The Koenigsforst Marathon is considered one of the oldest marathon events in Germany,
having been first held by LG Rheinberg in 1973 and continuing for more than half a century.
Started under the leadership of the early organizing chair Gottfried Kuiper,
the event was taken over in 2014 by the running team from TV Refrath and has been run by them ever since.
Course runs through the Bensberg area of Bergisch Gladbach near Cologne and the Koenigsforst nature reserve,
known as Cologne's "green lung." The 42.195km marathon course is 85% forest paths,
and the race is built around a 21.1km certified circular course measured under German Athletics Association (DLV) standards.
From 1973 to 1983, runners followed a true circular course,
but in 1984 the start moved to the area near BAST on Bruderstrasse, changing it to a figure-eight-style out-and-back course.
Then, after 40 years, the race returned to the large circular course in 2024, bringing back the wetland play area,
the old railway section, and the long uphill stretch near the pedestrian parking area that had once been part of the old course.
In addition to the marathon that has been held since 1973, the program has expanded to three events: the half marathon introduced in 1975 and a 63.3km ultramarathon added in 2021.
Runners can choose the distance that best suits the forest terrain.
