The hella hamburg half marathon is celebrating a big anniversary. Over 14,000 participants from all over the world have registered for the 30th edition of the big city run - a record! This will enable the event to underline its status as the second largest run of its kind in the nationwide running calendar. ON THE REEPERBAHN AT HALF 8 IN THE MORNING Participants can look forward to many improvements to the experience for the anniversary. This primarily refers to the numerous event points along the route, which in the past earned the event the nickname "A party on 21.1 km" in scene circles. At a total of 41 locations, DJs, live bands, samba and drum groups, artists and cheering zones will give participants a boost. These include swaying along to the hit Auf der Reeperbahn nachts um halb eins, based on Hans Albers, and a shanty choir with songs from real North German sea shanties. There is no shortage of Hanseatic flair. In addition to fruit and drinks, the finish line also offers sweet Franzbrötchen. This is likely to be particularly popular with the numerous running fans who have travelled to the event. A total of participants from 91 host nations from six continents are expected this year. In contrast to the fan marches of these days, on Sunday the residents will be asked to take to the streets to further boost the atmosphere along the route at the numerous spectator hotspots. In addition to the start on the Reeperbahn and the finish at the Hamburg Messe, the biggest hotspots are expected to be at the Landungsbrücken, on the Kennedybrücke, at the Running Crew Mile on the Alster and at Stephansplatz. THE INT. FAVORITE: Experience has shown that the numerous top athletes will have few eyes and ears for this as they fight for a place in the top ranks. Edwin Soi and Vincent Towett from Kenya are the favorites. Soi, who won bronze in the 5,000 m in Beijing in 2008, proved in 2019 in Granollers (ESP) with a new personal best of 1:00:24 that he can also be reckoned with in the long distance. It is a quick return for Towett, who had already attracted attention last year with a strong 5th place (1:03:21) - in a race with not entirely easy weather conditions. Behind him could be Carlos Diaz - the fastest legs in Chile. The 30-year-old travels to Hamburg with numerous titles under his belt - including the national record in the marathon, four national championship titles and victories at the South American Games in 2018 and 2022 - and will fight for a place on the podium. In the women's race, the favorite is Yebrgual Melese (ETH). Her personal best of 1:07:43 (Lisbon 2018) even allows her to reach spheres where she could pose a threat to the course record of Lonah Salpeter (ISR) (1:10:05, 2023). The weather on Sunday could also play into her hands for this endeavor, which is forecast to be significantly cooler than the high temperatures of previous years. Alemaddis Eyayu (ETH) will have a say here. Her victory at the 2023 Shanghai Half Marathon in 1:10:15 and her PB of 1:08:04 in Port Elizabeth (RSA) show that on a good day she can also be reckoned with. Further competition comes from Great Britain: Rose Harvey has no need to hide behind the other women with a 1:10:02 at the 2023 London Half Marathon and should be able to count on a chance of a podium place. THE FASTEST GERMANS Hendrik Pfeiffer against Haftom Welday. Hanover against Hamburg. tk zu Hanover against TH Eilbeck. The race for the German crown is certainly the most anticipated duel. It is also the direct duel between the fastest German of 2022 (Welday) and the one of 2023 (Pfeiffer). With a time of 1:03:44, Welday already showed his class two years ago, back then with the goal of the 2024 Summer Olympics in mind. The dream was shattered, but the 34-year-old Ethiopian-born athlete is not giving up and says he already has his eyes on Los Angeles 2028. Pfeiffer, who already gained Olympic experience in Tokyo in 2021, will have to stretch himself if he wants to claim the national title for himself again. For the women, however, the matter should be clear: victory will once again only go to Esther Pfeiffer. The 26-year-old from Hannover 96, who became German marathon champion in 2023, will not have to fear much competition from a national perspective, unlike her husband, and will therefore try to keep up with the top international field for as long as possible. According to her own statements, however, "they regularly run away from them," as she announced at the press conference on Tuesday morning. It is therefore quite possible that she will strive for a unity with the Ecuadorian triplet (Rosa Alva Chacha, Silvia Ortiz & Mary Zenaida Granja).