Berlín, Alemania. Septiembre 2018
Thinking of running the Maratón de Berlín? 🎉
You’re not alone—and it’s one of the smartest choices you can make as a runner. This World Marathon Major is famous for its fast, flat course, stunning city landmarks, and electric atmosphere. Whether you’re chasing a new personal best, ticking off a bucket list race, or planning your first marathon abroad, Berlin delivers on every level.
In 2018 we ran the 42 kilometers through the streets of Berlin, raced to the iconic Brandenburg Gate, and witnessed Eliud Kipchoge stop the timer at 2:01:09, the world record at the time, and here’s our experience!
From the Brandenburg Gate finish line to the unbeatable crowd energy in Kreuzberg, this blog will help you get the most out of your Berlin Marathon experience.
Whether you’re already signed up or just starting to dream about it—this is the place to start. 🏁
TLDR; “Demasiado largo, no tengo tiempo"
- ¡Solo quiero correr! Llévame a CARRERA.
- Tengo 1 minuto. Llévame a INFORMACIÓN ÚTIL y FAQs.
- Correr es mi excusa para viajar. Llévame a VIAJE.
- Correr es mi excusa para comer. Llévame a CARBOLOADING.
- Quiero saber qué leer en el avión. Llévame a UN LIBRO.
🌍 The trip 📷; what to see in Berlin if you are there for marathon weekend
We ran the 2018 Berlin marathon just spending one weekend there.
We traveled, ran and came back home. This is an option that many runners opt for, thanks to the many connecting flights between the German capital and multiple European cities.
If you’re doing like us and spending a weekend in Berlin for the marathon, there’s plenty to explore beyond the race itself.
Start with a stroll through the iconic Brandenburg Gate 🚪, where the marathon finishes, and soak in the history of this amazing city. Nearby, you can visit the Reichstag building 🏛️ with its stunning glass dome offering panoramic views of Berlin’s skyline.
Don’t miss the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe 🕯️, a powerful and moving tribute just a short walk away.
A visit to the Berlin Wall is a must too — fragments of the wall still stand throughout the city, reminding visitors of its dramatic past and the city’s journey to reunification.
For art lovers, the East Side Gallery 🎨 is a must-see: a colorful open-air gallery painted on the Berlin Wall remnants, telling stories of freedom and change.
After the race, take some time to relax and enjoy Berlin’s vibrant neighborhoods.
Kreuzberg offers lively street art, cozy cafés ☕, and delicious international eats 🌯, perfect for refueling. If you want a more peaceful escape, the Tiergarten park 🌳 is ideal for a gentle walk or stretching your legs post-race.
Berlin is a city full of surprises—perfect for combining racing and sightseeing!
La Expo de la Maratón
Saturday was all about the Berlin Marathon Expo, a must-visit event for every runner gearing up for race day.
The expo was held at the historic antiguo aeropuerto de tegel, famous for its role in the Cold War airlift that supplied West Berlin.
The location gave off a distinct East Berlin vibe, with its large, gray buildings, peeling walls, and concrete surroundings that tell stories of the city’s past.
Inside the expo, creativity and marathon spirit were everywhere. Kids enjoyed a fun workshop where they got to draw the marathon 🎨, while two huge pavilions featured the usual marathon merchandise stands alongside vintage propeller planes ✈️…
And even a beer garden on the old airstrip 🍺! Though the beer was non-alcoholic, perfect for a sporting event!
We picked up our race essentials like the technical shirt, bib number, timing chip, wristband (which I wore proudly for weeks!), and a finisher shirt that could be pre-ordered with registration.
We chose our hotel carefully, less than two kilometers from the Tiergarten, so we could easily walk to the start line on race morning 🚶♂️. Bonus: the Memorial de la resistencia alemana was right across the street, a powerful reminder of Berlin’s history.
Many hotels during marathon weekend go the extra mile, offering marathon-focused services like full buffets loaded with high-carb meals 🍝🍞 for dinner and breakfast to help runners carb-load and fuel up properly before the big day.
🍜 What to eat in Berlin if you are running the marathon
Carga de carbohidratos 🍝
Before the marathon, fueling up with the right carbs is key to having plenty of energy on race day.
In Germany, classic carb-rich dishes like pretzels 🥨, spätzle (soft egg noodles) 🍝, and hearty potato pancakes 🥔 are great options.
Berlin also offers delicious rye bread sandwiches loaded with fresh veggies and cheeses 🥪, perfect for slow-release energy. Don’t forget to hydrate with a refreshing glass of Apfelschorle 🍎—a popular mix of apple juice and sparkling water that’s both tasty and energizing!
Para cargar carbohidratos antes de la carrera, buscamos restaurantes italianos para comer pasta 🍝, idealmente cerca de Plaza Alexander and its iconic communications tower, so we could do some sightseeing.
