The first Berlin Marathon took place on October 13, 1974. Established by local baker and running enthusiast Horst Milde, the race had 286 participants and 244 finishers (234 men and 10 women). Günter Hallas and Jutta von Haase were the winners of the race. Since then, the Berlin Marathon has been held every year, except in 2020 when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the 1970s, the marathon took place in Berlin’s Grunewald district. In 1981, the race moved to the city center. The course began in front of the Reichstag and ended at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Breitscheidplatz, partly running along the Berlin Wall.
Over the next few years, the marathon developed into one of the world’s largest. In 1987, the starting point was moved to the Brandenburg Gate to accommodate the growing number of participants. Some participants were from East Germany and registered under false names to avoid attracting attention from the Stasi. Thanks to the fall of the Berlin Wall, participants were able to run through the Brandenburg Gate for the first time in 1990, and since then the course has covered both halves of the now unified city, starting and ending at the Brandenburg Gate.
The Berlin Marathon consists of several marathon races held over two days: a public race, elite-level races for men and women, a wheelchair race, a handcycle race, and an inline skating race. Most of these races take place on the main day of the marathon, while the inline skating race occurs the day before. It is the world’s largest inline marathon. The first day of the marathon weekend also includes a 5K race, a kids’ run and a mini-marathon for schoolchildren.
The elite running and wheelchair races at the Berlin Marathon are part of the World Marathon Majors, a series of high-profile marathons in which athletes compete for points toward an overall title. Founded in 2006, the series initially included five marathons: Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. The Tokyo Marathon joined in 2013 and the Sydney Marathon in 2025.
Most participants enter the Berlin Marathon through a lottery if they meet the criteria and pay the participation fee. There are three categories in the lottery: single runners, teams, and fast runners who have achieved a qualifying time in one of the official qualifying races.
However, there are other ways to participate. Like other major marathons, the Berlin Marathon allows participants to enter through one of its many charity partners. There is also a tour operator program that allows international athletes to participate through the event’s official tour operators. Elite runners are invited directly based on previous performances, world rankings, or national federation nominations. Some spots are also offered to wheelchair and handbike athletes.
Photo: bmw-berlin-marathon.com
