In case you have questions concerning the Berlin Marathon, you’re in the precise place. That is going to have the whole lot you’ll must have one of the best day operating 26.2 miles attainable!
Working one of many World Marathon Majors is an expertise of a lifetime. However it may also be very anxious, particularly should you’re touring to someplace you’ve by no means been earlier than.
Take a deep breath, as a result of we’re going to interrupt down what it’s good to learn about coaching, journey, and race day to make it really feel much less anxious.
Between the expo, race day logistics, and navigating town, we’ve carried out the analysis and talked to runners who’ve run the Berlin Marathon earlier than to place collectively this race information.
Berlin Marathon Suggestions
This yr’s occasion goes to be per week sooner than regular, going down on Sunday, September 21, 2025 with the primary wave of runners beginning at 9:15 am.
Let’s dive into some necessary tips on what to anticipate throughout race weekend.
The following tips are what we all the time share with runners, however they’re particularly necessary should you’re touring as a racecation:
- Keep away from spending an excessive amount of time in your toes earlier than the race. Berlin is a really walkable metropolis, and you may hit 30k steps in a short time!
- Have your pre-race dinner and morning of meal with you or deliberate out, so you recognize it’s meals you tolerate. Look forward at eating places and make a reservation!
- Make certain to obtain the race information and familiarize your self with the race day schedule.
- Get passes for transportation and obtain any timetable apps forward of time.
- Arrange race alerts so that you simply’re conscious of any adjustments which will happen to begin occasions and so forth.
The meals is probably going going to be totally different from what you’re used to consuming throughout coaching. In case you have a delicate abdomen, be sure to pack the whole lot that you could be want in your carry-on.
Berlin has probably the most Italian eating places, so it’s simple to discover a place to get a carb-filled dinner the evening earlier than. In the event you want bagels, you may get them on the grocery shops, or you should buy the SCHRIPPE/SONTAGSBRÖTCHEN. -@michael.runstheworld
#1 Prepare for the Flats
When evaluating the course to the opposite World Marathon Majors, the Berlin Marathon has the bottom elevation acquire at 72M!
The little little bit of acquire is within the second half of the course, but it surely’s so refined that you simply don’t should construction your total coaching round it.
One factor that many runners overlook is how operating a race that’s so flat can really be tougher. You’ll be utilizing the identical muscle groups all through the race. In the event you’ve been coaching on rolling hills, you might discover that issues begin to ache or fatigue.
#2 Marathon Expo
The expo shall be open Thursday, September 18th at 3pm by means of Saturday, September twentieth at 7pm.
The Berin Marathon Expo is held at:
Messe Berlin
Messedamm 22
Eingang Süd (Jafféstraße)
14055 Berlin
In previous years, the traces to get into the expo have been very lengthy. That is once you’re going to spend so much of time in your toes, so if attainable, attempt to go a number of days earlier than the marathon.
Keep away from the expo on Saturday morning as a result of it’s SUPER crowded and also you’ll doubtless waste the whole day there.
You could choose up your bib along with your race materials and a type of ID that matches the identify in your registration. Nobody else can choose up your race supplies. You’re given an official athlete wristband along with your bib quantity that have to be worn the whole weekend till you exit the end space on race day.
Don’t take away the wristband earlier than the marathon, or you’ll not be allowed to enter the beginning space.
One of the best ways to get to the Berlin Marathon Expo is by taking the prepare after which strolling.
U-Bahn: Line U2 to U-Bhf Kaiserdamm + approx. 25 min strolling
Bus: Busline 349 to Jafféstraße + approx. 9 min strolling
S-Bahn: Line S3/ S5/ S9 to S-Bhf Messe Süd + approx. 5 min strolling
Race Day Merch
Your race entry does NOT embody any merch, it’s totally à la carte, together with the finisher shirt.
Save your self time and preorder the whole lot you need in your SCC portal. This helps assure the scale you need. They’re an Adidas race and the match is usually true to US sizing. You choose up the whole lot that was pre-ordered after you get your bib on the Expo.
