Rockin' the Streets: 18th ING Night Marathon Luxembourg 2025
A Rush Through the City Lights
Month of May, 2025 commences with a fresh start.
The 18th ING Night Marathon Luxembourg kicked off on a hot, humid evening in May 2025. This unique running event attracted approximately 17,000 participants, including five running pals from Boone - Monika Stura-Metzen, Simone Kopietz, Manuela Lassahn, Birte Gillmann, and Sabina Donkiewicz. For these friends, the half marathon marked more than just a sports milestone; it was a birthday bash for Monika, who celebrated her 66th birthday in style, sporting the group's new pink jerseys.
Running in the Dark and Damp
Unlike most marathons, this one started at 7 PM, offering a different kind of challenge for runners. The course took participants through various neighborhoods of Luxembourg City, with drum groups, live music, and enthusiastic spectators pumping up the energy levels. A brief, refreshing rain shower right before the start helped cool things down a bit, but afterwards, it was back to tropical heat and a sauna-like atmosphere.
The Crowd and the Course
The ING Night Marathon is renowned for its challenging urban route, making it one of Europe's most demanding races. The course, covering 21.1 km, wound its way through Kirchberg, Limpertsberg, Belair, Merl, Hollerich, the Gare district, and the city center. The marathon began at LuxExpo/The Box and concluded at LuxExpo, with runners crossing the Red Bridge to wrap up the race.
Despite organizational oddities, like only letting each runner start in designated starting blocks, everyone agreed that the event was fantastic. Monika and Simone even got a chance to run together for a bit.
The Struggle and the Triumph
Completing the challenging course wasn't easy, and personal bests weren't on the cards that day. Instead, it was about soaking in the unique running experience and creating lasting memories. The group agreed that the medal was gorgeous, and the entire event was an extraordinary highlight.
The weekend turned out to be perfect, with city strolls, expo visits, delicious food, and plenty of camaraderie. As for the results, here they are:
- Manuela Lassahn, HM – 02:12:31, 1026th woman, 143rd W35
- Simone Kopietz, HM – 02:27:16, 1885th woman, 144th W50
- Monika Stura-Metzen, HM – 02:35:12, 2232nd woman, 11th W65
- Birte Gillmann, HM – 02:39:59, 2396th woman, 225th W45
- Sabina Donkiewicz, HM – 03:00:20, 2788th woman, 203rd W50
A Little Bit More About the Event
The ING Night Marathon Luxembourg isn't your average marathon. In addition to the full marathon, half-marathon, team run, and 5km race for beginners, the event also offers Mini and Mini-Mini Marathons for younger participants[5]. The marathon route stretches 42.195 km, starting and finishing at LuxExpo[2][5]. Despite road closures, efforts are made to minimize disruptions for residents and spectators[5].
Once again, the city remained accessible during the event, with 40 crossing points for drivers and most public car parks open[5]. Public transport operated on a special schedule, with some bus lines ending earlier and tram services temporarily adjusted[5]. For the latest participant results, be sure to check out the official marathon website after the event.
Sports enthusiasts tackled the challenging urban route of the ING Night Marathon Luxembourg, with Monika Stura-Metzen, Simone Kopietz, Manuela Lassahn, Birte Gillmann, and Sabina Donkiewicz running the half marathon to celebrate Monika's birthday.
Drum groups, live music, and enthusiastic spectators added to the atmosphere as they ran through various neighborhoods of Luxembourg City, making for a unique sports experience.
