Berlin Marathon

The Berlin Marathon (German: Berlin-Marathon, pronounced [bɛʁˈliːn ˈmaʁatɔn]) is a marathon event held annually on the streets of Berlin, Germany on the last weekend of September. Initiated in 1974, the event includes multiple races over the marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards), including elite level road running competitions for men and women, a race for the general public, an in-line skating race, a wheelchair race and a handcycle race.

Berlin Marathon
DateUsually last weekend in September (except 2018: 16 September)[1]
LocationBerlin, Germany
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Primary sponsorBMW
Established1974
Course recordsMen: 2:01:39 (2018, WR)
Eliud Kipchoge
Women: 2:18:11 (2018)
Gladys Cherono
Official siteBerlin Marathon
Participants44,064 (2019)
2020 Berlin Marathon

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 (42.195 km) 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 and the marathon world record has been broken in Berlin on 11 occasions. The most recent was at the 2018 edition, where Eliud Kipchoge won the men's race in 2:01:39. Gladys Cherono set a new women's course record that same year with 2:18:11.[2]

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.[3][4]

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.[3][4]

The event was held in mid-September in 2000, because of a conflict with the Women's Olympic Marathon, and in 2018, due to Day of German Unity preparations.[1]

The 2020 edition of the event was prohibited from being held on its originally scheduled dates due to the coronavirus pandemic,[5] and was eventually cancelled once it was clear that it would not be possible to hold it at a later date in 2020.[6] All registrants were given the option of either transferring their entry to 2021 or obtaining a refund.[6]

Course
The marathon course is set throughout several boroughs in Berlin with start and finish near the Brandenburg Gate (bottom right).

The course within the metropolis starts and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate. Because of the division of the city, the marathon events before 1990 were limited to the area of West Berlin. Only on 30 September 1990, were athletes able to run through the Brandenburg Gate and the unified city saw its first race running through both halves. It was reported that a great many of the runners had tears in their eyes as they ran through the gate.[7]

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.[7]

On different routes there have been two major international marathons at the 1936 Olympic Games and 2009 IAAF World Championships. Also Ulrich Hutmacher (GER) won a marathon in Berlin on 14 Oct 1973 with a time of 2:19:32 but that race is not considered part of this 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 real,- Berlin Marathon from 2000–2010. Finally this has been the BMW Berlin Marathon since 2011.

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.

Berlin-Marathon 2009
The Berlin Marathon is known as a flat and fast course.
Year Finishers Shares
Total Males Females Males Females
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus 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
Patrick Makau Musyoki and Irina Mikitenko in 2011
Year Athlete Country Record Sex
2018 Eliud Kipchoge  Kenya 2:01:39 Men
2014 Dennis Kipruto Kimetto  Kenya 2:02:57 Men
2013 Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich  Kenya 2:03:23 Men
2011 Patrick Makau Musyoki  Kenya 2:03:38 Men
2008 Haile Gebrselassie  Ethiopia 2:03:59 Men
2007 Haile Gebrselassie  Ethiopia 2:04:26 Men
2003 Paul Tergat  Kenya 2:04:55 Men
2001 Naoko Takahashi  Japan 2:19:46 Women
1999 Tegla Loroupe  Kenya 2:20:43 Women
1998 Ronaldo da Costa  Brazil 2:06:05 Men
1977 Christa Vahlensieck  West Germany 2:34:48 Women

Winners

Key:

