Harry Styles ran the Berlin Marathon in under three hours on Sunday, September 21, while maintaining some semblance of anonymity under a pseudonym.
Organizers confirmed to German news agency DPA that Styles, 31, took part in the race, per the Associated Press. The German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel was the first to report on the singer’s participation.
The “As It Was” singer made impressive time during Sunday’s race, completing the marathon in 2 hours, 59 minutes and 13 seconds.
Styles went largely incognito for the marathon, wearing a headband and sunglasses, and even used an alias for the race: Sted Sarandos, reports ABC News. The pseudonym appears to be a play on Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Netflix.
However, the former One Direction star didn’t avoid detection completely. Paralympic gold medal-winning runner Richard Whitehead managed to get a photo with Styles at the finish line. In the snap, the singer can be seen wearing black shorts and a blue Adidas tracksuit jacket.
“2.58 in Berlin with my mate!! Anyone know him!! 😂,” Whitehead, 49, captioned an Instagram post on Sunday.
Styles previously achieved “Watermelon Sugar” highs when he took part in the Tokyo Marathon in March, as documented by viral footage shared on social media at the time.
The star finished that race in just under three and a half hours (three hours, 24 minutes and 7 seconds, to be exact) and kept a pace of 4:51/km.
The sporty singer has previously opened up about how he keeps fit, including Pilates workouts. “I’ve got very tight hamstrings — trying to get those open,” he said in a 2020 Vogue interview.
Styles also said he practices meditation. “It has changed my life, but it’s so subtle. It’s helped me just be more present. I feel like I’m able to enjoy the things that are happening right in front of me, even if it’s food or it’s coffee or it’s being with a friend — or a swim in a really cold pond,” he shared.
He added, “Meditation just brings a stillness that has been really beneficial, I think, for my mental health.”
In a January 2024 interview with Coach, Styles’ performance coach, Thibo David, said the star can run a five-minute mile.
“Don’t go in thinking ‘He did it in five minutes, I’m going to do the same’, just keep on pushing,” David told the outlet. “Don’t think about anything else, your time is yours. …Collaborating with Harry Styles was an absolute delight. His commitment is unparalleled.”