Berlin Marathon Explained

Bgcolour:	lightblue
Date:	Last weekend of September
Location:	Berlin, Germany
Type:	Road
Distance:	Marathon
Sponsor:	BMW
Record:	Men: 2:01:09 (2022) Eliud Kipchoge Women: 2:11:53 (2023, WR) Tigist Assefa
Participants:	34,879 finishers (2022)^[1] 23,097 finishers (2021) 44,064 (2019)
Current:	Yes

The Berlin Marathon (German: Berlin-Marathon, pronounced as /de/) is a marathon event held annually on the streets of Berlin, Germany on the last weekend of September. Held annually since 1974, the event includes multiple races over the marathon distance of 42.195km (26.219miles), including elite level road running competitions for men and women, a race for the public, an inline skating race, a wheelchair race, and a handcycle race.

Events are split over two days, with skaters competing on the marathon course on Saturday before the running events. Power walkers, hand-bikers, wheelchair riders, and a children's marathon (4.2195km (02.6219miles), 1/10 of the regular distance)^[2] are also part of the marathon weekend, which is organised by SCC EVENTS. The elite running and wheelchair races are part of the World Marathon Majors, an annual series of top level races offering a $1 million prize purse. BMW is the current title sponsor for the race.

The city's flat course regularly produces fast performances: a record eight women scored times below 2:20 in the 2023 race, and a record nine men were below 2:05 and 15 finished inside 2:06.^[3] The marathon world record has been broken in Berlin on thirteen occasions, particularly the most recent eight instances on the men's progression . The current record was set at the 2022 edition, where Eliud Kipchoge won the men's race in 2:01:09. Tigist Assefa set a new women's world record in 2023 with 2:11:53. In the wheelchair race, Catherine Debrunner (Switzerland) 2023 broke the world record in 1:34:16 hours, with two women just one second behind.^[4]

History

The Berlin Marathon was established in 1974 by Horst Milde, a baker and running enthusiast in the city. The race had 244 finishers; 234 men and 10 women, and was won by Günter Hallas and Jutta von Haase in times of 2:44:53 and 3:22:01 respectively. In 1977, Christa Vahlensieck established a new women's world record at the Berlin Marathon, running 2:34:47. Four years later, the race started outside the Reichstag for the first time, by which time it had grown to 2,583 finishers, making it the largest city road race in Germany. The following year, before German unification, some East Germans secretly ran the race, registering under false names to avoid recriminations from the East German secret service. In 1989, a children's race was added to the event, and eight years later an inline skating marathon was contested.^{[5] [6]}

In 1998, Ronaldo da Costa set a new men's world record, the only South American to hold a marathon world record. Two years later, one of the race's pacemakers, Simon Biwott won the race, after one of the favourites had pulled out in the second half of the race. In 2001, Naoko Takahashi became the first woman to run a sub-2:20 marathon, completing the Berlin Marathon in 2:19:46. The race had continued to be the venue of world records; between 2003 and 2018, seven men's records were set at the race; the most recent remains as the current world record time; Eliud Kipchoge's 2:01:39.^{[5] [6]}

The event was held in mid-September in 2000 and 2018, because of a conflict with the Women's Olympic Marathon, and due to German Unity Day preparations, respectively.^[7]

The 2020 edition of the event was prohibited from being held on its originally scheduled dates due to the coronavirus pandemic,^[8] and was eventually cancelled once it was clear that it would not be possible to hold it at a later date in 2020.^[9] All registrants were given the option of either transferring their entry to 2021 or obtaining a refund.

Course

The course within the metropolis starts and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate. Due to the division of the city, the marathon events before 1990 were limited to West Berlin only. On 30 September 1990 athletes were able to run through the Brandenburg Gate for the first time and since then, the course has covered both halves of the unified city. It was reported that a great many of the runners had tears in their eyes as they ran through the gate.

Nowadays, after leaving Brandenburg Gate, the course passes Charlottenburg, around Tiergarten, along Moabit and Mitte, and then south to Friedrichshain. After that, it winds west between Kreuzberg and Neukölln, through Schöneberg, over to Friedenau and Zehlendorf, before turning north back toward the city's center. Looping above Schöneberg, the course comes full circle as it finishes through the Gate.^[10]

There have been two other major international marathons in Berlin. At the 1936 Olympic Games and at the 2009 IAAF World Championships, both using different routes. A marathon in Berlin on 14 Oct 1973 was won by Ulrich Hutmacher (GER) with a time of 2:19:32, but that race is not considered to be part of the Berlin Marathon series.

