Running the Berlin Marathon: a race weekend in Berlin

3:14:54. A sprint finish through the Brandenburg Gate to scrape under 3:15, a new PB, and my first World Marathon Major in the bag.

I ran the Berlin Marathon in September 2026. It's fast, it's flat, and it's a cheap flight from London, so if you only ever do one Major, make it this one. I've always loved Germany, so it was an easy pick.

It wasn't my first time in Berlin. I'd been for a birthday weekend in October 2015 and again in 2017, so I knew the city a bit. Not that it helped with the queue at passport control. Big long queues at Brandenburg Airport. I still blame all you Brexiteers.

The race weekend at a glance


When	Last weekend in September
Getting a place	A guaranteed entry through 2:09 Events, the tour company
Where I stayed	Bristol Berlin (Vignette Collection by IHG), two nights, as part of the package
My time	3:14:54, a PB by nearly three minutes (Rome in March was 3:17:48)
Getting there	Flew from Stansted on the Saturday morning
What it cost	About £1,190 with flights (breakdown below)

How I got in

I'd already got into the Chicago Marathon through the ballot, first time of asking. Unlike London, where I'd been trying unsuccessfully for 15 years. So I thought, sod it, let's target Berlin for a PB, and not worry too much about Chicago and just try to enjoy that one.

Berlin's ballot is a lottery, so I found a tour company, 2:09 Events, and messaged them. They were outstanding, and I'd highly recommend them. They sorted a two-night package at the Bristol Berlin, part of IHG's Vignette Collection, with a guaranteed race entry included. Really nice hotel, and they even gave me a free drinks voucher at check-in.

What it cost

Two nights at the Bristol Berlin: £700
Guaranteed race entry: £290
Flights from Stansted: £200 (booked early enough this time)

So about £1,190 all in. I went solo on this one because of the cost.

Anyone who says running is a free hobby is lying.

TOP TIP: If you're set on a Major and the ballot keeps saying no, a tour company with guaranteed places is the way in. It costs more, but you're on the start line.

Expo day

I flew out on the Saturday morning, landed, dropped my bag at the hotel and went straight to the expo. It's held at Tempelhof, the old airport, and it's massive. Every possible running-related thing is there, and it's a really easy place to spend far too much money. All the good running vests had sold out by the time I got there, though, and they only had XL left.

Race number collected at Tempelhof. Time to become a Berlin legend

I did find the Chiquita stand. I didn't buy a vest there (that came later, at the Chicago expo), but I did come away with a bag and an inflatable banana. Random merch, but who doesn't need an inflatable banana?

Then back to the hotel and out for food. On the walk from the station I'd spotted an Italian round the corner, perfect for carb loading. It was full. So it was a wander about to find anything that had a table, and no idea what it was called. Not ideal prep.

TOP TIP: Always book your restaurant for the night before the race. Every other runner in the city wants pasta too.

TOP TIP: Don't get carried away at the expo. You could be there for hours, and it's easy to try loads of new gels. Don't. Nothing new before or on race day.

Getting around

Berlin's public transport made it easy. From the airport I got the train to Hauptbahnhof, a tram round to Zoologischer Garten and then a 10-minute walk to the hotel. Race morning was just as simple the other way: a 10-minute walk to the tram at Zoologischer Garten, round to Hauptbahnhof, and a walk to the start.

The race

It was a clear, cool morning, about 12°C. It was a great run up to about 28 km, and then the wheels started to come off. Cramp kicked in around 36 km and I had to battle to get it done. Here's how it went, 5 km at a time, from my watch:

Kilometres	Average pace
1 to 5	4:23/km
6 to 10	4:21/km
11 to 15	4:19/km
16 to 20	4:20/km
21 to 25	4:21/km
26 to 30	4:38/km
31 to 35	4:43/km
36 to 40	5:25/km
41 to the finish	4:41/km

For 25 km it was like clockwork, every kilometre within a few seconds of 4:20, and halfway went by in about 1:31. Then 29 km was the first slow one, and between 36 and 40 km the cramp turned it into a fight, with one kilometre taking six minutes. The second half took about 1:44.

Then I came round the corner, saw the Brandenburg Gate and found something I didn't know I had left. The last 400 metres were the fastest of the whole race, at under 4 minutes a kilometre pace. Under 3:15 by six seconds.

3:14:54, a new PB and my first World Marathon Major

The day after: 25 km of sightseeing

Most people put their feet up the day after a marathon. I walked 25 km round Berlin, just over five hours on my feet and over seven hours out. Bad idea. But it's a big city with lots to see, and you do see a lot. Here's the route, and it makes a cracking one-day tour of the city:

Back at the Brandenburg Gate the day after

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, through the Tiergarten to the Victory Column (Siegessäule) at the Großer Stern, the Carillon, the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate. Then down Unter den Linden past Bebelplatz and the Neue Wache to Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island (all closed, of course, it was Monday), Alexanderplatz, the Red Town Hall and the Nikolaiviertel.

The Victory Column in the Tiergarten Berlin Cathedral on Museum Island

Lunch was currywurst and pommes, because you have to. Then Molkenmarkt, over the Oberbaum Bridge, the East Side Gallery, Checkpoint Charlie, the Topography of Terror and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.

The East Side Gallery Checkpoint Charlie

TOP TIP: Most museums in Berlin close on Mondays. If you want Museum Island, go the day before the race, not the day after.

Berlin when you're not running

This was my third time in Berlin. It's a big city with loads to do, and I still haven't run out of things to see.

The first was a birthday weekend in October 2015: Checkpoint Charlie, what's left of the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, the Spy Museum and Berlin Zoo, with a posh dinner thrown in for the birthday.

TOP TIP: Take an old passport to Checkpoint Charlie. You can get it stamped with all the old border stamps, which cost €10 when I did it.

In 2017 I was back for my brother's stag do, which involved a Spartan race, because why not. We did a Spartan on my stag do too, so it's become a family theme.

Quick answers

Is Berlin good for a marathon PB? Yes. It's flat and fast, it's where world records get set, and late September is usually cool. It was for me, even with the cramp.

How many days do you need? I flew in on the Saturday morning, raced on the Sunday and walked the city on the Monday. That works, but it's tight. Arrive on the Friday if you want a relaxed expo.

Would I do it again?

Absolutely. And if you're wondering which Major to do first, make it Berlin. It's fast, it's flat, it's easy to get to, and the city's worth the trip on its own.

If a Major is on your list, start with Berlin. Enter the ballot, book the flight and get the miles in.