Frankfurt Marathon - Race Reviews

A great organization. The festhalle messe in the start line was very helpfull with all the amenities you need before the start. The finish line is inside the pavillion with a fantastic atmosfere. Be ready for the light inclination in many parts of the course. Great team of volunteers. The showers at the end were perfect.

The Frankfurt Marathon has a lot of things in its favour: - autumn (fall) event = heaviest training during summer (for northern hemisphere runners) and reasonable chance of clement weather. - loop course with central location = not leaving hotel in the middle of the night to get to the start in time. - flat course = time potential. - big enough to be 'proper' (ref: IAAF Gold Medal certification) but just under the radar enough that you don't have to enter, like, a year in advance. - excellent transport links getting there and again after you arrive. - great organisation all round, cant really fault it. - good strength in depth time-wise - 1100 (nearly 10%) of the field sub-3, 7100 (59%) of the field sub-4. Miscellaneous points: As noted by others (#1), the first 5-6km through the city are a bit tight; I can imagine this would be a problem further back in the field so be aware. Organisers could think about sub-dividing the corrals a little better to allow a smoother get-away and/or using barriers to create a bit of a pinch-point just before the start mat. Also means running the tangents can be significant. As noted by others (#2), the chip return is back up two levels in the main expo hall, bit of a PITA but no big deal. Recommend you get a hotel within walking distance - the course shuts down the tram/bus/taxi options, leaving just S/U-bahn. No issues with the water stations (cups, BTW, which works better for me)  water is first, then some fizzy stuff. Bananas and gels at a couple of locations later on. Post-race nutrition offerings were excellent. For US runners - be aware that all markers are in kilometres. Nice friendly support from the locals. One dead spot at about 24km where you cross back over the river from south to north. This, and a stretch from 9-10km, count as the only noticeable inclines (cant call them hills). No comment on the expo  in/out with my number+chip in under 10minutes which counts as a win in my book (does anyone derive anything positive out of these things?). Not too many loos at the start, mustve been more inside the Messe building. A couple of hundred meters of cobblestones in the city centre which you encounter at about 8km and again at about 40km. Overall, I'd thoroughly recommend it.

I wanted to run Berlin Marathon 2015 but I was unsuccessful. So I applied to do Frankfurt Marathon 2015 instead and I got in instantly. It is rated as one of the top fastest Marathon in the world. And I must say it has been very well organized. The Germans were extremely kind and friendly people. The Good Points about the Marathon were the free pasta party the day before the race. The various drinks at the water stations and also bananas and running gels at certain drink stations. Also loads of hot or cold drinks at the finish including Protein bars and bananas to eat. Also the special red carpet finish. Chip-timing breakdown information Points that were not so good. The road were too narrow and congested with runners The running route was quite boring. Lack information where to put your running chip after the Marathon. But what I really loved and enjoyed about the organization of the Frankfurt Marathon was the chunky medal, the free tasty pasta party, also the friendly German people who helped and supported the race. In fact I'd enjoyed every single minute of it. For me I felt like I bonded with the runners, the sponsors and with the people of Frankfurt. It was truly an utterly memorable experience and myself and my family can't stop talking about it. Well done to all involved.

It is true that the course is flat, but as streets in the first 25K are very narrow, you are 'packed' unable to move and pass other runners. The 3:29 group was almost covering the whole street and therefore all others need to run at their pace. Many participants do not go to the right as they slow down, even if they begin to walk. Fluid stations are only on one side instead of both, so you need to move to that side to get water, which cause a 'bottleneck', and you can be pushed. Great finish line inside the arena. I think they could improve a lot the starting corrals asking for an evidence of time (and not only 'estimated')for the first corrals, like Chicago for example. It is the first marathon in which I saw a runner fell as he tripped with others due to the impatient runners in narrow streets. Great fans and bands.

First Int'l run for me and approached it open-minded - as it turned out, no obstacles to deal with. No language barriers, very flat, fast course. There are several turns to keep it interesting and you loop back a few times. Expo was easy, close to host hotel (Movenpick) and you should stay there - excellent breakfast and right next to start/finish line and expo. Race started on time. Weather was good but there was some rain and stiff winds in the second half to deal with. Finding chip drop-off was only lapse. Course drink stations were scant in the first 10-15K but more cropped up in the second half. Water, tea (strange) and sports-drink (strangely fizzy) on the course and staffed by friendly folk throughout. Only one first aid tent on the entire course. Nice medal, fun pasta party, and indoor/rockstar finish. Almost 27K in the race - seems like it was in the shadow of Berlin's race two weeks earlier where the world record was set. Glad I ran it and hope to do more Int'l runs soon.

