Berlin Marathon

The Berlin Marathon was founded in 1974, during the golden age of mass-participation running. Now 52 years old, it has established itself as a beloved fixture in Berlin, growing from its early editions into a race with genuine character and loyal following.

Eliud Kipchoge etched their name into running history by setting the course record of 2:01:09 in 2022. That time places the Berlin Marathon among the fastest courses in the world — a flat, fast stage where records are not just possible but expected.

Runners come to the Berlin Marathon for one reason: personal bests. The flat, fast course through Berlin has a reputation as a PB factory, with the roads seemingly designed to keep your pace honest and your splits consistent from start to finish.

As one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, the Berlin Marathon occupies a place in the sport's highest tier. Completing all six Majors earns the coveted Six Star Medal — and for thousands of runners, this race in Berlin is either the beginning or the culmination of that pilgrimage.

With over 45,000 finishers, race day transforms Berlin into a celebration of human endurance. The streets fill with runners, spectators, and the electric hum of a city united by the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other. It's less a sporting event than a civic holiday.

In 2023, Tigist Assefa shattered the women's world record by over two minutes, running 2:11:53. Her negative split — running the second half faster than the first — was so extreme that commentators initially thought the timing was wrong. She improved the record by more time than it had been lowered in the previous decade combined.

Since reunification, the Berlin Marathon finish line has passed through the Brandenburg Gate — once a symbol of division, now the backdrop for some of running's greatest moments. Every world record since 2003 has been set on this course, making the approach to the Gate perhaps the most significant final stretch in marathon running.