Running Through Berlin - A Marathon Experience & City Adventure

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.

Whether you're chasing a personal best or a passport stamp, the Berlin Marathon delivers something unforgettable — a runner’s dream infused with culture, history, and heart.

Runners at the start line of Berlin Marathon

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.

🧠

The Kenyan Training Philosophy

More than physical effort — it’s a celebration of mental grit, community, and spiritual drive.

🎙️

Q&A with Patrick Sang

Legendary coach of Kipchoge: “A great athlete is not just built in the body, but in the mind.”

👟

Nike on Running Culture

Running unites pros and amateurs alike. The spirit of the marathon is democratic, raw, and magical.

Leaving the cinema, I wasn’t just inspired—I felt equipped. I wasn't only running a marathon the next day; I was running with the energy of legends.

📍 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.

🖼️ East Side Gallery

Strolling along a 1.4km stretch of painted history. The Berlin Wall’s remnants now breathe with color and peace.

🕊️ Holocaust Memorial

A walk through silence. Among 2,700 concrete blocks, I found perspective, weight, and stillness.

💃 Bachata by the Spree

Berlin dances. I found myself moving with strangers, the Spree sparkling beside us, bachata in our bones. Joy, unexpected.

🍽️ My Final Bites in Berlin

🥙 Mustafa’s Kebab

The myth is real is real. Juicy, crunchy, explosive - I’d queue again without hesitation.

🐟 FunkyFisch

Refined and radiant, one of Berlin’s top-rated seafood spots - with a hefty price tag but divine flavors.

🍜 Ni’s Thai

Comfort food, depth of flavor, and the best dumplings I’ve had.

🫶 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. 🇩🇪❤️‍🔥