We found one, but it was not easy, because the gastronomic offer of the area is mainly … kebabs. Berlín es, de hecho, la cuna del döner.
Recuperación de proteínas 🌭
After crossing the finish line, it’s time to focus on protein and recovery.
Traditional German dishes like Rinderroulade (beef roulade) 🍖 or Bratwurst sausages paired with sauerkraut offer a satisfying protein boost to help muscles rebuild. In Berlin, you can find amazing salchicha de curry 🍛, a spicy sausage dish that’s both flavorful and filling.
For a lighter option, try quark (a creamy dairy product) with fresh fruit 🍓—rich in protein and gentle on the stomach after a long run. Pair it with a warm herbal tea ☕ to soothe your body and celebrate your achievement!
Dejamos los kebabs 🍢 para después de la carrera. Son muy sabrosos, pero también muy ricos en calorías, grasas y sodio. Un kebab de pollo o cordero de tamaño estándar tiene hasta 800 calorías, de las cuales 80 g son carbohidratos, 50 g son proteínas y 40 g son grasas.
Otra bomba calórica que impulsará tu maratón es salchicha de curry, una especialidad berlinesa: es una salchicha en rodajas 🌭 servida con salsa de ketchup especiada y cubierta con curry en polvo.
🏃♀️ El Maratón🏃♂️
Nos levantamos a las 6 de la mañana y aprovechamos el desayuno buffet, repleto de corredores y alimentos ricos en carbohidratos.
The temperature was going to rise to more than 15°C/59°F degrees by mid-morning, but in the morning it was cold, so we covered ourselves with some thermal blankets that we could leave behind at the start point.
We dressed in short sleeves / tank top. By the way: in a marathon, you see all kinds of clothes… but in this one I swear I saw an elderly woman in panties! Either that, or her sport shorts had a very “cute” aesthetic.
Llegamos a la Tiergarten y al pasar por los cajones de los corredores más rápidos, vimos a un grupo de corredores de élite haciendo estiramientos. Con sus cuerpos nervudos, eran inconfundibles. Y allí estaba él, Eliud Kipchoge, que sonrió e incluso se dejó fotografiar con algunos de los corredores amateurs.
A las 9:15 vimos salir a los corredores de élite, tal y como fue retransmitido en las pantallas gigantes. “Carros de fuego” sonó y los que estábamos en los cajones más lentos avanzamos poco a poco hasta la línea de salida.
Then, the speaker gave us instructions (we were in Germany, so the instructions were man-da-to-ry) and suddenly 45.000 souls started the “Viking clap”. It’s just awesome.
Even now, as I write these lines, I am moved when I remember it.
Although, what I experienced right afterwards was more prosaic: a Spaniard easily gulping down two gels, two American girls streaming live their dances with a lot of makeup on (how can the make up last 4+ hours, I wonder?)… and a German woman choosing to urinate on the grass instead of queuing for the toilets.
Primeros kilómetros
The marathon is perfectly organized. In addition to being the fastest in the world, you pass in front of famous monuments and buildings.
And the marathon photographers are perfectly positioned to take pictures of you in front of them, as can be seen in the pictures I included: it is simply perfect.
El circuito te lleva por el Columna de la victoria y luego por el histórico Reichstag.
In the streets, there are many people cheering, with children and their typical “"toca aquí para obtener energía!". Corriendo con nosotros vimos a mexicanos gritando “¡Viva Mexico!”, un grupo de tailandeses, otro de suizos… más de Costa Rica, Namibia, Singapur, Zimbabue… un americano disfrazado de “Capitán América”, un chino de oso panda, y un catalán con una camiseta que leía “caminem i fem historia” t-shirt.
One person was running while jumping rope! A group of three were dressed as musketeers, and another of six, as characters from Asterix (the one who was dressed as Obelix even had a fake menhir!)
10 a 30 kilómetros
A medida que avanzábamos, nos dimos cuenta de que efectivamente el recorrido es muy llano. Un cartel en un puente nos recordó que “estás en la ruta más rápida",mientras que entre el público, un espectador defendía que “dolor es sólo la palabra francesa para pan”.
Onlookers do cheer, although in a more discreet way than in other marathon majors. There are also music bands throughout the race: I remember a soloist singing “a capella” in Turkish who seemed out of tune. We joked about it: “Éste tío te hace correr más rápido, porque quieres dejarlo atrás cuanto antes".”.
On a private balcony, some people played Madness’ "House of fun" a todo volumen, despertando el entusiasmo de muchos corredores, algunos de los cuales hicieron una especie de “ska” improvisado mientras corrían…
Seguimos recorriendo iconos en Berlín; acumulamos kilómetros viendo la iglesia conmemorativa del káiser Guillermo, bombed during the WWII, or the many museums.
And then, at kilometer 41, we made one last turn and saw the Brandenburg Gate! “¡Corramos hacia la puerta!”(que es el lema del maratón)
Last kilometers – the Fridolin “High five” incident!