Sponsors

There have been several title sponsors in the race's history. From 1974 until 1989 it was just the Berlin Marathon. In 1990, it was the Yanase Berlin Marathon. In 1991 and 1992 it was the Canon Berlin Marathon. It reverted to simply the Berlin Marathon from 1993 until 1997. It then became the Alberto Berlin Marathon in 1998 and 1999. A new title sponsor changed the name to the real,- Berlin Marathon from 2000 to 2010. Since 2011 it has been called the BMW Berlin Marathon.

Finishers

In terms of finishing athletes, Berlin is one of four world-wide marathons with more than 40,000 finishers, along with the New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and Paris Marathon.

Year	Finishers			Shares
	Total	Males	Females	Males	Females
2022	34,788	23,280	11,508	67 %	33 %
2021^[11]	23,097	16,731	6,366	72%	28%
2020	cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019	44,064	30,775	13,289	70%	30%
2018	40,775	28,443	12,332	70%	30%
2017	39,101	28,067	11,034	72%	28%
2016	36,054	26,807	9,247	74%	26%
2015	36,767	27,917	8,929	76%	24%
2014	28,946	22,178	6,768	77%	23%
2013	36,527	27,577	8,990	75%	25%
2012	34,377	26,398	7,871	77%	23%
2011	32,977	25,577	7,414	77%	23%
2010	34,070	26,410	7,215	78%	22%
2009	35,016	27,934	7,060	79%	21%
2008	35,653	28,357	7,429	79%	21%
2007	32,497	25,994	6,492	80%	20%
2006	30,190	24,094	6,088	80%	20%
2005	30,382	24,501	5,872	81%	19%
2004	28,023	22,800	5,222	81%	19%
2003	30,709	25,108	5,601	82%	18%
2002	25,286	20,880	4,406	83%	17%
2001	25,792	21,669	4,123	84%	16%
2000	22,879	19,332	3,547	84%	16%
1999	19,129	16,537	2,592	87%	13%
1998	21,004	17,795	3,209	85%	15%
1997	14,982	13,120	1,862	88%	12%
1996	16,529	14,489	2,040	88%	12%
1995	13,088	11,682	1,406	89%	11%
1994	12,263	10,980	1,283	90%	10%
1993	14,107	12,586	1,521	89%	11%
1992	13,225	11,918	1,307	90%	10%
1991	14,849	13,456	1,393	91%	9%
1990	22,806	20,415	2,391	90%	10%
1989	13,433	12,233	1,200	91%	9%
1988	13,117	11,986	1,131	91%	9%
1987	12,674	11,651	1,023	92%	8%
1986	11,450	10,574	876	92%	8%
1985	9,810	9,146	664	93%	7%
1984	7,297	6,875	422	94%	6%
1983	5,121	4,886	235	95%	5%
1982	3,448	3,318	130	96%	4%
1981	2,567	2,418	149	94%	6%
1980	294	276	18	94%	6%
1979	222	207	15	93%	7%
1978	197	187	10	95%	5%
1977	230	219	11	95%	5%
1976	311	296	15	95%	5%
1975	236	232	4	98%	2%
1974	244	234	10	96%	4%

Elite race

World records

Year	Athlete	Country	Record	Sex
2023	Tigst Assefa		2:11:53	Women
2022	Eliud Kipchoge		2:01:09	Men
2018	Eliud Kipchoge		2:01:39	Men
2014	Dennis Kipruto Kimetto		2:02:57	Men
2013	Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich		2:03:23	Men
2011	Patrick Makau Musyoki		2:03:38	Men
2008	Haile Gebrselassie		2:03:59	Men
2007	Haile Gebrselassie		2:04:26	Men
2003	Paul Tergat		2:04:55	Men
2001	Naoko Takahashi		2:19:46	Women
1999	Tegla Loroupe		2:20:43	Women
1998	Ronaldo da Costa		2:06:05	Men
1977	Christa Vahlensieck		2:34:48	Women

Winners

Key:

Current course record

German championship race

Ed.	Date	Men's winner	Country	Time	Women's winner	Country	Time
49	24 September 2023			2:02:42			2:11:53
48	25 September 2022			2:01:09 WR	Tigist Assefa		2:15:37
47^[12]				2:05:45			2:20:09
	2020	Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
46	29 September 2019			2:01:41			2:20:14
45	16 September 2018			2:01:39 WR			2:18:11
44	24 September 2017			2:03:32			2:20:23
43	25 September 2016			2:03:03			2:20:45
				2:04:00			2:19:25
				2:02:57 WR			2:20:18
				2:03:23 WR			2:21:13
				2:04:15			2:20:30
				2:03:38 WR			2:19:44
				2:05:08			2:23:58
				2:06:08			2:24:47
			Ethiopia	2:03:59 WR			2:19:19
			Ethiopia	2:04:26 WR		Ethiopia	2:23:17
			Ethiopia	2:05:56		Ethiopia	2:21:34
				2:07:41	Mizuki Noguchi		2:19:12
				2:06:44			2:19:41
				2:04:55 WR			2:26:32
				2:06:47			2:21:49
				2:08:47			2:19:46 WR
				2:07:42			2:26:15
				2:06:44			2:20:43 WR
				2:06:05 WR			2:25:22
				2:07:41			2:23:44
				2:09:15			2:26:35
				2:07:02			2:25:37
				2:08:31			2:25:15
			South Africa	2:10:57			2:26:20
			South Africa	2:08:07			2:30:22
				2:10:57			2:27:36
				2:08:16			2:28:37
				2:10:11			2:28:45
				2:11:45			2:29:16
				2:11:11			2:31:22
				2:11:03			2:32:10
				2:11:43			2:34:10
				2:13:35			2:39:32
				2:13:37			2:40:32
				2:14:47			2:47:05
				2:15:42			2:47:24
				2:16:48			2:47:18
				2:21:09			3:07:07
				2:20:03			2:57:09
				2:15:19			2:34:48 WR
				2:23:08			3:05:19
				2:47:08			2:59:15
				2:44:53			3:22:01

Inline skating race

An inline skating section was added to the marathon event in 1997. A total of 5081 people took part in this section in the 2019 race. It is considered the largest inline skater marathon in the world and is the final venue of the World Inline Cup. The men's and women's race records are held by Bart Swings (56:49 in 2015) and Maira Yaqueline Arias (1:06:35 in 2017).

Key: Course record (in bold)

Year	Men's winner	Country	Time	Women's winner	Country	Time
2023^[13]	Jason Suttels		57:01	Gabriela Rueda		1:08:59
2022^[14]	Bart Swings		56:45	Marie Dupuy		1:11:19
2021^[15]						1:13:40
2020	cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
2019			1:10:30			1:25:49
2018						1:09:15
2017						1:06:35
2016						1:08:38
2015						1:09:20
2014						1:08:38
2013						1:09:58
2012			1:00:04			1:14:13
2011			1:01:26			1:14:56
2010			1:09:19			1:22:25
2009			1:02:50			1:14:47
2008			1:00:33			1:13:24
2007			1:12:30			1:23:20
2006			1:02:25			1:14:02
2005			1:01:21			1:10:43
2004			1:04:43			1:17:08
2003			1:02:03			1:11:28
2002			1:04:44			1:13:59
2001			1:04:17			1:12:57
2000			1:01:45			1:08:29
1999			1:01:08			1:09:32
1998			1:07:32			1:14:20
1997			1:07:52			1:15:30

Handcycle race

A handcycle race was first held at the race in 2004. In 2008, 166 handcyclists participated in the Berlin Marathon. The men's and women's race records are held by Jetze Plat (1:00:01 in 2019) and Christiane Reppe (1:08:54 in 2016).

Key: Course record (in bold)

Year	Men's winner	Time	Women's winner	Time
2004		1:17:02		1:24:43
2005		1:13:32		1:15:50
2006		1:11:03		1:18:34
2007		1:11:12		1:18:40
2008		1:05:46		1:13:55
2009		1:05:47		1:18:28
2010		1:09:04		1:25:13
2011		1:04:12		1:17:09
2012		1:05:21		1:17:42
2013		1:06:14		1:15:31
2014		1:03:37		1:10:23
2015		1:02:32		1:10:12
2016		1:05:06		1:08:54
2017		1:03:45		1:10:07
2018		1:04:56		1:17:36
2019		1:00:01		1:10:21
2020	cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
2021^[16]		1:01:40		1:22:03

Wheelchair race

A wheelchair section was first officially held at the Berlin Marathon in 1981. Only men competed that year. The wheelchair race typically starts earlier in the day before the runners and power walkers.

Heinz Frei is the most successful athlete, with twenty wins in the men's race. The next most successful athlete is Manuela Schär, who has won the women's race six times. Both these athletes also hold the records for time, with Frei setting the men's race record of 1:21:39 in 1997 and Schär setting the women's race record of 1:36:53 in 2018.^[17]

Key: Course record (in bold)

