Hamburg (Germany), Sunday 21 April 2013

With over 10,000 finishers in the 42.2-kilometre run the Hamburg Marathon was Germany's largest spring marathon in 2012.

The event seems to have lost a good deal of its momentum, however. Despite a continuing boom in marathon running, the number of participants in the race has fallen significantly since 2005, when over 17,000 runners completed the course.

One reason for this may be the relatively high entry fees, which range from € 56 for early birds up to € 96 for late entries — not including a carbo-loading meal, an event T-shirt, or the fees for the timing chip. Runners from outside Germany must pay an extra € 2.50. Fortunately, this is not common practice in Central Europe.

The route is a gently-undulating loop through Germany's second-largest city, a metropolis of 1.8 million people, many of whom will come out to watch the race.

Participants will see Hamburg's famous Reeperbahn red-light district, the gigantic port, the lakes of Binnenalster and Außenalster, some exclusive residential areas, and a number of eye-catching examples of modern architecture — for instance the new "Spiegel" headquarters in the "HafenCity" (pictured above).

Country: Germany

Venue (Map): Hamburg (Berlin 288km, Copenhagen 331km, Amsterdam 465km, Frankfurt 492km)

Date: 21 April 2013 (Sunday)

Race distance: 42.2km; 42.2km relay (4-person teams)

Start time: 9.00

Start and finish: Hamburg Messe (Hamburg Exhibition Centre)

Entries: online or by post; late entries on 19 and 20 April 2013; race limit: 18,000 marathon runners and 1,500 relay teams

Entry fees (42km)*: € 56 (until 21 Sep 2012), € 61 (until 21 Nov 2012), € 66 (until 21 Dec 2012), € 71 (until 21 Feb 2013), € 76 (until 21 Mar 2013), € 96 (until 20 April 2013)

* runners not living in Germany must pay an extra € 2.50

Timing: ChampionChip - use your own chip or rent a chip for € 6 (€ 25 deposit)

Race centre: Hamburg Messe (Hamburg Exhibition Centre)

You get: goodie bag; finisher medal; free use of Hamburg's public transport system ("HVV") on the day; massage service

Prizes: (?)

Showers, changing facilities, baggage storage: yes

Number of finishers 2012: 10332 (42km), 1070 relay teams

Event website (in German and English): www.marathon-hamburg.de

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.