   Current course record
   German championship race
Edition Date Men's winner Country Time[lower-alpha 1] Women's winner Country Time[lower-alpha 1]
2020 edition cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
46 29 September 2019 Kenenisa Bekele  Ethiopia 2:01:41 Ashete Bekere  Ethiopia 2:20:14
45 16 September 2018 Eliud Kipchoge  Kenya 2:01:39 WR Gladys Cherono  Kenya 2:18:11
44 24 September 2017 Eliud Kipchoge  Kenya 2:03:32 Gladys Cherono  Kenya 2:20:23
43 25 September 2016 Kenenisa Bekele  Ethiopia 2:03:03 Aberu Kebede  Ethiopia 2:20:45
42 27 September 2015 Eliud Kipchoge  Kenya 2:04:00 Gladys Cherono  Kenya 2:19:25
41 28 September 2014 Dennis Kimetto  Kenya 2:02:57 WR Tirfi Tsegaye  Ethiopia 2:20:18
40 29 September 2013 Wilson Kipsang  Kenya 2:03:23 WR Florence Kiplagat  Kenya 2:21:13
39 30 September 2012 Geoffrey Mutai  Kenya 2:04:15 Aberu Kebede  Ethiopia 2:20:30
38 25 September 2011 Patrick Musyoki  Kenya 2:03:38 WR Florence Kiplagat  Kenya 2:19:44
37 26 September 2010 Patrick Musyoki  Kenya 2:05:08 Aberu Kebede  Ethiopia 2:23:58
36 20 September 2009 Haile Gebrselassie  Ethiopia 2:06:08 Atsede Habtamu  Ethiopia 2:24:47
35 28 September 2008 Haile Gebrselassie  Ethiopia 2:03:59 WR Irina Mikitenko  Germany 2:19:19
34 30 September 2007 Haile Gebrselassie  Ethiopia 2:04:26 WR Gete Wami  Ethiopia 2:23:17
33 24 September 2006 Haile Gebrselassie  Ethiopia 2:05:56 Gete Wami  Ethiopia 2:21:34
32 25 September 2005 Philip Manyim  Kenya 2:07:41 Mizuki Noguchi  Japan 2:19:12
31 26 September 2004 Felix Limo  Kenya 2:06:44 Yoko Shibui  Japan 2:19:41
30 28 September 2003 Paul Tergat  Kenya 2:04:55 WR Yasuko Hashimoto  Japan 2:26:32
29 29 September 2002 Raymond Kipkoech  Kenya 2:06:47 Naoko Takahashi  Japan 2:21:49
28 30 September 2001 Joseph Ngolepus  Kenya 2:08:47 Naoko Takahashi  Japan 2:19:46 WR
27 10 September 2000 Simon Biwott  Kenya 2:07:42 Kazumi Matsuo  Japan 2:26:15
26 26 September 1999 Josephat Kiprono  Kenya 2:06:44 Tegla Loroupe  Kenya 2:20:43 WR
25 20 September 1998 Ronaldo da Costa  Brazil 2:06:05 WR Marleen Renders  Belgium 2:25:22
24 28 September 1997 Elijah Lagat  Kenya 2:07:41 Catherina McKiernan  Ireland 2:23:44
23 29 September 1996 Abel Antón  Spain 2:09:15 Colleen De Reuck  South Africa 2:26:35
22 24 September 1995 Sammy Lelei  Kenya 2:07:02 Uta Pippig  Germany 2:25:37
21 25 September 1994 António Pinto  Portugal 2:08:31 Katrin Dörre-Heinig  Germany 2:25:15
20 26 September 1993 Xolile Yawa  South Africa 2:10:57 Renata Kokowska  Poland 2:26:20
19 27 September 1992 David Tsebe  South Africa 2:08:07 Uta Pippig  Germany 2:30:22
18 29 September 1991 Steve Brace  United Kingdom 2:10:57 Renata Kokowska  Poland 2:27:36
17 30 September 1990 Steve Moneghetti  Australia 2:08:16 Uta Pippig  East Germany 2:28:37
16 1 October 1989 Alfredo Shahanga  Tanzania 2:10:11 Päivi Tikkanen  Finland 2:28:45
15 9 October 1988 Suleiman Nyambui  Tanzania 2:11:45 Renata Kokowska  Poland 2:29:16
14 4 October 1987 Suleiman Nyambui  Tanzania 2:11:11 Kerstin Preßler  West Germany 2:31:22
13 28 September 1986 Bogusław Psujek  Poland 2:11:03 Charlotte Teske  West Germany 2:32:10
12 29 September 1985 Jimmy Ashworth  United Kingdom 2:11:43 Magda Ilands  Belgium 2:34:10
11 30 September 1984 John Skovbjerg  Denmark 2:13:35 Ágnes Sipka  Hungary 2:39:32
10 25 September 1983 Karel Lismont  Belgium 2:13:37 Karen Holdsworth  United Kingdom 2:40:32
9 26 September 1982 Domingo Tibaduiza  Colombia 2:14:47 Jean Lochhead  United Kingdom 2:47:05
8 27 September 1981 Ian Ray  United Kingdom 2:15:42 Angelika Stephan  West Germany 2:47:24
7 28 September 1980 Ingo Sensburg  West Germany 2:16:48 Gerlinde Püttmann  West Germany 2:47:18
6 30 September 1979 Ingo Sensburg  West Germany 2:21:09 Jutta von Haase  West Germany 3:07:07
5 3 September 1978 Michael Spöttel  West Germany 2:20:03 Ursula Blaschke  West Germany 2:57:09
4 10 September 1977 Günter Mielke  West Germany 2:15:19 Christa Vahlensieck  West Germany 2:34:48 WR
3 26 September 1976 Ingo Sensburg  West Germany 2:23:08 Jutta von Haase  West Germany 3:05:19
2 28 September 1975 Ralf Bochröder  West Germany 2:47:08 Kristin Bochröder  West Germany 2:59:15
1 13 October 1974 Günter Hallas  West Germany 2:44:53 Jutta von Haase  West Germany 3:22:01

In-line skating race
The skater marathon is considered to be largest inline marathon in the world

An in-line 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).

