Sep 19, 2025
Berlin Marathon Course Preview
Berlin Marathon Course Preview
Berlin is built for rhythm. Wide roads. Almost no elevation change. Long straights that reward even pacing and clean fueling. Here is the course intelligence, aid layout, pacing blueprint, and logistics you need for a PB attempt.
Course at a glance
Profile: One of the flattest World Marathon Majors. Net elevation change is tiny. Typical totals are roughly 70–80 m of gain across 42.195 km.
Start and finish: Straße des 17. Juni in Tiergarten. You pass through the Brandenburg Gate and finish just beyond it.
Official app: Live tracking, route navigation, push alerts. Download it before race day.
Start schedule (runners): Mass fields from 09:15 on Sunday. Handbike and wheelchair categories roll earlier. Always confirm your bib’s wave time.
Route file: GPX is available from the organiser if you want to study tangents.
Photo: Tigst Assefa on her way to a World Record in Berlin
Aid stations and on-course nutrition
Berlin publishes where you get water, isotonic, fruit, tea, and Maurten. Plan by time and kilometre.
Water only: 5, 12, 17.5, 22.5, 27.5, 32.5, 34.5, 38, 40
Water + fruit + tea + Maurten Drink Mix 160: 9, 15, 20, 25, 30, 36
Maurten Gel 100: 27.5
Total refreshment points: 15. Cups only.
Kaizen note: If you target 60–90 g carbs per hour, space gels every 20 minutes and use the 25–36 km drink-mix stations to top up. Do not debut new products on race day.
Weather and wind reality
Race morning looks warmer than ideal. Expect about 17–20 C at start time, rising toward 23–24 C by late morning, with clouds building and a small chance of showers or storms later in the day. Plan for heat management from the gun.
Pacing: keep the first 10 km a touch conservative; hold your planned pace or 2–4 seconds per km easier until you clear 30 km.
Fluids: aim for roughly 500–750 ml per hour, more if you are a heavy sweater. Take small sips often rather than big gulps.
Sodium: build to 600–900 mg sodium per litre; consider electrolyte tabs or chews.
Cooling: pour water over head/neck/forearms, use sponges/ice if available, and run the shaded side of the road when you can.
Caffeine: if you are heat-sensitive, start at the low end of your usual dose.
Kit: light singlet, mesh cap or visor, sunscreen, and bodyglide. Socks you trust when feet get wet.
Pace blueprint by segments
Berlin rewards patience. Build from 30 km.
0–5 km
Let the field surge. Sit slightly under target. Set cadence and breathing. No weaving.
5–15 km
Lock into marathon pace. Use the first drink-mix point at 9 km and water at 12 km to settle the rhythm.
15–25 km
Hold the line. Take drink mix at 15 and 20 km. Small check at halfway. If your splits are within a few seconds of plan and RPE is honest, stay steady.
25–35 km
This is the move phase for PBs. Drink mix at 25 and 30 km, gel around 27–28 km, then one more carb hit before 35 km. If you feel good at 32–34 km, nudge cadence, not big pace spikes.
35–finish
Protect form through Potsdamer Platz toward the Gate. Do not sprint early. The finish is after the Gate, not at it. Keep your head up for the final 400 m.
Tangents, turns, and surface
Central-city loop with long, straight sections and relatively few sharp turns. Asphalt is consistent. Good tangent discipline saves seconds without extra effort.
Start logistics that save stress
Corrals and flow: Follow the signed paths from the park into your start zone. Leave extra time. The site map updates close to race day.
Expo and bib pickup: Held at Messe Berlin. You must collect in person with ID and your start card.
Security and closures: Central roads lock down for the weekend. Public transport beats car travel.
Fueling plan you can actually follow
Breakfast 3 h out: Low fiber, low fat, 2–3 g carbs per kg, 20–25 g protein.
Start line: 20–30 g carbs with a small water sip.
During:
Sub-3 runners: 80–90 g carbs per hour if gut-trained.
3:00–3:30 runners: 60–75 g per hour.
Use the drink-mix stations at 25–36 km to keep intake steady.
Split targets to keep you honest
2:30 finish: 3:33 per km, 5 km in 17:45, half in 1:15:00
3:00 finish: 4:16 per km, 5 km in 21:20, half in 1:30:00
3:30 finish: 4:59 per km, 5 km in 24:55, half in 1:45:00
Hold these as maximums until 30 km. If you arrive with margin and control, you can close.
Final checklist and last minute suggestions
GPX loaded to your watch for tangents and turn awareness.
Official app installed for your crew and for tracking post-race.
Gel schedule written on your wrist.
Bottle plan aligned to the 9, 15, 20, 25, 30, 36 km stations.
Arrive early to your corral. Runners start from 09:15.
Pre-Race
For a caffeine boost, grab an espresso at one of the cafés from The Barn or our personal favourite, Companion coffee in Neukolln
Course Tips
The start of the race is very straight, and you’ll notice how wide the roads are in Berlin. Because the city is so spread out, the roads give you plenty of space. It’s worth sticking to the inside line, even if that means navigating through some crowding.
Wilmersdorf is the toughest part of the course, about three-quarters of the way through. It typically feels quieter and take a while to run through, stay focussed, you’re almost there…
No need to make a special trip to the Tiergarten or Brandenburg Gate or other tourist sites beforehand, you’ll see them all when running the course!
Food Tips
Carb loading: For handmade, high-quality pasta before race day, check out La Bolognina.
Pizza fix: Head to W Pizza for a solid option.https://wpizza.de/
Something fancier: For celebrating with your nearest and dearest try the “dinner with friends” menu at the Night Kitchen in Mitte if you can get a table) it’s a great choice. https://www.nightkitchenberlin.com/food
Post-Race
Celebrate with a wheat beer, Germany is famous for them. They’re the perfect way to unwind after crossing the finish line!
Sources
Route, start and finish, and runner schedule:
https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/your-race/race-day-for-runnersCourse and on-course fuel detail:
https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/your-race/courseRefreshment points and gel station (FAQ):
https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/preparation/event-faqOfficial app (web), App Store, Google Play:
https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/preparation/marathon-app
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bmw-berlin-marathon-2025/id6575377429
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.mikatiming.berlinmarathonGPX route file:
https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/fileadmin/media/events/berlinmarathon/gpx/Strecke-A.gpxBib pickup and materials:
https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/preparation/race-materialMarathon Expo venue info (Messe Berlin):
https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/expo/marathon-expo
