Hella Marathon Nacht Rostock

The Hella Marathon Nacht Rostock is a sunset-into-night marathon in the Hanseatic port city of Rostock on Germany's Baltic coast, and one of the country's few evening marathons. Founded in 2002 by the Leichtathletik-Verband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and organized today by BMS Die Laufgesellschaft mbH, the race has carried mineral-water brand Hella as title sponsor since 2010 — a long-standing, non-volatile sponsorship. The 2027 race is the 25th edition, held Saturday, July 31, 2027, and traditionally opens the city's Hanse Sail festival week. Since 2022 the start and finish sit on the Haedgehalbinsel peninsula in Rostock's Stadthafen (city harbor); the marathon course runs along the Warnow river, through the Warnow Tunnel, and into IGA Park before looping back through Dierkow, Gehlsdorf and Krummendorf, with runners setting off in evening twilight and finishing under floodlights. Alongside the full marathon (42.2 km, starting 18:00), the event offers a half marathon (21.1 km, starting 19:55), the 7 km Rostocker 7 road race (19:07), and a 1.5 km Schülerlauf children's race (17:00). The 2026 edition drew 3,032 pre-registrations with 2,339 starters and 2,303 finishers, and the half marathon sold out; course records stand at 2:19:35 for men (Paul Schmidt, 2015) and 3:04:42 for women (Philine Lichtenberg, 2025) over the marathon distance. The event has been held every year since 2002 except 2008 and 2020.