Bienwald-Marathon Kandel, live.

A flat spring classic through the Bienwald since 1976

The 52nd international Bienwald-Marathon and the 49th national half marathon start together in Kandel at 10:00 on Sunday 14 March 2027.

Held since 1976, the Bienwald-Marathon is a spring classic in the south of the Palatinate. Both races start in front of the Bienwaldhalle and finish in the Bienwaldstadion, where the finish closes at 15:00. The 2027 marathon also hosts the Palatinate marathon championships. Both races are sold out, and the organiser runs a start place exchange for people who can no longer take part.

The courses are completely level, asphalted and closed to traffic, measured to international rules and valid for ranking lists. The organiser counts about 20 metres of height difference over the whole marathon and describes it as one of the fastest marathons in Germany. The course records date from 1984: 2:14:25 by Ralf Salzmann and 2:38:13 by Susi Riermeier. In the half marathon they stand at 1:05:08 by Simon Stützel and 1:09:02 by Eva Dieterich.

The route runs through the Bienwald, a forest where, as the organiser puts it, even the wildcat feels at home. Aid stations stand about every 5 km with electrolyte drinks, tea, water and fruit, and own drinks can be handed in at the info desk until 09:30. Every runner must pass the 5 km mark within 45 minutes. Marathon runners may switch to the half marathon during the race, and the marathon is open from age 18.

The level course suits people chasing an early season time as well as those running their first marathon or half marathon. Both races start in front of the Bienwaldhalle and finish in the Bienwaldstadion, so the start and finish areas lie close together in Kandel.

On Livebib you can follow a participant who chooses to share their own live position from the phone they carry. This is not the organiser's timing, and the official results come from the organiser.