Berlin Marathon

Berlin is flat and fast - if you can avoid the crowds.

Intro

I’ve run the Berlin Marathon three times – it was the first marathon I ran in 2008 and where I first ran sub 3 hours in 2010. In those years entry rarely sold out and you could enter simply by signing up. Today, entry is as competitive as other of the Major Marathons.

It’s a wonderful marathon: flat, fast and well supported throughout. Berlin is an incredible city to visit, and running through the streets, surrounded by hundreds of years of rich history is a fun experience.

Berlin is normally towards the end of September, when the weather is cooler.

Entry

You can get a place in Berlin one of three ways:

1. Lottery: Unique among the major marathons, Berlin offers a group lottery entry. You can enter with up to two other people, and you'll either all get in or not. It’s a good way to make sure you can travel as a group. 

2. Charity: Many charities and non-profits enter bibs in Berlin. European charities normally ask for a smaller commitment than charities based in the US.

3. Time qualification: Berlin is one of the hardest major marathons to enter via time qualification - significantly harder than Boston. Men under 45 must have run a sub 2:45 marathon in the last three years; for women it’s sub 3:10.

The Lead Up

A couple of things to note:

• You can collect your number from the marathon expo. Expect long lines if you don’t pre-book a slot. The marathon is heavily sponsored and the only stands at the expo are normally those of the sponsors.

• The course circumnavigates the city center and doesn’t have that many major landmarks. This is definitely a marathon where it’s best to learn the course beforehand.

The Crowds

When I first raced Berlin, around 30,000 people finished and there were points on the course that bottlenecked runners significantly. Last year, for the 50th anniversary, the organizers increased the field size to over 50,000 and everything felt congested. Be prepared for lines everywhere and for it to be hard to settle into a rhythm for at least several miles after the start.

The start

• The race starts in the Tiergarten, near the Brandenburg Gate. There are plenty of public transport options that will likely be your best option given road closures on the course. Berlin Hauptbahnhof (central station) is a short walk from the start.

• The start area is large and honestly not that well sign-posted. Leave plenty of time and be prepared to come across fences blocking your way that mean you have to backtrack.

• Once inside the fenced area, you will be able to follow signs to your start area. There are only a couple of roads to walk along and these can get very, very busy. Be aware that it may take a lot of time to get to your corral, especially if you’re near the front.

The Route

The course is one of the flattest major marathons - up there with Chicago. The course winds around the city center, mostly avoiding sharp turns. Water stations are frequent and well marked. The course is really well spectated, although the crowds aren't necessarily the loudest - be prepared to encourage them if you need some additional support!