Ultra Running Hub Essen, Germany · Sunday, December 20, 2026
Essener Rhein-Herne-Kanal Marathon
What the course asks
DUV results for the 2026 edition (50km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
Typical conditions, September
Regional 2001-2020 average for September — NASA POWER, grid elevation 73 m. Not a forecast.
Results history
| Year | Race | Finishers | Men's winner | Women's winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 50km | 13 | Dale Lukas Michaelis · 04:25:38 | Birgit Jahn · 06:49:54 |
| 2026 | 50km | 17 | Michael Eßeling · 04:37:40 | Isabella Skiba · 05:00:27 |
| 2025 | 50km | 20 | Klaus Hirle · 04:30:18 | Kerstin Fuhrmann · 05:27:04 |
| 2025 | 50km | 14 | Marc Kretschmer · 04:39:35 | Carina Jochum · 04:29:06 |
| 2025 | 50km | 11 | Frank Janssen · 04:39:00 | Gisela Vorstermanns · 06:19:37 |
| 2025 | 50km | 19 | Holger Peek · 04:50:38 | Tanja Knappmeier · 04:43:40 |
| 2024 | 50km | 16 | Ray Qi · 04:08:42 | Nele Eggelsmann · 05:20:44 |
| 2024 | 50km | 7 | Holger Peek · 04:53:30 | Kerstin Fuhrmann · 06:09:53 |
| 2024 | 50km | 8 | Jörg Spors · 04:28:46 | Kerstin Fuhrmann · 06:19:32 |
| 2024 | 50km | 13 | Ray Qi · 04:04:15 | Kerstin Fuhrmann · 05:34:44 |
15% of the 2026 field were women.
DUV results for the 2026 edition (50km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
Course notes
- terrain This is a fast & flat course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.
- gear With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.
Gear for this race
Chosen for 50 km of trail with 30 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes 50 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
- Race Nutrition 50 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
- Hydration Vests Flask capacity for 50 km, without the bounce.
- GPS Watches Battery life first — a 50 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.
Overview
The Essener Rhein-Herne-Kanal Marathon is a 50k trail race in Essen, Germany, that will take place in December. With 30 meters of elevation gain over 50 kilometers, its 0.6 meters of climb per kilometer makes it a flat course.
The race has a cut-off tighter than 84% of 50k races, requiring a pace quicker than 9.6 minutes per kilometer to finish within the 8-hour time limit. This leaves little margin for error on the course, which involves running along the canal bank for approximately 3.5 kilometers, crossing a bridge, and returning to the start. The field size is smaller than 77% of 50k races, with 13 finishers at the 2026 edition.
Similar races
Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.