You can even prepay for medal engraving, which is completed within the end space. Darren extremely recommends it as a result of it’s low-cost and it’s enjoyable to take heed to the volunteers name out the names of individuals from all around the world!
#3 Plan Properly Forward for Your Begin Line Arrival
Nothing is worse than the nightmare that you simply’ve missed the beginning…aside from really lacking it.
With over 50,000 runners, many shall be taking trains to get to the beginning, so planning is a should!
8:56am Wheelchair Athletes begin
9:15am Runner begin time (4 totally different waves)
Make certain to plan for that along with your spectators that you simply’re not going to begin promptly at 9:15am relying in your wave.
The place to Keep?
That is one the place you don’t should stress about staying at the beginning vs the end as a result of they’re in the identical space!
There are a variety of motels within the metropolis of Berlin that may both be inside strolling distance from the race begin/end or inside strolling distance from a prepare cease.
While you arrive on the airport, you’ll be able to simply take the prepare! The regional specific trains (FEX) go away each half-hour and get to Berlin Hbf in 33 minutes.
Alternatively, there’s the S-bahn S9 line, which covers the identical route in 45 minutes. And they’re each FREE along with your cross.
Native Berlin runner, @michael.runstheworld shared a number of motels which might be pretty near the athletes’ village:
- HAUPTBAHNHOF (strolling distance)
- POTSDAMER PLATZ (strolling distance)
- GENDARMENMARKT (strolling distance)
- ZOO (quick trip with prepare)
- ALEXANDERPLATZ (quick trip)
- HACKESCHER MARKT (quick trip)
Transportation to the Begin Line
The beginning is situated between the Brandenburg Gate and the Kleiner Stern. Relying on the place you’re staying, one of the simplest ways to get there’s by taking the prepare after which strolling to the beginning space, or strolling from the place you’re staying.
Keep away from taking Uber or taxis as a result of so many streets are going to be closed off.
From the Berlin Marathon web site:
- The closest public transportation stops are:
- subway: Unter den Linden, Bundestag
- S-Bahn: Brandenburg Gate
- S-Bahn, U-Bahn and regional transportation: Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Central Station)
All bibs shall be legitimate as a ticket for for each bus, overground prepare (S-bahn) and subway (U-bahn) from September 18 to 21. It’s finest to simply have a photograph of the cross in your telephone in case you’re requested to indicate it (which is able to most probably by no means occur).
Extra details about this shall be despatched to all individuals nearer to race day.
#4 Berlin Begin Line Particulars
Right here’s what it’s good to know to have a clean race morning on the Berlin Marathon.
Plan to reach at the least 90 minutes earlier than your assigned begin time. It’ll be BUSY, particularly in the bathroom traces.
In the event you’re somebody who’s additional nervous on race mornings (that is completely regular and okay!!), give your self a bit additional time to reach and get settled in your beginning corral.
Safety Gates
For safety, solely these operating the Berlin Marathon shall be allowed within the designated beginning space.
When arriving, you will have to indicate your race bib and athlete wristband to enter the beginning/end space.
Gear Verify
Gear Verify or “Clothes Drop off” is simply accessible should you pre-register. You’ll obtain a clothes bag and label once you choose up your race bib on the expo. No different baggage shall be permitted.
In the event you didn’t buy the “clothes drop off” throughout registration, you’ll obtain a poncho on the end.
Rest room Strains
A number of lengthy traces are ready for the bogs. Some runners have mentioned they’ve gotten proper again in line after utilizing the bathroom in order that they will go on extra time earlier than beginning.
Native Berlin runner, @michael.runstheworld, shared “Don’t use the porta potties in your strategy to the corrals within the athlete’s village. As a substitute, maintain strolling by means of your coral to the other facet. There are many porta-potties and tremendous quick traces as a result of everybody all the time stops on the first traces they see.”
Seize some bathroom paper or pack wipes with you as a result of nobody ever needs to get left stranded with nothing.
