix-Half Marathon is more than just a city run — it's a symbolic event of Dortmund's structural change. The course leads across the grounds of the former Hörder Hüttenwerk (Hörde Ironworks), which was a central steelworks in West Germany until 2001 and is now home to the artificial Phoenix Lake. On October 3, 2026, the 13th edition will take place with around 3,500 participants.

Course — 21.1 km Through Dortmund's South

The half marathon is DLV-certified (German Athletics Association) and therefore suitable for personal bests. Start and finish are at Phoenix Lake. The course leads:

• Phoenix Lake (Start/Finish) — the central lake on the former blast furnace site
• Phoenix-West — industrial wasteland district with preserved blast furnace
• Westfalenpark — Dortmund's largest city park
• Rombergpark — Botanical Garden in the south
• Back to Phoenix Lake

The course is considered flat and fast — runners choose it accordingly for personal best attempts.

Three Competitions — Half Marathon, Relay, Children's Run

• Individual Half Marathon — 21.1 km, sold out with a 3,500 participant limit
• Relay Race — the 21.1 km is split between 2 runners
• KNAX Fun Run for Children — new short run for the youngest participants

Phoenix Lake — Symbol of Change

Phoenix Lake was completed in 2010 — as a renaturation project after the demolition of the Hörde Ironworks. With 24 hectares of water surface, a lido, promenades, yachts, and a new residential area on the shore, it is now one of Dortmund's most popular local recreation destinations (independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia). The transformation from a steel site to a recreational lake is considered one of the most successful structural change projects in the Ruhr area.

Running Sport in Dortmund's Calendar

With the Phoenix Half Marathon, Dortmund has one of its biggest sporting events in autumn. Unlike the Dortmund Marathon (city marathon), which runs with economic development and several course distances, the Phoenix Half Marathon is clearly focused on the southern district and the Phoenix area.