Let's talk about the Berlin Marathon 2024 course, guys. The Berlin Marathon is one of the largest and most famous marathons ever. Berlin is part of the World Marathon Majors and is also known as the fastest course in the world. In 2018 Kipchoge was able to set a new world record with an incredible time of 02:01:39.

I suggest exploring this Berlin Marathon 2024 course guide to make sure you’re 100% prepared for the race!

The Berlin Marathon 2024 Course: All you need to know

The Berlin Marathon attracts runners from around the world because of how scenic, flat, and fast the course is. Looking at the Berlin Marathon map, you’ll see that the 26.2 miles loop through the historic city of Berlin. This means that the race is more of a fun sightseeing tour for the runners.

Okay, you’ll have to run it, but it is still one of the most exciting routes for a marathon because there is so much to see. The crowds are energetic and always cheering, but from my experience, it’s nothing compared to the NYC Marathon.

The Berlin Marathon 2024 course takes you along the main sights of Berlin such as the Reichstag, the Siegessäule, Berliner Dom, Brandenburg and Potsdamer Platz in a big loop through the entire city.

The finish through the Brandenburger Gate is magical and something you won’t forget. Elite runners from all over the world like Eliud Kipchoge (33) and Wilson Kipsang (36) are running along with 40,000 other runners to finish strong at the Brandenburger Tor.

It’s a special race and the entire city is celebrating it. For me, personally–because I was born and raised in Germany–running the Berlin Marathon 2018 for the first time was a special way to celebrate my love for this sport. So, this marathon carries a special meaning for me. Adding to that, it was also my first marathon outside of the States, so that’s special as well!

Your ultimate Berlin Marathon 2024 Course Strategy

There are a few things that make a race in Germany different from a race here in the United States. For example, water stations are a little further apart (like 1.5 ish, miles starting at the 3-mile mark).

Typically, there will be water, a special sports drink (make sure to try it at the expo first) and tea (hot or cold). Later on, they even have a Coke for you to drink. There are also fruit stations that hand out cut apples and bananas, which I found super amazing.

There are cheering zones along the course with bands and spectators – a very tremendous one will be at KM 36 with the Adidas runners, Berlin, and all kinds of people from around the world to cheer you on. There are no mile markers, only kilometers, and the time will be shown at every kilometer mark.

But let’s talk about race strategy for the Berlin Marathon:

One of the major mistakes runners make during a marathon, or even a race, in general, is that they start out too fast. So take your time at the beginning of the race and don’t let the excitement and adrenaline take over.

Save the energy for later, because 26.2 miles is a long distance, so you have to pace yourself well to finish with a happy smile on your face. It’s very tempting to start fast when you see the famous Siegessäule and all the excitement kicks in.

Make sure to soak in all the energy from the cheering friends, family, and strangers but don’t let it get to you too soon. There will be a time, most likely around mile 20 (KM 30) when your body needs this extra source of mental and physical strength. Mile 20 is the official halfway point in your marathon distance. No, it’s not at mile 13.1 even though the numbers tell you that. Mile 20 is when you should ask yourself, “How do I feel?” – is there more energy left to actually start racing the Berlin Marathon 2019 course right now, or am I in “OMG when is this going to be over already?” mode.

If you feel great, around mile 20 is the time to speed these legs up a little bit to run negative splits. If you feel tired and unable to run faster, try to keep up with the pace that you were running before.

Pacing yourself during a marathon is key to success. Especially on a flat course such as Berlin’s, where it is very tempting to run faster than you probably should. It will get to you later on. The last mile is probably the longest ever, but the crowds here are amazing.

They will push you through no matter what. I was even able to speed up a bit in the end just because of the support from the cheering spectators. During the New York City Marathon in 2021, I kept telling myself “save it, save it, save it” when my legs wanted to go faster before mile 20.

You’ll thank yourself at the end of the race while crossing the finish line at the Brandenburger Tor, when you’ll be one of the runners who are still able to run with great form, looking good with a big smile all over your face. I will be running the Berlin Marathon in 2024 again and I hope to see you all out there.

Head over to my informative article about the Berlin Marathon right here.

Video of my Berlin Marathon 2018 experience

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• Most featured running blog, past 6 years
• USATF certified running coach
• Experienced endurance athlete
• 7 marathons