
Bremen, Germany · Thursday 1 October 2026
The swb-Marathon Bremen takes place on September 13, 2026, on a flat to gently rolling trail course that winds through the city's best areas, starting and finishing on the Marktplatz. The 42.2km route showcases Bremen's landmarks including the Werdersee, Weserwehr, Rhododendron-Park, and finishes with a lap through the Weserstadion before returning to the market square. With only 174 meters of elevation gain and maximum heights around 20 meters above sea level, this is a course built for steady running rather than climbing. You'll run on trail surfaces throughout, which means softer underfoot conditions than typical road marathons. The event is well-established, now in its 21st edition, so expect good organization and crowd support along the way, particularly at major landmarks and the stadium finish.
Adjusted Time
4:01:35
Time difference: +1.6 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
On our difficulty model, 18. swb-Marathon Bremen plays about 5 minutes slower than an average road marathon for a 3:30 runner. It ranks #608 hardest of 1150 marathons we analyse, and #17 of 35 in Germany. Use the calculator above to see the exact adjusted time for your own goal pace.
Estimated finish times on this course versus the same effort on an average road marathon, based on its elevation, surface, and expected race-day temperature.
| Average-course time | On 18. swb-Marathon Bremen | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00:00 | 2:58:59 | −01:01 |
| 3:30:00 | 3:30:14 | +00:14 |
| 4:00:00 | 4:01:35 | +01:35 |
| 4:30:00 | 4:33:03 | +03:03 |
| 5:00:00 | 5:04:37 | +04:37 |
| 5:30:00 | 5:36:17 | +06:17 |
| 6:00:00 | 6:08:02 | +08:02 |
Use the calculator above for your exact goal time. Want a prediction from your own training? Try the marathon time predictor.
18. swb-Marathon Bremen is a full marathon held in Bremen, Germany. It is scheduled for Thursday 1 October 2026. The course is run on road surface with 174m of total climbing, with its high point near 20m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official 18. swb-Marathon Bremen website.
With 174m of total climbing, this is a gently undulating course. The elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't greatly affect your pacing.
18. swb-Marathon Bremen is run on road surfaces, which provide the fastest and most predictable conditions for racing. Road courses allow for consistent pacing and are typically the best choice for a personal best.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare 18. swb-Marathon Bremen against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
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