In the last kilometers, there were cameras, a non-alcoholic beer offer (really?) and lots of entertainment.
On a personal note, Roger almost caused an incident to go to do a high-five with Fridolin! He did a high-five indeed and upseted a few runners at the same time!
Fridolin, you might ask? Fridolin Flink is the mascot of the Berlin Marathon. He is a friendly, cartoon-like figure that is often seen at the event, including during the press conference and alongside the leading runners:
We finished on a high, racing to the gate and super excited, while the loudspeakers announced that this marathon had been the fastest in history!
Eliud Kipchoge had set a new world record by more than a minute, something that had not happened in more than 50 years!
Información útil
🏆 Maratón de Berlín (42K). Primera edición: 1974
🌐 Berlin Marathon Website: https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/
🏃 Number of runners: around 45.000.
🗓️ Tercera semana de septiembre en Berlín, Alemania, Europa.
👟 Urban: bring shoes for asphalt.
✅ One of the fastest marathons worldwide, if not the fastest.
✅ Perfect organisation. And one of the Abbott Marathon Majors.
🧠 Berlin Marathon – FAQs
🔹 When is the Berlin Marathon 2025?
📅 The race is scheduled for Sunday, September 28, 2025. It typically takes place in late September, but be sure to check the official site for confirmation.
🔹 How do I get to the start line?
🚇 The starting area is on Straße des 17. Juni, near the Brandenburg Gate. Your bib usually includes free public transportation access on race day—super convenient!
🔹 What’s the course like?
🗺️ Fast, flat, and legendary! The route winds through Berlin’s most iconic landmarks, making it perfect for personal bests and first marathons alike.
🔹 Is there a cut-off time?
⏱️ Yes—runners must finish within 6 hours and 15 minutes of their wave start. Stick to your pace and enjoy the city!
🔹 What’s the weather usually like?
🌤️ Expect mild, runner-friendly conditions: 10–18°C (50–64°F). Mornings can be chilly, so layer smart!
🔹 Are there pacers?
🎈 Yes! Pacers are available for a variety of finish times. Look for their signs or balloons in your starting corral.
🔹 What should I know about hydration and nutrition on the course?
💧 Aid stations are every few kilometers, offering water, electrolyte drinks, bananas, and energy gels. Pay extra attention to fueling around KM 25–35!
🔹 Can spectators cheer along the course?
🎶 Definitely! Berlin’s crowds are electric, with cheering zones, live music, and a ton of support—especially in Kreuzberg, Mitte, and near the finish.
🔹 What’s at the finish line?
🥇 You’ll get a medal, post-race snacks, and serious runner euphoria. The finish area is in Tiergarten, just past the Brandenburg Gate.
🔹 What should I do after the race?
🍻 Celebrate like a Berliner! Grab a currywurst, a cold beer, or stroll through sights like Museum Island o el East Side Gallery. You’ve earned it.
Mapa
Un libro
📖 “Mi siglo”, de Gunter Grass
Para este viaje volví a leer “Mi siglo” de Gunter Grass, un libro que había leído hace unos diez años, y que consta de 100 capítulos, con historias diferentes, una para cada año del siglo XX. Un libro asombroso, bien documentado, duro y revelador.
Me centraré aquí en el capítulo 42, por los 42 kilómetros 😏 . En este capítulo se encuentra la siguiente frase:
Quería volver al frente. Allí supo al menos con qué podía contar. Lloré, lloré literalmente, os lo aseguro, cuando vi mi Colonia de Deutz. Todavía humeaba y sólo quedaba en pie la catedral.
Gunter Grass, “Mi siglo”
[…] Algunos hablaban entonces de Darmstadt y Würzburg, de Nuremberg, de Heilbron. Y de Berlín, por supuesto.
Estas palabras describen los bombardeos aliados durante ese año. Y con estas palabras vuelve a mí la imagen de la iglesia del Kaiser Wilhelm, frente a la cual corrimos.
Resumen:
Una colección de cien historias interrelacionadas que celebran el siglo XX, escritas por el escritor contemporáneo más eminente de Alemania. A medida que se desarrolla la secuencia de historias, emerge una imagen rica y vivaz, un retrato histórico de nuestro siglo en toda su grandeza y horror.
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Para saber mas…
| 📖 “Berlín AlexanderPlatz”, Alfred Dobins. 🎬 “Alas del Deseo (El cielo sobre Berlín)”, Wim Wenders, 1987. 🎬 "Adios Lenin", Wolfgang Becker, 2003. |
“Berlín AlexanderPlatz”, de Alfred Dobin
No es un libro fácil, pero sí interesante porque capta las dificultades de la gente de clase baja en el Berlín de los años veinte. Una época en la que Alemania estaba pasando apuros después de la Primera Guerra Mundial, y eso ayuda a comprender lo que sucedió una década después.
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