Westenergie Marathon Essen

Germany's Oldest Marathon

When telling the story of German running history, you can't get past the Essen Marathon. The course around Baldeneysee has been run annually since 1963 — making it Germany's oldest marathon. The Berlin Marathon came later, the Hamburg Marathon decades after that. In Essen, the pioneers of German popular running competed, and the "Marathon for All" format was established here long before it became fashionable. In 2026, the 64th edition will take place on Sunday, October 11, now as the Westenergie Marathon.

The Course — Baldeneysee as the Stage

The Baldeneysee is Essen's premier recreational area: a 2.6 square kilometer reservoir of the Ruhr river, located in the southern part of the city, surrounded by forests, water sports clubs, and viewpoints. The marathon course runs exactly along the lake shore — flat, asphalted, picturesque. If you're aiming for a PB, this is the place to be.

The Distances 2026

• Marathon — 42.195 km (main race)
• 18 km Run — the specific Essen distance
• Half Marathon — 21.1 km
• AllbauTeamStaffel — Marathon run as a team, multiple changeover points
• Walking Day — 22nd edition, for walkers of all levels
• Mini-Marathon — for children and teenagers

Tradition is Cherished

The organizer is TUSEM Essen, one of the most traditional multi-sport clubs in the Ruhr area. The main sponsor and namesake is Westenergie AG — the regional energy provider, which also underscores its connection to its home city of Essen through its marathon sponsorship. The patron is traditionally the Lord Mayor of Essen; the run is part of the program of the German Road Races (GRR), the national umbrella organization.

What Makes the Essen Marathon Special

Three points set the Essen Marathon apart:

• Awareness of History: Tradition is actively maintained here — participant lists from the early years, old photos in the start area, recognition of veterans.
• Popular Running Character: The run remains accessible. Unlike the major city marathons (Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt), there is no time limit — anyone who finishes crosses the line.
• Natural Scenery: Instead of running through office towers and advertising banners, you run by the lake, in the forest, in one of the greenest corners of the Ruhr area.

Essen — Industrial City in the Green

Essen, with almost 580,000 inhabitants, is the administrative seat of the Ruhr area and is considered the greenest city in Germany in its size category (European Green Capital 2017). Baldeneysee is part of this green heritage. Those who run the marathon see a side of Essen that few visitors know: not the industrial romance of Zollverein, not the Krupp history, but the urban recreational area that the city has created for its residents.