Year	Men's winner	Time	Women's winner	Time
1981		2:08:44	not held
1982		2:03:10
1983		1:55:10		2:51:12
1984		2:16:32		2:47:14
1985		1:57:28		2:33:51
1986		1:46:44		2:32:23
1987		1:46:52		2:21:29
1988		1:52:08		2:52:29
1989		1:40:11		1:55:23
1990		1:34:41		1:57:47
1991		1:27:39		1:51:50
1992		1:29:41		1:42:07
1993		1:27:16		1:50:34
1994		1:22:12		1:57:14
1995		1:22:49		1:58:38
1996		1:25:34		1:54:00
1997		1:21:39		1:49:58
1998		1:24:19		1:47:53
1999		1:23:57		1:48:12
2000		1:26:30		1:52:31
2001		1:30:24		1:47:46
2002		1:28:28		1:45:52
2003		1:25:19		1:52:05
2004		1:33:49	not held
2005		1:28:32		1:49:46
2006		1:29:30		1:42:52
2007		1:26:50		1:48:50
2008		1:27:55		2:04:21
2009		1:28:38		1:39:31
2010		1:28:46		1:46:15
2011		1:29:31		1:45:20
2012		1:29:43		1:46:19
2013		1:31:00		1:41:39
2014		1:32:25		1:47:56
2015		1:27:36		1:50:36
2016		1:29:51		1:43:00
2017		1:29:03		1:40:05
2018		1:29:41		1:36:53
2019		1:28:09		1:38:07
2020	cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
2021^[18]		1:24:03		1:37:31
2022^[19]		1:24:56		1:36:47

See also

• List of marathon races in Europe
• Sport in Berlin

External links

• Official website
• World Marathon Majors – Berlin Marathon at the World Marathon Majors
• Berlin Marathon at YouRace – Interactive course map and elevation profile

Notes and References

1. https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/impressionen/statistik-und-geschichte/zahlen-und-rekorde/ BERLIN-MARATHON: Zahlen und Rekorde: Die Teilnehmerzahlen 2022
2. Web site: Berlin. Berliner Morgenpost-. 2010-09-25. 9500 Kinder und Jugendliche beim Mini-Marathon. 2020-12-12. www.morgenpost.de. de-DE.
3. https://worldathletics.org/news/report/tigst-assefa-world-marathon-record-berlin-kipchoge-2023 Assefa smashes world marathon record in Berlin with 2:11:53, Kipchoge achieves record fifth win
4. https://www.paralympic.org/news/catherine-debrunner-pulverises-world-record-berlin-marathon Catherine Debrunner pulverises world record at Berlin Marathon
5. Web site: The Record-Breaking History of the Berlin Marathon . Robinson . Roger . Runner's World . 25 September 2019 . 7 July 2020.
6. Web site: Countdown is starting: Looking back into the history of the BMW BERLIN MARATHON . BMW BERLIN MARATHON . 9 January 2013 . 7 July 2020.
7. News: Tag der Deutschen Einheit verdrängt Berlin-Marathon. 2020-12-12. Der Tagesspiegel Online. de.
8. Web site: Event Update. 2020-12-12. www.scc-events.com.
9. Web site: 2020-07-01. BMW BERLIN-MARATHON: Event update. 2020-12-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20200701133145/https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/your-race/event-update/. 2020-07-01.
10. Web site: Berlin Marathon . Marius Bakken . Marius Bakken . 2009-04-17.
11. Web site: 47. BMW Berlin-Marathon 2021 . berlin.r.mikatiming.net . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20210926155533/https://berlin.r.mikatiming.net/2021/?page=231&event=BML&num_results=100&pid=search&search_sort=place_nosex . 26 September 2021 . dead.
12. Web site: 47. BMW Berlin-Marathon 2021 . berlin.r.mikatiming.net . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20210926154912/https://berlin.r.mikatiming.net/2021/?pid=leaderboard . 26 September 2021 . dead.
13. Web site: 2024-01-03 . Results Archive . 2024-08-02 . BMW BERLIN-MARATHON . en.
14. Web site: 2024-01-03 . Results Archive . 2024-08-02 . BMW BERLIN-MARATHON . en.
15. Web site: Berlin Marathon live: Sperrungen, Strecke, Corona, Ergebnisse - alle News und Infos - Berliner Morgenpost . www.morgenpost.de . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20210926105702/https://www.morgenpost.de/sport/berlinmarathon/article233362597/marathon-berlin-2021-fotos-sperrungen-strecke-corona-start-ergebnisse.html . 26 September 2021 . dead.
16. Web site: Adola and Gebreslase win at Berlin Marathon as Bekele falters in third . www.insidethegames.biz . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20210926151425/https://www.insidethegames.biz/index.php/articles/1113455/adola-gebreslase-berlin-marathon . 26 September 2021 . dead.
17. https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/fileadmin/marathon/0_files/SCC_BMW_EH_2018_6_3_WEB.pdf 2018 Berlin Marathon
18. Web site: BMW BERLIN-MARATHON (@berlinmarathonE) | Twitter . twitter.com . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20210926093935/https://twitter.com/berlinmarathonE . 26 September 2021 . dead.
19. Web site: BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2022 . 5 November 2023 . https://berlin.r.mikatiming.com/2022/?pid=leaderboard&event=BMR . 25 September 2022 . live.