The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards) is set up as a city-wide road race where professional athletes and amateur sportsmen jointly participate. First initiated in 1974 the event traditionally takes place on the last weekend in September.With 40,827 enrolled starters from 107 countries, 35,913 official finishers and more than one million spectators in 2008 the Berlin marathon is one of the largest and most popular road races in the world.[1] Along with four other venues it forms the World Marathon Majors, a series offering a $1 million prize purse to be split equally between the top male and female marathoners.
The most marathon world records for men and women have been set at the Berlin course, which is known for its flat profile, even surface, a cheering spectator crowd, and its frequently mild autumn temperatures. In 2008 a new record was set by Haile Gebrselassie while the fourth best time in a women marathon was set by Irina Mikitenko.[2]
The event is split in 2 days. Around 8,000 additional inline skaters competing at the marathon course one day before the running event, usually at a Saturday. Power walkers, handbikers, wheelchair riders, and a children's marathon (4.2195 km) are also part of the marathon weekend which is organised by SCC Running and currently sponsored by real-hypermarkets.
The course
The course within the metropolis starts and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate. Because of the division of city, the marathon events before 1990 were limited to the area of West Berlin. Only in 30th September 1990 athletes poured through the Brandenburg Gate and the unified city saw its first race running through both areas. It was reported that a great many of the runners had tears in their eyes as they ran through that historic gate.[3]
Nowadays, the course, after leaving Brandenburg Gate, 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 Steglitz and Zehlendorf, before turning north back toward the city's center. Looping above Schöneberg, the course comes full circle as it comes out by the gate.[3]
Competition Men
The Start and Finish of the Berlin Marathon is traditionally near the Brandenburg Gate
Haile Gebrselassie (yellow dress) has set a new the marathon world record in 2007 and 2008
World Records
2008 — Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) → 2:03:59
2007 — Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) → 2:04:26
2003 — Paul Tergat (KEN) → 2:04:55
1998 — Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) → 2:06:05
Finishers
In terms of finishing athletes the 2008 Berlin marathon was the 5th largest marathon run of all times. 35,913 athletes including 130 power walkers (not including handbiker or wheelchair competitors) reached the finish in under 6 hours.
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