Editor’s note: The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is one of my very favorite races. I recommend it without reservation. A wonderful presser, a great running expo, and a race through one of Germany’s most historic cities. I visited each year, from 2013 to 2019. Since Covid19, Frankfurt, like many races in Europe, has had to battle back financially to continue building its race. Frankfurt is in a good place now; please visit this wonderful marathon!
The marathon has the flavor of the first running boom in the US way back in the 1970s. I loved the expo, with all the trail races and a wonderfully European, classic German running tradition! I loved doing interviews there! Great classic interviews with Ryan Hall and Stephanie Twell in 2019. I was fortunate to speak with Stephanie before and after her PB of 2:26.40, then a Scottish record!
The race staff built this race, and it is one of the gems of German road races!
Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on 25 October:
Strong challengers for Germany’s top three marathoners in Frankfurt
Amanal Petros, Samuel Fitwi and Richard Ringer will face strong challengers at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on 25 October. The three fastest German marathon runners of all time, who will compete together in a city marathon for the first time, will face a field that includes the winner of the 2024 race: Benard Biwott returns to Frankfurt. A number of international elite runners for the women’s field were also announced. Ethiopia’s Zeineba Yimer leads the start list and is one of three runners with personal bests under 2:20:00. Germany’s Blanka Dörfel will make her marathon debut on 25 October.
“Obviously there will be much focus on our three German top runners in Frankfurt on 25 October. However, we are not presenting them a victory on a plate. They will be challenged by a strong field,“ said Race Director Jo Schindler.
Benard Biwott can still be considered a newcomer in the marathon. The 24-year-old Kenyan has only run three races over the classic distance. Two years ago, he made his debut at the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon and caused an upset when he took the race with 2:05:54. Benard Biwott then won his second marathon as well: In spring 2025, he triumphed in Paris with his current PB of 2:05:25. This year, the Kenyan was ninth in Cape Town.
Andualem Belay and Haimro Alame are two other runners who could do very well in Frankfurt. With a personal best of 2:04:44, Ethiopia’s Belay is the second-fastest runner in the field behind the German record-holder Amanal Petros (PB: 2:04:03) and ahead of Samuel Fitwi (2:04:45) as well as Richard Ringer (2:04:47). Alame, who is originally from Ethiopia but competes for Israel, has a personal best of 2:06:04 and was fourth at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
The fastest woman on the start list is Zeineba Yimer. The Ethiopian improved to 2:18:47 this spring, finishing third at the Barcelona Marathon. Three years ago the 28-year-old won the race in Spain and then finished fourth in Berlin.
Betsy Saina (USA/2:19:17) and Buzunesh Getachew (Ethiopia/2:19:27) are the other two athletes on the start list with personal bests of sub 2:20:00. Both are already familiar with the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Whilst Saina finished eighth here in 2018, Getachew is the winner from 2023. She also clocked her current PB in Frankfurt three years ago. A runner to watch on 25 October is Marion Kibor of Kenya who improved to 2:21:12 in Hamburg this spring.
Further information is available at: www.frankfurt-marathon.com
