Leipzig Marathon

The Leipzig Marathon traces its roots to 1897, when Leipzig staged a 40-kilometer race inspired by the Olympic Games, and has run in its modern form since 1977 -- including four turns as the East German (GDR) national championship, in 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1990. Now in its 49th edition on April 18, 2027, it ranks among the largest grassroots sports events in Saxony, drawing thousands of runners and inline skaters across five events: the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10 km, 4 km, and a Children's Run. Starting and finishing at the Sportforum, the DLV-certified, record-eligible course covers the half-marathon distance twice for the full marathon, threading through Leipzig's historic center past the New Town Hall, Augustusplatz with the Gewandhaus and Opera House, the Grassi Museum, the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, and Clara-Zetkin-Park, crossing the Weiße Elster and Pleiße rivers along the way. The mostly flat course -- with roughly 250 meters of total elevation gain -- has attracted national record holders, and the current course records of 2:10:16 (men) and 2:29:40 (women) both date to 2004. Runners finish along an 800-meter home stretch lined with spectators, and race-day bib holders ride Leipzig's public transit free of charge.