Munich was in full running mode on Sunday as the Munich Marathon drew nearly 29,000 participants and around 150,000 spectators, setting a new record for Bavaria’s largest running event.
The course took runners on a scenic 42-kilometre journey through some of the city’s most iconic sites — from Marienplatz and the Siegestor to the English Garden, the Isar River and the Werksviertel. Major streets were closed until the afternoon as crowds lined the route to cheer the athletes.
Local runner wins men’s marathon
After more than two hours of running, Gabriel Lautenschlager from MTV Bamberg crossed the finish line first, claiming victory in 2:18:28 hours — more than a minute faster than runner-up Florian Bochert from the main sponsor’s team.
“It’s a real honour for me,” Lautenschlager said at the finish line. “Winning here, in Germany’s most beautiful big city, feels amazing. You could just enjoy the course and the atmosphere.”
Nina Voelckel leads the women’s field
In the women’s category, Nina Voelckel from Laufteam Kassel won convincingly, clocking 2:31:33 and finishing more than five minutes ahead of Kristina Hendel from Marathon Team Berlin.
Hendel, a European team champion at the 2022 Athletics Championships in Munich, was unable to repeat her earlier success but congratulated Voelckel on her strong run.
Half marathon and celebrity relay
In the half-marathon, Sebastian Hendel — Kristina Hendel’s husband — took first place with a time of 1:04:01, while Laura Hottenrott won the women’s race in 1:12:08.
A special relay team featuring current and former elite athletes also joined the event: handball player Steffen Weinhold, swimmer Florian Vogel, canoeist Sideris Tasiadis, and middle-distance runner Christina Hering completed the marathon together in 3:28 hours.
Celebration of sport and community
Organisers hailed the 2025 edition as a milestone in the event’s history, noting the strong mix of professional and recreational runners.
“Running through the heart of Munich has become a symbol of community spirit and athletic joy,” said a spokesperson. With perfect autumn weather and enthusiastic crowds, this year’s marathon reaffirmed Munich’s reputation as one of Europe’s most welcoming running capitals.
