Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Berlin Marathon is just ONE WEEK away! I’m going for my third finish this year and sharing my tips on how to prepare, from getting to the expo to crossing the ‘Ziel.’ 🏃♂️
1️⃣ The earlier you can get to the expo, the better. It gets busy, especially as international arrivals get into town. I’ll be going on Thursday. But if you are coming from abroad, you can go straight to the expo from the airport and just get it over with.
2️⃣ Make sure you’re well fed and hydrated! The Berlin Marathon can be surprisingly hot some years (though it’s looking like a nice forecast this year). I take a 1500mg @precisionfandh the night before and morning of the race.
3️⃣ What about bathrooms? You’ll find massive lines near the Reichstag for porta potties. But there are some cafés nearby where you can sneak in and use the restroom with no line in sight. Or just buy a croissant for a last bit of carbo loading. Worst case… People do go in the woods in Tiergarten leading up to the race. (Not that I’m advising it! Just sharing.)
4️⃣ Race corrals, like most other races, are setup base don your marathon PR or anticipated finish. Though it seems like people don’t really line up where they’re supposed to based on the number of people I ended up passing. So just be prepared for a potentially slower start. The course opens up pretty quickly as you run around the Siegessäule (Victory Column) just down the road from the start.
5️⃣ If you’re reading this and wishing you were running… Here’s my lottery tip: Find a Berlin friend who will let you use their address. I’ve yet to meet anyone who used a Berlin address and *didn’t* get into the marathon. Take that for what it’s worth!
👀 If you want more, I’ve got a video recap of last year’s race *and* a short documentary of my Berlin Marathon PR at YouTube.com/JoeBaur
Viel Spaß, runners!
The Berlin Marathon is just ONE WEEK away! I’m going for my third finish this year and sharing my tips on how to prepare, from getting to the expo to crossing the ‘Ziel.’ 🏃♂️
1️⃣ The earlier you can get to the expo, the better. It gets busy, especially as international arrivals get into town. I’ll be going on Thursday. But if you are coming from abroad, you can go straight to the expo from the airport and just get it over with.
2️⃣ Make sure you’re well fed and hydrated! The Berlin Marathon can be surprisingly hot some years (though it’s looking like a nice forecast this year). I take a 1500mg @precisionfandh the night before and morning of the race.
3️⃣ What about bathrooms? You’ll find massive lines near the Reichstag for porta potties. But there are some cafés nearby where you can sneak in and use the restroom with no line in sight. Or just buy a croissant for a last bit of carbo loading. Worst case… People do go in the woods in Tiergarten leading up to the race. (Not that I’m advising it! Just sharing.)
4️⃣ Race corrals, like most other races, are setup base don your marathon PR or anticipated finish. Though it seems like people don’t really line up where they’re supposed to based on the number of people I ended up passing. So just be prepared for a potentially slower start. The course opens up pretty quickly as you run around the Siegessäule (Victory Column) just down the road from the start.
5️⃣ If you’re reading this and wishing you were running… Here’s my lottery tip: Find a Berlin friend who will let you use their address. I’ve yet to meet anyone who used a Berlin address and *didn’t* get into the marathon. Take that for what it’s worth!
👀 If you want more, I’ve got a video recap of last year’s race *and* a short documentary of my Berlin Marathon PR at YouTube.com/JoeBaur
Viel Spaß, runners!