This being my 1st time running a marathon in Europe, I was a little worried, with flying West to East, and overcoming jet lag - it was not a real factor. I practiced the advice that I read on line on overcoming jet lag and it worked almost to perfection (i.e., before leaving the U.S., a few days in advance, start going to bed early and waking up early. Drink alot of water, and no caffine, or alcohol, during the flight over. There are other things one can do to also add to overcoming jet lag - just goggle it. About the race. Great organization; the course is flat and fast, and a PR is definitely possible (my time was 3:54:59 - not a personal best - but having not run in the sub 4 category for awhile due to injuries, I was very pleased, and I earned another BQ); great crowd support; plenty of water stations throughout the course; and, the expo was also good. Overall, the whole event was outstanding. (There may have been a few things that were a little troublesome, but what the heck - just running a marathon in Europe - that is an experience that will last for years in memories, and overshadow an minor 'cons' there may have been. The people of Frankfurt, Germany, were friendly, and as a person who does not speak fluent German, everyone seemed to go out of their way to assist in answering any questions you may have. I would highly recommend this race to anyone who is planning a run in Europe. One final note - the host hotel, Movenpick, is the plase to stay if you do decide to run in any future BMW Frankfurt Marathon. The hotel is right next to the start and finish line of the race, and the finish is an experience like no other - the finish line takes you right into the building with strobe lights, and cheering support. BMW Frankfurt Marathon is totally awesome.

By fare the fastest course. If you out for a new PR (personal record) than you should go with Frankfurt. Everything is managed extremely well so you won't have difficulties.

There's a lot to see at the running expo! The goody bag is fine enough. At the start, there were just too many people, it took me some time to find the starting point. The course is rather flat, though not very beautiful. There were many bands on the way, which made the race festive and fun. Gel was provided after 15km(not sure if I remember it right). The finishing place is just too big. You had to walk around the square to get everything. Also, you need to go up to the hall for other stuff......which could be difficult for someone having just finished a marathon.

The BMW Frankfurt Marathon delivered everything that was promised and more. This race has the feel of a major without all the congestion and hassle. It is primarily flat with excellent PB potential. Travelling to Frankfurt was a breeze. The Expo was a good size with lots of interesting stalls. On the day, the weather was cold and sunny which was perfect. We stayed right near the start which was perfect for a last minute pitstop. The course was really well supported with fans and music. It is probably more a 4.5 than a 5, although I gave it a 5 for the laser light finish in the Festehalle! It starts off winding around the city, and then heads out along the river and then back for a few more loops around the city. At times there was some narrowing of the course where I had to slow down, but I did not mind this because it was in the beginning and helped me keep my pace in check. I never had to stop or anything - just slight congestion. Some people have complained about a dreary part around 30-35 km, but I didn't notice this at all. Even still, they added bands here every 500 meters to make it more interesting, which demonstrates the organisers' commitment to improvement. The finish in the Festehalle was spectacular, as were the goodies on offer after - bread and alcohol-free beer to name a few. I wasn't such a fan of the painted hard boiled eggs in the pre-race goodie bag, but you can't have everything. My only complaint is that the bag drop off was very overcrowded, and I wish they would only permit non-runners into this area. It was probably more crowded than usual because of the cold weather, but there was a serious risk of a stampede trying to get to the start. Apart from that, everything was great and I would highly recommend this race to anyone looking for a good time in Europe.

One very good feature of this Marathon is the finish inside the Feste Hall, when you run indoors on the red carpet with thumping music, cheerleaders and flashing lights. On the not so good side, this was the first marathon for me where the shirt cost 30 euros and chip rental was six euros, normally these are included in the entry price. The chip needed to be returned to avoid another 25 euros cost, which would not be a problem except that the return location was on the third floor of the building which even with escalators, was not easy as there were very many people about. The course is extremely flat but as you can see from the map, it has many turns during the first 8 miles. These turns and the very narrow course lanes made for a slow first 3-4 miles. This is probably not a marathon worth travelling to.

