Five things we learned from Harry Styles’s sub-3 at Berlin

Harry Styles is no stranger to the stage, but on Sunday he took on a very different arena: the streets of Berlin. The 31-year-old Grammy winner, best known for his solo career and as a former member of One Direction, ran 2:59:13 to break the three-hour marathon barrier. In doing so, he joined what The Times has called “the status symbol among hardcore fitness fans” — the exclusive sub-3 club.

To put his performance in perspective, only 2,382 runners went sub-3 out of 48,028 finishers in Berlin this year — a rate of just 5.0%, compared to 6.6% in 2024. The sharp drop highlights how the hot conditions, rising from 21°C at the start to 26°C at the finish, made it much harder to sustain target pace. That makes Styles’s run all the more impressive.

Here are five things that stood out about his performance:

1. Near-perfect pacing

Styles’s half splits — 1:29:08 at halfway and 1:30:06 for the second half — show a textbook effort. A fade of less than a minute is outstanding given the heat. Each 5 km hovered close to 21 minutes, and even his 35–40 km segment was only 30 seconds slower than his early rhythm.

2. Anonymity helped focus

Running under the alias Sted Sarandos, in a black long-sleeved top that covered his famous tattoos, Styles kept attention away from his celebrity persona. Headphones locked him into rhythm. This wasn’t a performance for fans - it was a performance for the clock.

3. Marginal gains from gear

Like many elites, Styles chose the Nike Alphafly 3, designed to maximise energy return. Paired with Tracksmith shorts and District Vision sunglasses, he looked more like a serious club runner than a pop star. For a three-hour effort, every small gain matters.

4. Factoring in the realities of Berlin

With over 48,000 runners, it took Styles more than four minutes to cross the start. That congestion, plus the difficulty of hugging Berlin’s famous blue racing line, means he almost certainly ran long — likely closer to 42.6 km than 42.2 km. Smart pacing allowed him to absorb those extra metres without panic.

5. A major leap forward

In March, Styles ran 3:24:07 in Tokyo, a notoriously challenging course. To improve by over 24 minutes in just six months is extraordinary. Such progress is not down to talent or personality alone — it is highly evident that he has been training hard, putting in the miles and supplementing that work with careful strength and conditioning, nutrition, and recovery. This is the kind of transformation that reflects dedication, structure, and discipline rather than luck or genes. He missed the Boston qualifying standard (2:55:00) by only four minutes and, on a cooler, flat course like Chicago, a sub-2:50 is not unrealistic next year.

Breaking three hours is a defining moment for any amateur marathoner - celebrity or not. In a year when just 5% of Berlin’s field achieved it - and 95% didn’t make the cut - Styles proved he belongs in that rarefied group. It signals discipline, smart training, and the ability to execute under pressure. Many stars have dabbled in marathons; few have run them this well. Styles didn’t just join the sub-3 club - he lived up to his name and did so in style.

Five Things You Can Learn From Harry Styles’s Performance

• Pace with discipline – aim for consistent 5 km splits and keep late-race fade to a minimum.
• Control the controllables – remove distractions, run your own race, and stay composed.
• Use your tools wisely – super-shoes and gear won’t do it alone, but marginal gains matter.
• Plan for reality – congestion, heat and running long are inevitable; factor them into your strategy.
• Train with intent – breakthroughs come from mileage, structured strength work, nutrition and recovery.