2025: Review

FINISHER

EINE NEUE ÄRA
DER FAHRFREUDE.
DER NEUE BMW iX3.
Freude am Fahren
BMW iX3 50 xDrive: WLTP Energieverbrauch kombiniert: 17,9–15,1 kWh/100 km; WLTP CO₂-Emissionen kombiniert: 0 g/km;
CO₂-Klasse: A; WLTP Elektrische Reichweite: 679–805 km

Still the World’s Fastest Marathon
It was warm. It was humid. And yet, the 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
was nothing but a celebration. With this Finisher Magazine, you can relive
it all once again. The crowning moment of the event was delivered by
Sabastian Sawe, who, under the Berlin sun, clocked 2:02:16 hours—the
ninth-fastest time ever run and a “heat world record.” No one has ever
completed a marathon so fast in such warm conditions. That is why the
Kenyan also graces the cover of this Finisher Magazine. With his worldclass
winning time in the men’s race, the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON has
reaffirmed its position as the fastest marathon in the world. This is measured
by calculating the average of the ten fastest times ever run in a race.
Berlin now tops this list with 2:02:28.1 hours. The organizers of Germany’s
most spectacular road race recorded 48,020 finishers. This further
solidifies the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON’s place among the world’s
largest marathons over the 42.195-kilometer distance. We congratulate all
finishers and wish you lots of joy reading and browsing the photos.
Your editorial team from SCC EVENTS

CONTENTS
6
BEST GERMAN
Fabienne on Her Marathon
Despite the high temperatures, Fabienne Königstein
delivered an impressive race: with a time of 2:22:17,
she finished sixth and is now the third-fastest
German woman ever. Here, the 32-year-old writes
about the race and her new goals.
16
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PICS
Two Days Full of Emotion
More than 49,000 participants crossed the finish
line at the 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON – and
each of them experienced it in their own way. Our
photographers captured the emotions. The best
shots from the EXPO, the races, and the party..
74
FACTS & FIGURES
Of Celebrities, Bananas & More
Almost 80,000 participants from 160 nations
ran and rolled through the streets of Berlin.
Among them were celebrities such as Harry
Styles. These and many more numbers and facts
are here for you to discover.
88
THE ELITE RACES
Warm-Weather World Record
Never before has a runner been so fast in such high
temperatures as Sebastian Sawe: the Kenyan won
the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON with a commanding
lead in 2:02:16 hours. The women’s finish, on
the other hand, was closer than ever before.
ALSO
118 – LOTTERY: Here’s your chance to the 52nd BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2026
162 – FINALE OF THE R5K TOUR: These are the greatest talents over 5 k

These topics and many more await you across 228 pages.
All information is up to date as of the editorial deadline on September 26, 2025.
GUESTS AMONG FRIENDS
From All Over the World to Berlin
The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is a favorite
among runners from around the globe. At the
finish line, we asked what makes the race
through Germany’s capital so special and what
stories the event has written.
120
INLINE RACES
French Triumphs
The French athletes dominated the inline skating
races: among the men, Ewen Fernandez won
ahead of two compatriots, while among the
women, Aubane Plouhinec celebrated the
greatest success of her career.
188
WHO‘S THAT RUNNING?
Four Marathon Stories
The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON writes many
stories. Here we tell the stories of four runners
as examples: how they suffered and fought.
How they gathered experiences and memories.
And how they had fun.
202
182 – INCLUSION: Richard Whitehead runs under three hours on two prosthetic legs
196 – HAND BIKE & RACING WHEELCHAIR: Joseph Fritsch breaks the one-hour mark
IMPRINT
Finisher Magazine 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2025
Publisher
SCC EVENTS GmbH
Responsible for Content
Christian Jost, Jürgen Lock
Production
DLM RunMedia GmbH, Köln
Editorial Team
Gerte Buchheit, Vincent Dornbusch,
Christian Ermert, Jörg Wenig, Anja Herrlitz
Photos
SCC EVENTS, Vincent Dornbusch,
sportografen, Petko Beier, Diana Elschner,
Steffen Hartz, Theo Kiefner,
Andreas Schwarz, Sebastian Wells,
Kai Wiechmann, Tilo Wiedensohler,
Jean-Marc Wiesner, Norbert Wilhelmi
imago images
Gartner, Jan Hübner

FABIENNE KÖNIGSTEIN
»
My BMW BERLIN-
MARATHON 2025
Carried
by the
people
»
What an incredible race from Fabienne Königstein
at the 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON!
The heat cost many of the favorites precious
minutes, but the 32-year-old from MTG Mannheim,
finishing sixth and as the fastest German,
improved her personal best from 2:25:48 to
2:22:17. She is now the third-fastest German
woman of all time. Here she shares how she
organizes her life as a professional athlete and
mother of a three-year-old daughter, the role
her coach and husband Karsten plays, and how
she managed phases when she had to juggle it
all almost like a single parent.
- 7 -