Year Men's winner Country Time[lower-alpha 1] Women's winner Country Time[lower-alpha 1]
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
2019 Felix Rijhnen  Germany 1:10:30 Sandrine Tas  Belgium 1:25:49
2018 Bart Swings  Belgium 57:58 Katharina Rumpus  Germany 1:09:15
2017 Bart Swings  Belgium 58:42 Maira Yaqueline Arias  Argentina 1:06:35
2016 Bart Swings  Belgium 59:59 Manon Kamminga  Netherlands 1:08:38
2015 Bart Swings  Belgium 56:49 Sandrine Tas  Belgium 1:09:20
2014 Bart Swings  Belgium 59:59 Manon Kamminga  Netherlands 1:08:38
2013 Bart Swings  Belgium 59:28 Manon Kamminga  Netherlands 1:09:58
2012 Ewen Fernandez  France 1:00:04 Sabine Berg  Germany 1:14:13
2011 Ewen Fernandez  France 1:01:26 Sabine Berg  Germany 1:14:56
2010 Severin Widmer   Switzerland 1:09:19 Giovanna Turchiarelli  Italy 1:22:25
2009 Luca Saggiorato  Italy 1:02:50 Cecilia Baena  Colombia 1:14:47
2008 Joey Mantia  United States 1:00:33 Cecilia Baena  Colombia 1:13:24
2007 Nicolas Iten   Switzerland 1:12:30 Hilde Goovaerts  Belgium 1:23:20
2006 Luca Saggiorato  Italy 1:02:25 Giovanna Turchiarelli  Italy 1:14:02
2005 Luca Saggiorato  Italy 1:01:21 Brigitte Méndez  Colombia 1:10:43
2004 Roger Schneider   Switzerland 1:04:43 Cecilia Baena  Colombia 1:17:08
2003 Juan Carlos Betancur  Colombia 1:02:03 Julie Glass  United States 1:11:28
2002 Juan Carlos Betancur  Colombia 1:04:44 Angèle Vaudan  France 1:13:59
2001 Arnaud Gicquel  France 1:04:17 Sheila Herrero  Spain 1:12:57
2000 Chad Hedrick  United States 1:01:45 Angèle Vaudan  France 1:08:29
1999 Tristan Loy  France 1:01:08 Anne Titze  Germany 1:09:32
1998 Johann Langenberg  France 1:07:32 Caroline Lagree  France 1:14:20
1997 Pascal Briand  France 1:07:52 Caroline Jean  France 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

Year Men's winner Time[lower-alpha 1] Women's winner Time[lower-alpha 1]
2004  Errol Marklein (GER) 1:17:02  Monique van der Vorst (NED) 1:24:43
2005  Wim Decleir (BEL) 1:13:32  Andrea Eskau (GER) 1:15:50
2006  Wim Decleir (BEL) 1:11:03  Monique van der Vorst (NED) 1:18:34
2007  Wim Decleir (BEL) 1:11:12  Andrea Eskau (GER) 1:18:40
2008  Bernd Jeffré (GER) 1:05:46  Dorothee Vieth (GER) 1:13:55
2009  Torsten Purschke (GER) 1:05:47  Monique van der Vorst (NED) 1:18:28
2010  Vico Merklein (GER) 1:09:04  Ursula Schwaller (SUI) 1:25:13
2011  Vico Merklein (GER) 1:04:12  Ursula Schwaller (SUI) 1:17:09
2012  Vico Merklein (GER) 1:05:21  Karen Darke (GBR) 1:17:42
2013  Vico Merklein (GER) 1:06:14  Silke Pan (GER) 1:15:31
2014  Jetze Plat (NED) 1:03:37  Christiane Reppe (GER) 1:10:23
2015  Vico Merklein (GER) 1:02:32  Christiane Reppe (GER) 1:10:12
2016  Jetze Plat (NED) 1:05:06  Christiane Reppe (GER) 1:08:54
2017  Jetze Plat (NED) 1:03:45  Christiane Reppe (GER) 1:10:07
2018  Vico Merklein (GER) 1:04:56  Jennette Jansen (NED) 1:17:36
2019  Jetze Plat (NED) 1:00:01  Jennette Jansen (NED) 1:10:21
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic

Wheelchair race
Wheelchair athlete in 2009

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.[8]

Key:   Course record

Year Men's winner Time[lower-alpha 1] Women's winner Time[lower-alpha 1]
1981  Georg Freund (FRG) 2:08:44 not held
1982  Bosse Lindquist (SWE) 2:03:10
1983  Gregor Golombek (FRG) 1:55:10  Gabriele Beyer (FRG) 2:51:12
1984  Bosse Lindquist (SWE) 2:16:32  Gabriele Beyer (FRG) 2:47:14
1985  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:57:28  Gabriele Schild (SUI) 2:33:51
1986  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:46:44  Connie Hansen (DEN) 2:32:23
1987  Gregor Golombek (FRG) 1:46:52  Margit Quell (FRG) 2:21:29
1988  Markus Pilz (FRG) 1:52:08  Gabriele Schild (SUI) 2:52:29
1989  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:40:11  Daniela Jutzeler (SUI) 1:55:23
1990  Jean-Marc Berset (SUI) 1:34:41  Daniela Jutzeler (SUI) 1:57:47
1991  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:27:39  Beate Meier (GER) 1:51:50
1992  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:29:41  Jennette Jansen (NED) 1:42:07
1993  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:27:16  Lily Anggreny (GER) 1:50:34
1994  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:22:12  Louise Sauvage (AUS) 1:57:14
1995  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:22:49  Lily Anggreny (GER) 1:58:38
1996  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:25:34  Monica Wetterström (SWE) 1:54:00
1997  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:21:39  Louise Sauvage (AUS) 1:49:58
1998  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:24:19  Edith Hunkeler (SUI) 1:47:53
1999  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:23:57  Monica Wetterström (SWE) 1:48:12
2000  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:26:30  Sandra Graf (SUI) 1:52:31
2001  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:30:24  Edith Hunkeler (SUI) 1:47:46
2002  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:28:28  Edith Hunkeler (SUI) 1:45:52
2003  Joël Jeannot (FRA) 1:25:19  Yvonne Sehmisch (GER) 1:52:05
2004  Thomas Gerlach (DEN) 1:33:49 not held
2005  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:28:32  Edith Hunkeler (SUI) 1:49:46
2006  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:29:30  Sandra Graf (SUI) 1:42:52
2007  Masazumi Soejima (JPN) 1:26:50  Simone Buess (SUI) 1:48:50
2008  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:27:55  Sandra Hager (SUI) 2:04:21
2009  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:28:38  Sandra Graf (SUI) 1:39:31
2010  Masazumi Soejima (JPN) 1:28:46  Wakako Tsuchida (JPN) 1:46:15
2011  Marcel Hug (SUI) 1:29:31  Edith Hunkeler (SUI) 1:45:20
2012  Marcel Hug (SUI) 1:29:43  Sandra Graf (SUI) 1:46:19
2013  Heinz Frei (SUI) 1:31:00  Manuela Schär (SUI) 1:41:39
2014  Kota Hokinoue (JPN) 1:32:25  Shelly Woods (GBR) 1:47:56
2015  David Weir (GBR) 1:27:36  Natalia Kocherova (RUS) 1:50:36
2016  Marcel Hug (SUI) 1:29:51  Manuela Schär (SUI) 1:43:00
2017  Marcel Hug (SUI) 1:29:03  Manuela Schär (SUI) 1:40:05
2018  Brent Lakatos (CAN) 1:29:41  Manuela Schär (SUI) 1:36:53
2019  Marcel Hug (SUI) 1:28:09  Manuela Schär (SUI) 1:38:07
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
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See also

Notes
  1. h:m:s

References
  1. "Tag der Deutschen Einheit verdrängt Berlin-Marathon". Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  2. "Now a 3-Time Champ, Cherono Adds Course Record to Berlin Marathon Resume". Runner's World. 2018-09-16. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  3. Robinson, Roger (25 September 2019). "The Record-Breaking History of the Berlin Marathon". Runner's World. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. "Countdown is starting: Looking back into the history of the BMW BERLIN MARATHON". BMW BERLIN MARATHON. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. https://www.scc-events.com/en/corporate/events/event-update.html
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20200701133145/https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/your-race/event-update/
  7. Marius Bakken. "Berlin Marathon". Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  8. 2018 Berlin Marathon. Berlin Marathon. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
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