Focus on the Berlin Marathon

December 8, 2016

Hi, welcome back to the Mohsin Salya blog.

There are some awesome marathons around the world, and if you’ve not ran one in another country then I highly recommend it. In my new series I’ll be focusing on marathons from around the world to give you an idea of what to expect if you’re considering trying out a new one.

Today we’re focusing on Berlin – one of the largest and most popular road races in the world.

BMW Berlin Marathon

Traditionally taking place on the last weekend in September, the Berlin Marathon was first initiated in 1974. Now sponsored by BMW, the official distance is 26 miles and 385 yards, or 42.195 kilometres. The event is open to professional athletes and amateur runners jointly, and it set up as a city-wide road surface.

One of the most popular road races in the world, the marathon had 46,950 entrants (41,283 runners, 5,445 inline skaters, 185 hand bikers and 37 wheelchairs) from 122 countries, and more than one million spectators this year. It forms the World Marathon Majors along with seven other races around the world, a series which offers a $1 million prize to be split equally between the top male and female marathoners.

Known for its flat profile, even surface, cheering spectators and mild autumn temperatures, the Berlin Marathon has been the site of the world leading men’s time for a record six consecutive years. The most marathon world records for men and women have been set at the Berlin Marathon too.

The Course

The marathon starts and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate. Before 1990, the city was divided, and so marathon events were limited to the area of West Berlin. Now, marathoners are able to run through the Brandenburg Gate.

After leaving here, the course passes Charlottenburg, around Tiergarten, along Moabit and Mitte and then south to Friedrichshain. Afterwards, it winds west between Kreuzberg and Neukölln. It then goes through Schöneberg, over to Friedenau and Zehlendorf, before turning north back to the city centre. Looping above Schöneberg, the course comes full circle as it finishes through the Gate. If you want to check out the course in more detail, there is a great interactive map online that enables you to zoom in and get up close to specific parts of the marathon course.

Time measurement at the Berlin Marathon is carried out exclusively here by ChampionChip – a small plastic transponder that is fastened on to your running shoe and will measure your personal race time.

If you’re planning on entering the Berlin Marathon, good luck and have a great run!

Until next time,

Mohsin Salya