The race was great, very flat course, ideal weather-end of October, expo very cool- open even on Sunday after the race,spectators were unbelievable, one of them gave me a musli bar at ca. 28th km :-D. I already ran in Berlin, Rotterdam, etc. and have to say that Frankfurt is fully comparable to Berlin as for the quality and overall impressions, just a bit smaller. Very well organized, start and finish is directly at the Frankfurt expo premises. All in all, a perfect experience. I can warmly recommend this race to both beginners and experienced marathoners. Well done, Frankfurt!

this has to be one of the best organized races i have ever had the pleasure of running in. Jo Schindler's team do an excellent job. The expo is cool; the race directions clear and simple; the support on the route is better than i would have ever considered. The breakfast run a day before is also worth taking part in. I am great fan of the Frankfurt race and i would do it again and again. See you all soon. Nym

This was my first marathon and it couldn't have been more enjoyable! The weather was perfect, the crowds in the street were really motivating, and the organization was very good, especially with the huge number of runners there. I really liked that drinking stations were found every 5K. The red carpet finish was also nice, although I think I prefer the Frankfurt Half-Marathon finish in the Commerzbank Arena. The loops in the city center are not so bad, and it actually helps to meet friends and family along the way. That's where most of the supporters are anyway! My only complaint is that there were no vegetarian options at the food stands at the arrival - apart from bananas, that is!

I've just run Frankfurt, and I must said: it's a very good race and it's my 12th marathon so far. We stayed at the Movenpick, which is conveniently located 300 meters away from the start and the finish of the race (and from the expo, where the races finishes) Excellent organization. The only downside is that there's little in the way of communication and signals in English (everything is in German). The race is very flat but for a small hill in the first kilometers (around 5K in - but is very small) and there's another even smaller one somewhere after 38. Overall, flat as a pancake and great for a personal best. I PRed, anyway. Drink stations are conveniently located every 5K, and you have cups (not bottles - sorry!) with water and some German isotonic drink. The finish inside the expo is spectacular. Regarding the turns that we all feared, they were not bad at all. In net, one of the best races to run if you want to make a personal best.

I thought the course for the Frankfurt Marathon was really great. No problem at all with the turns around the center - in fact, this was the most fun part. Occasionally the course was a little crowded in some narrow sections, so make sure you are in the good starting group. Organization was excellent. Only negative: the relay runners. Some of the relay teams get together again to cross the finish line, so I finished amongst a bunch of fresh relay runners, not beaten-down marathon runners like me. Would be better if relay runners could run separately.

This was my second marathon in Germany, having run the Hamburg Marathon last year. I love running in Germany as compared to Sweden - the spectators are so much more supportive there . To be honest, I was not too excited about the course. I thought there were too many twists and turns in the city center. Also, from a psychological point of view, it is not good to run close to the finish area when you still have about 7 KM to run. The course was also fairly boring with nothing much to look at. However. the course was very flat and I ran a PB of exactly 8 minutes, so it was a great experience anyway. I could see myself coming back to Frankfurt to run again.

I agree with the previous commentator regarding the twists and turns. This was especially pronounced in the last three to four kilometers, when we retraced the starting route before heading into Festhelle for the grand finale. Spectators along the course were non-stop, and the makeshift neighborhood tents and benches serving beer looked so enticing...! Music along the course was great - almost felt like a "Rock and Roll Marathon" here in the States. Speaking of the grand finale, I have not seen a better finish. Indoor arena, lined with spectators, red carpets for the last ~50 yards, sparkling confetti, plumes of dry ice, cheerleaders, no fewer than four video cameras projecting your image, live, on four large displays, all in a festival hall intended for a grand Oktoberfest party...! Aid stations were very organized and well staffed and abundant. Between Prague, Torino, Great Wall, and my other 14 marathons in the US, Frankfurt definitely had them beat in this arena. Weather was great - it led to the top three finishers all breaking last year's new course record, with the winner taking home US $142,000! TV coverage was great. Actual course video results of your run and the available DVD are cool for a traveling marathoner to take home as a memento. Oh, and the medal was big and nice, too! Great marathon for anyone running marathons to tour different countries.

The course twisted and turned around the city center so much - with a huge amount of doubling back on yourself - that it became utterly tedious and very unattractive to run. The crowds, however, were great, and the organization was of a high standard if not perfect (the drinks area at the finish should have been the first thing available, not the last; and there were not enough toilets at the start - 35 for 8,000 people!). Brussels and Amsterdam are much nicer courses to run.

First time for me in the Frankfurt Marathon, and I thought the course was very good for a fast time. The leg massage, free and given by students, was great. So were the free food and the beer. The drummers on the route were fantastic, and there was a great indoor finish at the end. I will be back for sure.

This marathon was organized very well, though the start and first 7 KM were pretty cramped. The near proximity of the spectators was great. I could even (briefly) greet my family at KM 35. The finish was the highlight: "Red carpet" in the Festhalle with music, laser shows and the works! That was worth all the pain.

