Harry Styles runs Berlin Marathon in under 3 hours using alias, organizers say

BERLIN — Pop star Harry Styles ran the Berlin Marathon in under three hours Sunday, finishing in 2:59:13 while competing under the alias 'Sted Sarandos from Great Britain,' organizers told the German news agency dpa. The development places Styles among a small cadre of celebrities who tackle major city marathons, a trend that has grown in recent years.

About 55,000 runners took part in the race on what runners and analysts call one of the fastest marathon courses in the world. Der Tagesspiegel, a Berlin daily, was the first to report Styles' participation after spotting him in the city ahead of the event. Organizers confirmed to dpa that the singer used a false name and wore a headband and sunglasses during the race.

Video and social posts showed Styles crossing the finish line in good spirits and posing for photos with Richard Whitehead, the two-time Paralympic gold medalist who specializes in sprint distances. Whitehead later posted the image on Instagram and noted that he is pursuing a goal of completing 20 marathons this year. The two had been photographed together during the event, fueling questions about whether Styles had trained in Berlin in advance and what his motivation for competing might be.

Berlin's flat, fast course is favored by runners chasing fast times, and the event has a long history of cameo appearances by artists and athletes. While Styles' participation drew worldwide attention, organizers said the performance was a legitimate entry under a pseudonym, with timing captured by official clocks and verified by the event's results database. The race, which draws tens of thousands of spectators and motivates many to attempt sub-3 hours, continues to be a benchmark for endurance, celebrity or not.

Styles' music career has included chart-topping albums such as 'Harry Styles' and 'Fine Line,' the latter featuring the hit 'Watermelon Sugar.' His foray into long-distance running adds a cross-genre anecdote to a year already full of headlines for the 31-year-old former One Direction member. Officials did not indicate why Styles chose to compete under an alias, and a representative for Styles did not respond to requests for comment. The Berlin Marathon typically attracts elite athletes and celebrity participants who seek both challenge and public visibility, a combination that the event has embraced for years.

With Styles' stunt now part of Berlin Marathon lore, organizers and sponsors may review entry procedures to prevent future impersonations, while continuing to welcome runners who meet the qualification standards. The run, held annually in late September, drew tens of thousands of spectators and hundreds of volunteers to guide the course and cheer on the participants.