From sunrise training to nightlife celebrations, this is the story of a city, a race, and everything in between. Berlin didn’t just host my marathon — it transformed it into a life highlight.
The Berlin Marathon is not just a race—it’s an experience that intertwines endurance, history, and the electrifying pulse of one of Europe’s most fascinating cities. From its flat, record-breaking course to the rich tapestry of Berlin’s culture, food, and nightlife, every step of this journey was unforgettable. Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or a curious traveler, Berlin offers something beyond the finish line. Let me take you through my Berlin Marathon adventure, from the excitement of arrival to the thrill of running through the Brandenburg Gate.
✈️ First Glimpses of Berlin
Delayed flights couldn’t dull my excitement. Stepping into Berlin’s Tiergarten after a whirlwind arrival felt like unlocking a dream level.
- Flight chaos? - A Rocky Start : Travel is rarely smooth, and my journey was no exception. A delayed flight from Paris turned my well-planned afternoon arrival into an evening scramble. Still, stepping off the plane at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), I felt the rush of excitement—I was finally in Berlin!
- Navigating to Tiergarten - RER 8: Berlin’s public transport is legendary, and rather than wasting money on a cab, I took the RER 8 into the city. The efficiency was impressive, and before I knew it, I had arrived in Tiergarten, one of Berlin’s largest parks and the perfect backdrop for my marathon weekend.
🏨 My stay: Smartment Business Berlin City West
Finding the right accommodation was a challenge—I wanted a quiet, comfortable place to rest, but also one that gave me access to the city’s vibrant neighborhoods.
I opted for Smartment Business Berlin City West, a hybrid between an Airbnb and a hotel. It offered minimal staff interaction, but the digital check-in process was surprisingly seamless.
📌 What I Learned
Booking a traditional hotel might have been a better choice, especially for a marathon weekend. Though the room was spacious and well-equipped, not having a 24/7 reception was a slight inconvenience
🎬 A Cinematic Look Into Greatness
What started as a simple pre-race evening turned into a profound encounter with elite mindset, culture, and inspiration
One of the most inspiring parts of my pre-race experience was attending the screening of “Behind the Team” at Babylon Cinema, a historic venue dating back to 1929. This wasn’t just a film—it was a cinematic portrait of greatness, culture, and discipline.
📍 Babylon Cinema, Est. 1929
- Patrick Sang: "The mind is the foundation of greatness."
- Nike: “Run with legends. That’s the magic of a marathon.”
🏃♂️ Race Day – September 24, 2023
From pre-dawn chaos to a personal record on the world’s fastest marathon course — this was Berlin, in all its raw magic.
⏰ Before the Start
Woke up with a cramp in my right leg — not exactly ideal. My nerves were high. I left the hotel far too late and ended up sprinting through tens of thousands of runners to reach my corral. Chaos, anxiety... and adrenaline.
🔥 The Race – 42.195km of Emotion
- The Atmosphere: Berliners lined the streets with energy, humor, and music. It felt like the city itself was cheering me on.
- Mid-race Boost: At kilometer 30, volunteers handed me gummy bears — the weirdest, most perfect pick-me-up I never saw coming.
- The Pain: My leg cramped again just past halfway. I dug deep. Every cheer, every footstep helped me keep moving.
- The Finish: Running through the Brandenburg Gate... goosebumps. My time? 2h39m50s. A lifetime PB.
Bring your own fuel. Aid stations appear every 5K, but choices are limited and crowded.
🏅 The Elites
- Eliud Kipchoge: Another title. 2h02m40s.
- Tigist Assefa: New women’s world record – 2h11m51s. A seismic moment.
🏁 Race in 3 Highlights
- 🎯 Personal Best: 2h39m50s
- 🍬 Gummy bears at 30K? Yes. Berlin style.
- 🏛️ Through the Brandenburg Gate = goosebumps forever.
🌇 Post-Race Berlin – The City, The Soul, The Slowdown
The race may have ended, but Berlin had more to give. With sore legs and a full heart, I let the city move me in unexpected ways.
🍽️ My Final Bites in Berlin
🥙 Mustafa’s Kebab
🐟 FunkyFisch
🍜 Ni’s Thai
🫶 Final Thoughts – Why Berlin Stole My Heart
The Berlin Marathon isn’t just 42.195 kilometers — it’s a moving masterpiece. A story told in cadence, cobblestone, and collective breath. It’s the kind of race that leaves footprints not only on the course, but on your character.
From the electrifying echoes of cheering crowds along Unter den Linden to the hushed reverence of the Holocaust Memorial, Berlin becomes more than a backdrop — it becomes your co-runner. Your rhythm. Your reward.
My race may have ended at the Brandenburg Gate, but Berlin’s impact didn’t stop there. The city unraveled itself layer by layer — through its food, its music, its contradictions. And somehow, in all that chaos and clarity, it gave something back.
Would I return? Without hesitation. Next time, I’ll come back stronger, stay longer — and maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally earn that Berghain wristband.
Danke, Berlin. Ich komme wieder. 🇩🇪❤️🔥
📸 Gallery – Snapshots of a Weekend I’ll Never Forget
From iconic monuments to candid moments, here’s a visual love letter to Berlin — one frame at a time.
Amadou
Paris-based AI Engineer, Runner and Dancer. Sharing stories from the Track and the Terminal — Race Recaps and AI Deep Dives.