Harry Styles has quietly joined the ranks of elite amateur runners. The former One Direction member and global pop star was spotted competing in the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, where he clocked an impressive finishing time of two hours, 59 minutes, and 13 seconds, breaking the coveted three-hour barrier.

The marathon, which draws tens of thousands of participants each year, saw more than 55,000 athletes take to the streets of Germany’s capital. Among them was Styles, who reportedly entered the race under the pseudonym “Sted Sarandos.” Local paper Der Tagesspiegel first confirmed his participation, noting that the singer was seen sporting sunglasses and a headband as he ran.

Completing a marathon in under three hours is considered a hallmark achievement in distance running, often requiring months of rigorous training and an average pace of under seven minutes per mile. Styles’ official pace was 6:50 per mile, placing him far ahead of casual recreational runners.

For comparison, the singer’s earlier marathon effort came in Tokyo this past March, where he finished in three hours and 24 minutes. That result was notable on its own, but his Berlin performance marked a substantial improvement of more than 25 minutes. According to records, Styles placed 6,010th overall in Tokyo; his sub-three time in Berlin puts him in a much more competitive tier of marathon runners.

At the finish line, Styles stopped to celebrate the achievement by snapping a photo with Richard Whitehead, the British Paralympian who has won multiple gold medals in the 200-meter sprint.

In the days leading up to the Berlin Marathon, Styles was reportedly spotted running in both Berlin and London, suggesting that he had been training steadily for the event. While fans are accustomed to seeing Styles command stadium stages, his growing list of marathon completions shows another side of the 30-year-old star, one increasingly comfortable blending global superstardom with personal athletic goals.

This disciplined focus mirrors the approach of many celebrities who have turned to marathons in recent years, but few have done so with Styles’ results. A sub-three-hour marathon is considered aspirational even for dedicated hobbyists, further highlighting his commitment.

Since concluding his record-breaking Love On Tour trek in July 2023, Styles has largely stepped out of the music industry spotlight. Instead, his public sightings have ranged from the mundane to the unexpected: watching the Pope’s inaugural ceremony in Rome, casually strolling New York with actress Zoë Kravitz, and, in one viral moment, attempting (unsuccessfully) to help a woman parallel park her car.

Still, marathons have become the most consistent thread in his public appearances. Fans have now spotted him on courses in Tokyo and Berlin within the same calendar year, raising speculation about whether he intends to pursue additional majors in the future, perhaps Boston, London, or New York, all of which form part of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors series.

While his marathon achievements are impressive, many fans are still hoping for a return to the studio. Styles’ last full-length release, Harry’s House, arrived in 2022 and produced global hits like “As It Was.” His Love On Tour shows wrapped more than two years ago, and apart from scattered rumors, no new album project has been announced.