The Berlin Marathon is one of five venues forming the World Marathon Majors (others being Boston, Chicago, New York and London) and takes place annually in the capital city of Berlin, Germany.
It is a citywide road race where the official distance is 42.195 kilometers, or 26 miles, 385b yards.
Both professionals and amateurs compete in the event that traditionally runs the last weekend of September every year.
Race History
The Berlin Marathon began in 1974 but had its course limited to the western sector since the city, and country, was still divided then. The first running was small with less than 300 participants.
However, after only a few years, records were soon broken at the Berlin Marathon. German runner Christa Vahlensieck set a new record for women in 1977. She completed the run in two hours, 34 minutes and 47 seconds. Since the event was fairly new, top marathon runners avoided participation.
The event grew in popularity, and by 1985, attracted 10,000 runners. Race observers viewed the emotional sight of 25,000 participants running through the Brandenburg Gate in 1990 after unification.
The year 1998 – the 25th anniversary of the event – attracted a record number of participants where two records fell. Brazilian Ronaldo da Costa broke a 10-year-old record set by Ethiopian Belayneh at the Rotterdam Marathon in 1988. Costa ran the race in 2:06 becoming the first runner to set a 20 kph pace.
Race Course
The Berlin Marathon course has seen more world records set than any other. It is a flat, even surfaced design that experiences mild autumn temperatures enjoyed by throngs of cheering spectators. Your marathon training will make or break you in this great race!
Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie set a spectacular, new world record in 2008 while competing at the ripe old running age of 35 turning in a time of 2:03:59 .
The Marathon in Berlin begins and ends at the historic Brandenburg Gate.
Since Germany’s unification beginning with the 1990 race, runners begin racing through the Brandenburg Gate, whip past Chartlotenburg, step around Tiergarten along the Moabit and Mitte sectors on inner Berlin, and then head south to Friedrichshain, once a dominant section of old East Berlin.
The course heads west through Kreuzberg, Neukölln and then through Schöneberg passing by Steglitz and Zehlendorf before runners head back north to Berlin’s center where finishing by passing under the Brandenburg Gate again.
How to Register
Every year, the Berlin Marathon is such a popular venue, it closes runner registration at a quick pace. As of Friday, Feb. 4, only 5,000 slots remain for the event that takes place Sept. 25, 2011.
The marathon closed out registration in April last year, so would-be runners need to hurry by registering online at Mika Timing using a valid credit card.
Participation fees currently are available at the runner numbers from 25,001 to 40,000 at 100,000 Euros for the race only or 146,000 Euros for the race package that includes a Race Number, 20-minute massage, an Adidas T-shirt and one engraved medal.
After registration is successfully recorded, runners receive a confirmation email.
However, before would-be runners complete general registration, registrants must fill out an assessment of an individual health risk for sports participation – PAPS test or a Personal Activity and Prevention Screening Test. This test is highly recommended by the German Athletics Association preventing avoidable injury.
The last edition of Hal Higdon´s Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide
Are you still searching for a marathon training plan that fits your needs? My 100 Day Marathon Plan review tells you all about Marius Bakken’s revolutionary method to train for a marathon. Make sure to read it!
Return from Berlin Marathon to Marathon Guide
Return to Marathon Training Tips home