FuelGoods has some nice little packets you could throw in your carry-on or pocket on race morning.
Beginning Corrals
You’ll be assigned a beginning group primarily based in your finest or anticipated end time. It is possible for you to to vary this till September eighth, 2025.
There aren’t any adjustments to beginning corrals allowed on the expo.
Every wave is assigned a selected beginning time. If you wish to be part of a slower group than what has been assigned, that is allowed. No runners shall be permitted to seed themselves in quicker beginning teams from what’s on their bib.
Right here is the beginning teams:
9.15 am ABCD*
9.45 am EF
10.10 am GHJ
10.40 am Ok
*these might change as we get nearer to September.
One factor to notice that’s totally different concerning the Berlin Marathon is that first-time marathon runners are routinely positioned within the final wave, no matter their end time.
In case you have a half-marathon you could present for proof of time, we recommend doing this by the required date to get moved to an earlier wave.
Sit Down
The beginning space is in a grassy space, so you might wish to pack one thing to take a seat on within the likelihood that the grass is moist, muddy or there’s dangerous climate.
In the event you arrive early, be sure to sit down and relaxation your legs as a result of you may have an enormous day forward of you!
#4 Berlin Marathon Course Technique
Thanks to RTTF-coached athlete Darren for sharing some race day ideas. He’s getting ready to run the Berlin Marathon for the fifth time this fall.
Anticipate the course to be jam-packed, loud, and stuffed with crowd assist. Previous individuals mentioned that the course is loud however not as loud as New York Metropolis or Chicago.
The very first thing you might take into consideration a European metropolis is cobblestone streets, however there shall be none to fret about in Berlin! The roads must be clean and supply a quick race!
Course Markers
Be taught to talk metric; there aren’t any mile markers on the course, solely kilometer markers. We’ve all run 5ks and 10ks so you have already got the fundamentals.
Prepare to run the race in 5k chunks. These markers are very distinguished on the course as a result of they comprise timing clocks.
Even Pacing
With a principally flat course, it’s simple to get swept up within the pleasure and take off too quick, however resist the urge.
Sticking to a good tempo provides you one of the best shot at feeling sturdy all through. As a substitute of surging early, settle right into a rhythm you could maintain comfortably.
This regular effort helps you preserve vitality, keep away from the dreaded wall, and end with sturdy, particularly should you’re chasing a PR or operating your first marathon.
We’ve put collectively this marathon pacing chart in each miles and kilometers to assist.
Miles 1-3
Put together for at the least the primary 2k if no more to be tremendous jam packed. That is the place you actually wish to give attention to not weaving and maintaining your eye on the blue line if attainable.
Runners final yr mentioned the primary little bit of the race was shoulder to shoulder and at occasions a bit troublesome to get settled right into a groove.
Don’t stress, it’ll open up the farther you get into the race and also you’ll be capable to settle in.
Miles 4-14
Absorb the whole lot round you throughout this part of the race. You’re going to run by some unimaginable structure.
Among the issues that you simply’ll see are Berlin Cathedral, Alexanderplatz sq., and the well-known World Clock.
Miles 15-23
That is the place you’ll expertise a few of the “hillier” sections of the course. We put it in quotes as a result of the acquire is so small, you most likely would barely discover it on a standard day.
Since that is later within the race, your physique will really feel the change however simply take tiny steps and use your arms to get you to the highest.
And simply keep in mind, what goes up should come down, so that you’ll get a pleasant deal with on the downhills as you head into the ultimate push to the Brandenburg Gate.
The Berlin Marathon course is understood for world information being set nearly yearly, so these “hills” aren’t going to be that dangerous!
Closing 800m
The Brandenburg Gate (Tor) is such a welcoming web site down the house stretch and it’s NOT THE FINISH LINE! You continue to have 800m to go.
Search for the photographers on the gate, flash an enormous smile and enjoyable hand indicators to present your self that final increase to the end!
Help Stations
There shall be at the least 15 help stations with water. Along with that, each different station may have water, fruit, tea, and Maurten DRINK MIX 160.
