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The Express Gazette
Sunday, January 25, 2026

Harry Styles runs Berlin Marathon undercover under alias Sted Sarandos

The singer used a disguise and a spoof name—similar to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos—during the 26.2-mile race, finishing in under three hours.

Culture & Entertainment 4 months ago
Harry Styles runs Berlin Marathon undercover under alias Sted Sarandos

Harry Styles ran the Berlin Marathon on Sunday under disguise, using the pseudonym Sted Sarandos as he joined about 50,000 runners in the 26.2-mile race, according to Daily Mail coverage. The 31-year-old singer crossed the finish line in 2:59:13, a personal best for the distance and a pace of about 6 minutes, 50 seconds per mile. The Berlin run came as Styles continues Love On Tour in Europe, and his performance was noted as a standout athletic feat alongside his ongoing concert schedule.

Spectators said Styles blended with the crowd, wearing sunglasses and a headband to keep his hair tucked away and minimize attention as he moved through Berlin’s streets. He appeared largely incognito, avoiding overt fan support while completing the course alongside tens of thousands of other runners.

Styles' alias, Sted Sarandos, appears to be a nod to Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos. The name is described as a playful reference to Styles’s own Edward, his middle and last name, used to pull off undercover appearances while he pursued his tour schedule and public engagements.

Back in 2023, Styles drew attention in Edinburgh when he checked into the Caledonian hotel under the name Oliver Sudden, a moniker staff recalled with amusement. A hotel source said the name elicited laughter among staff, who quickly realized the gag but also acknowledged that Styles’s fame would otherwise trigger chaotic crowds if he checked in under his real name.

During that Edinburgh stay, Styles was reported to have used a secret back entrance to come and go, and he was chauffeured around the city in an S-Class Mercedes. He was in Scotland for two sell-out Love On Tour concerts at Murrayfield Stadium, staying in a suite described as costing about £3,000 per night. The arrangement underscored how high-profile performers often balance security measures with the demands of large, enthusiastic fan bases.

The singer’s high-profile life has long required careful crowd management at venues and hotels. In past years, One Direction members faced restrictions on leaving hotels through main doors because thousands of fans would gather outside, illustrating how celebrity status can shape even routine travel.

Berlin’s marathon weekend offered Styles a chance to add a notable athletic achievement to his public persona while keeping a modest profile amid a major European tour. The event drew about 50,000 participants, with the race won by Sebastian Sawe in a world-leading 2:02:16. Styles’ sub-three-hour finish time marks a personal best for the distance and reflects a focused training effort ahead of further tour commitments.

Overall, the Berlin outing fit within Styles’s broader pattern of high-profile appearances conducted with an emphasis on discretion when possible. Whether choosing a discreet alias for travel, using a back entrance at a storied hotel, or simply running a marathon under a forged name, the episode underscores the interplay between celebrity culture and the practical realities of maintaining privacy on the road between performances and public appearances.


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