An excellent marathon, with a fast, flat course, that's well organised and well supported throughout. Frankfurt is easy to get around with good travel links and the start line is only a 1/2-mile from the main train station. Accommodation is also cheap.

I ran this race in 2006 and again in 2007. The course is fast, well marked and easy to follow... not that you'll have too many opportunities to get lost, what with 15,000 others running. I highly recommend this race for anyone wanting to experience a European marathon with a party atmosphere. The ONLY area that could use improvement is the starting shoot. There were so many people and so little organization at the beginning. I don't mind that it took me almost 7 minutes to get to the start, but I did mind that I was fighting through plodding runners for the first 8K. They need to block off areas of the starting shoot better and map those blocks to goal times. I wound up picking my starting location based upon how "athletic" the people around me looked... far from scientific.

This was my first marathon and I couldn't have chosen a better one. Crowd support was off the scale for the entire course. It seemed as though the entire city had come out to cheer us on. Course was great, mostly urban, very flat. Great festival atmosphere, complete with live bands. Organization was excellent considering the enormous crowds. No complaints at all. Excellent race.

It was my fourth, and the best one. Very effective organization, festival atmosphere, flat and easy course, plenty water stops with big choice of drinks and some food, and an amazing finish in a concert hall with red carpet. Fan support was tremendous too. It was a really big pleasure for me to participate in such a great sport event, although I didn't get a PR. I recommend this marathon to everyone.

This was my first marathon and it was an awesome experience. It had a festive atmosphere with all the bands and crowd support. The course was flat and easy, with little hills. Registration was easy and you didnt have to speak the language. Only negative comment I have is that the race was only open for 5 1/2 hours, which might be hard for first-time runners and they didn't have enough medals for everyone. My advice for running this marathon is to train to run faster than a 5:30:00.

This was my second marathon and my first overseas. The course is advertised as the 3rd fastest in Germany and there really were no hills to speak of. The industrial section of the course (first 7K and last 5K) are unremarkable, but the loop away from the center of town was quite nice. There could have been a better spacing of porta-potties as they tended to be clustered and quite far apart. The fan support for this marathon was tremendous. Runners who enjoy crowds, clapping, high-fives from kids and bands should strongly consider this race.

I ran the 2005 edition. I selected this marathon because I started to train quite late in the summer and wanted to find a marathon which is run as late in the autumn as possible. It was a very positive surprise. The organization was perfect: registration was very efficient, there was comprehensive and frequent service along the route and after the finish line. It was a little bit narrow during the first kilometer, but OK after that. The finish inside a very nice concert hall was really "gänsehaut pur," a huge culmination to the race. The route was OK, flat and easy to run, although at some places it was a little bit quiet and boring (especially at about 35 KM - a long leg through an industrial district). This time the weather was perfect (sunny, no wind, about 15 C); I have heard that this is not always the case in Frankfurt. I have run marathons also in Stockholm, Helsinki, Berlin and Paris and would rank this marathon in the second place along with Stockholm. However, Berlin stays my favorite and will hopefully be my next target.

Frankfurt Marathon was a good marathon--my #7. I would not recommend the course although some areas were very beautiful. Water stops were great!! Bathrooms along the course were not available. Chip check-out was not at the finish line making it hard to fight the crowds up 2-flights of stairs. Fans along the course provide great support. I would recommend this marathong with some reservations--yes, I'll run next year.

The organization was incredible. I didn't even speak German and it went off without a hitch. Just grab your number and go. Registration was easy enough. The course was fast and scenic of Frankfurt. The fans were great all the way through. Lots of music throughout, and the finish made you feel like a superstar. Great race.

This was a fun marathon. They print your first name above your number so spectators can cheer you on by name. Split times are immediately up-linked so my wife was able to follow my progress at home, and real time every 5K. (They had mile markers as well.)

Course was flat and well populated. Organization was good if you speak Deutch. I hate courses that loop around at the finish, bad psychology. I paid 65 euros and didn't get a T-shirt. Considering the horrible weather the community support was excellent. Alcohol Frei bier at the ziel! Where was the real stuff?

I have ran Frankfurt twice (00-01) and was very happy with it. The course was nice, but after mile 15, not many people on the streets. The parking area and transportation to and from the start/finish was very well organized. The start was hard because they didn't section off the finish times, but for the amount of people, good job. The water points were good and they even had plenty of fluids and food. This is a great fist time Marathon and is worth returning to.