32nd ADAC Marathon Hannover on April 14, 2024 - German marathon championships at Lower Saxony's running highlight!
With the new local hero Hendrik Pfeiffer at the helm, the ADAC Marathon will start on the streets of the Lower Saxony state capital on April 14, 2024. The 30-year-old, who was already able to secure the title of German marathon champion in his new hometown in 2022, would only like to repeat this triumph and is relying entirely on the top scenery along the route at the largest “street festival in the city”:
“ I already had a very personal relationship with Hanover in 2022; But now, as a local hero, being cheered on by the crowds along the track is certainly something very special.”
The organizer “eichels” with race director Stefanie Eichel is expecting up to 30,000 participants to take part in the 32nd edition of the long-traditional running spectacle, which will start on Saturday with the traditional youth and family day around the New Town Hall in the center of the city. The popular children's, student, and parent-child runs are being expanded to include an integrative and inclusive participation offer. The special young talent project, R5K, is once again stopping off in Hanover and will bring a lot of movement to the Friedrichswall on the day before the big marathon day. Der Marathon-Sonntag bietet sowohl für Freizeit- und Breitensportler*innen, als auch für die Elite ein volles Programm: Marathon, Halbmarathon, Marathon-Staffel, 10-Kilometer-Lauf, Handbike-Rennen, dazu Wettbewerbe für Walker und Nordic Walker – das Laufspektakel in der UNESCO City of Music im Herzen Europas hat für alle Interessierten das Passende zu bieten.
The ADAC Marathon is considered a city marathon with short distances. The atmospheric home straight directly in front of the impressive town hall, the event center also located there with marathon EXPO, start number distribution, stage and live program, iconic pasta party in the town hall, clothing bag drop-off, business village attractive supporting program, numerous hotels with special marathon offers - that everything is in the immediate vicinity.
“We are pleased about the recognition that, after the title fights in 2022, we have again been given the trust to be able to host the German Marathon Championships in the Olympic year,” organizer Eichel looks forward to the future: “In terms of sport, we can certainly attract some well-known national runners* welcome inside at the start. But Hanover is also known for placing a great focus on popular sports. And so we look forward to sending active people with more than 100 nationalities and from all over Germany on the sporty sightseeing tour through our beautiful city again in 2024. On an extremely flat route that is ideal for setting records and personal best times.” Whether it's the Waterloo Column, the Heinz von Heiden Arena, the Maschsee, the opera house, Europe's largest city forest - the Eilenriede -, Herrenhausen Castle, the Guelph Castle of the Leibniz University or the Sculpture Mile with the world-famous "Nanas" - a running route that could hardly be more diverse and varied and hardly misses any of the city's sights. The great spectator backdrop and an extensive supporting program with more than 50 action points along the route ensure pure goosebumps, emotions and a unique atmosphere.
For years, the organizer has placed great emphasis on the sustainable planning and implementation of the major event. “In close cooperation with partners and service providers, the orientation and processes are intensively optimized and new impulses are provided every year. “Free public transport ticket for participants and volunteers, own recycling center, digital registration confirmations and instant printing of start numbers, cotton vegetable bags as volunteer food bags, optimized travel with nunav, guide network support for runners with visual impairments, integrative and inclusive teams on and off route and much more,” explains Eichel. In Hanover, the “blue line” becomes the “green thread” and the three pillars of sustainability, environment, economy and social issues, become visible across the city. “With our partner summitree, the sporting activity on the ADAC Marathon weekend is transformed into an impact on our environment. The young trees financed with donations contribute to a healthier and greener environment in local reforestation projects. This is very important to us and is also reflected in the awareness and reactions of our activists and Hanoverians,” emphasizes Stefanie Eichel.
See you running in Hanover!