Berlin Marathon

Location: Berlin
Country: Germany
Website: https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/
2025 Marathon Date: 28/09/25
2026 Marathon Date: 27/09/26
Winning Time 2025: 02:04:53
% Sub-3s: 5–10%
# Sub-3s: 2000+
Total Runners: 40k+

The BMW Berlin Marathon is one of the world’s six Abbott World Marathon Majors and has long been the benchmark for fast marathon racing. The course is celebrated for its flat profile, wide roads and consistent pacing opportunities, which have made it the venue of more marathon world records than any other race. With a start and finish near the Brandenburg Gate, it combines historic landmarks with a reputation for precision organisation.

For sub-3 runners, Berlin is a race that rewards discipline and calmness in large crowds. With over 40,000 finishers, positioning in the early kilometres is essential: find your line, protect your pace and avoid wasteful weaving. Once settled, the even gradients and broad straights allow you to lock into rhythm and hold it without interruption. Weather is typically cool but can vary; preparation for both mild and warm conditions is advisable.

Crowd support is dense throughout the city, with Berliners lining much of the course to create an atmosphere that builds steadily towards the iconic finish. Aid stations are frequent and efficient, though busy — so sub-3 runners benefit from a clear hydration plan and the ability to stay composed in congestion.

Berlin’s prestige is part of its appeal, but its reliability is what makes it so important to the sub-3 community. With careful execution, it offers one of the best opportunities in the world to turn ambitious training into a performance that meets or exceeds target. Few courses give such a consistent chance to deliver on months of preparation.