At 27.5 KM, there shall be Maurten Gel 100 in case you want a bit increase as you get nearer to the final elements of the marathon.
All drinks shall be served in cups. Use your coaching to follow ingesting when you’re operating.
A tip from us coaches- to keep away from waterboarding your self, pinch the cup and take sips!
Restrict Your Weaving
Regardless of the place you begin in such a crowded course, there’s going to be a must cross folks.
- Attempt to not make any huge weaves, this can add distance to your race
- Simply transfer barely to the facet and maintain going
- In the event you run into a big pileup, it’s most likely a tempo group. Attempt to transfer to the facet to get away from the pacer should you don’t like all of the jostling.
Stick with the Blue Line
Search for the blue line and attempt to run as near it as attainable all through the race. It will enable you to run the tangents, which implies one of the best likelihood of solely operating 26.2.
Berlin Marathon FAQS
The Berlin Marathon web site has a variety of info, however listed below are a number of of the extra common questions round race weekend.
Do You Should Qualify for the Berlin Marathon?
No. It’s a lottery system. So that you’ll put your identify in when the lottery opens (a number of weeks after the marathon) after which wait a number of months to seek out out should you had been one of many randomly chosen who get to race the following yr.
- Charity Runner: Make your 26.2 miles imply a bit extra by elevating cash for a charity. There’s a checklist of charities which have partnered with the Berlin Marathon and have set fundraising objectives to obtain a safe race entry. The fundraising objectives that must be met will range by charity.
- Tour Operators: should you didn’t get in by means of the lottery, there are totally different packages you could buy from tour teams that may include a Berlin Marathon bib. Similar to the lottery, these spots go in a short time!
- Quick runners can use a time qualifier to use throughout a set interval.
- In the event you’ve participated within the Berlin Marathon for 10 consecutive years, you be part of the Jubilee Membership and get to skip getting into the lottery.
Are Hydration Vest Allowed?
Sure, you’re allowed to hold your personal hydration. Right here’s the precise pointers from the Berlin Marathon web site:
- Hydration packs or vests with the next dimensions:
- again compartment with a most quantity of three liters for holding hydration bladders
- Entrance pockets for water bottles (max. 0.5 liters every)
- Entrance pockets for small gadgets (cellular phone, keys, and so forth.)
- Consuming belt:
- Pockets for water bottles (max. 0.5 liters every)
- Pockets for small gadgets (cellular phone, keys, and so forth.)
In the event you want suggestions, try our examined operating handheld bottles and operating belts >>
DO NOT skimp in your hydration due to this. Getting low on sodium and general hydration will influence your race.
What’s the Berlin Marathon Minimize Off?
The Berlin Marathon does have a 6:15 cut-off time. That is from the time you cross the beginning mat, not when the primary individual crosses the mat.
In case you have not reached 33 KM by 3:50pm or 38 KM by 4:35pm you’ll get pulled from the course and directed to the sweeper bus. Those that don’t end, is not going to obtain a medal or post-finish goodies.
There are course sweepers who will observe behind and in the event that they really feel that you simply’re not going to make the cutoffs, will ask you to depart the course.
Are there pacers?
Sure, pacers will put on a pacer flag with the corresponding end occasions. Every wave may have the next pacers:
In wave 1 for 3:00 – 3:15 – 3:30 hours
In wave 2 for 3:00 – 3:15 – 3:30 – 3:45 hours
In wave 3 for 3:30 – 3:45 – 4:00 – 4:15 hours
In wave 4 for 3:45 – 4:00 – 4:15 – 4:30 – 4:45 – 5:00 hours
How Massive is the Berlin Marathon?
World Marathon Majors are getting greater and larger yearly. In 2024, Berlin set a report with 54,280 finishers.
With the numbers rising yearly, which means that programs have gotten crowded. Plan for this however keep away from weaving an excessive amount of so that you simply’re GPS doesn’t get forward and also you’re not losing an excessive amount of vitality.
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