„I want to
run under
2:23 hours“
Fabienne Königstein at the
press conference before
the race, speaking about
her goal for the 51st
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
Iran my first marathon in
Berlin in 2017. Back then,
I finished 11th in 2:34:14.
That was still before the
‚carbon era.‘ I didn’t yet
have carbon shoes, but I
already had the dream of
finishing in the top ten at
an Abbott World Marathon
Majors race. To have
achieved that dream eight
years later—once again at
the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON, practically at home,
finishing sixth—will always
hold a very special place in
my memories.
I already knew before the
race that I was in the best
shape of my life. That’s why
I announced at the press
conference that I wanted to
run under 2:23. I was also
aware that I tend to perform
well in warm conditions,
which gave me a realistic
- 8 -

chance at a top ten finish.
My strategy for dealing with
the heat? At every refreshment
station, I grabbed a
bottle filled with water, with
a gel taped to the outside.
I took the gel, washed it
down with water, then used
the rest of the water to cool
myself by pouring it over
my head and torso.
Picking off many in
the second half
From the start, I ran at the
fast pace I had planned. Still,
my halfway split of 1:10:42
was slightly slower than
expected due to race tactics
and the increasing heat. At
that point, I was still in 13th
place, but over the second
half I picked off many women—and
men. Passing
world-class athletes like Japan’s
Honami Maeda, who
has run under 2:20, was a
huge motivation. And when
things got really tough toward
the end, the incredibly
passionate crowds in Berlin
carried me through.
To realize that I am now
number three on the German
all-time list is something
I still need to process.
And when I saw afterward
how close I was to the leaders
in Berlin, I was even a
little annoyed that I had lost
some time mid-race. When
my pacemaker dropped out
earlier than expected, I had
to run ten kilometers on
my own and close the gap
to the next group. At that
point, my race was on a
knife’s edge. But in the end,
it all worked out—and now
I know that on a good day,
anything is possible, even
against the world’s best.
- 9 -

Learning something
new every year
The form I brought to Berlin
was the result of weeks
and months of work. What
made the biggest difference
was that for the first
time in my marathon career,
I managed to train for nine
straight months without injury.
That consistency allowed
everything to fall into
place. Together with Karsten—my
husband, coach,
and father of our daughter
Skadi—I’m still learning
every year. We continue to
refine the training, the intensity
management, and
also the mental handling of
daily load. I now understand
my body better and better.
In the past two years, I had
to miss fall marathons because
of injuries. Since then,
I’ve built a much stronger
foundation through
strength training, flexibility
work, and physiotherapy.
Still, without my support
system, this success
wouldn’t have been possible.
We constantly have to
coordinate family life with
a three-year-old, Karsten’s
career as a coach, doctor,
and scientist, and my professional
sport.
It wouldn’t have
worked without
my parents
This year was even more
complicated than usual.
Until February, we lived
near Karlsruhe. Then
- 10 -

„I was determined to get back
into a men’s group after my
pacemaker dropped out“
Fabienne Königstein on the moment in the race
when she lost contact with her group and
had to run ten kilometers on her own
- 11 -

„A marathon
is always tough
in the end. But
in Berlin, the
crowds carried
me.“
Karsten took a new job as
a sports doctor and scientist
in Magdeburg and was
commuting. At times, I was
practically a single-parent
professional athlete. Without
the help of kindergarten,
a childminder, and
especially my parents—
who thankfully live nearby—it
wouldn’t have been
possible. Looking ahead,
I really hope that structures
for professional sport
in Germany become more
supportive again, so athletes
aren’t so dependent on
their personal networks.
Sometimes, fellow runner
Melina Wolf also helped
out—she finished the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON in
2:30:31 as the third-fastest
German and 15th overall.
She has a daughter
the same age as Skadi and
knows the challenges of
balancing elite sport with
family life. We trained together
while her husband
- 12 -

looked after both kids. After
the BMW BERLIN-MA-
RATHON, things will get
easier: we’re moving the
whole family to Magdeburg.
My 2026 goal: race for
the European title
Next year, my big goal is to
compete at the marathon
of the European Athletics
Championships in Birming-
- 13 -

ham and, as Europe’s current
number two, fight for
the title.
Winter training
in Africa
To prepare, we’ll almost
certainly head back to altitude
training camps in Kenya
once or twice this winter.
After all these years, it
feels like home there. The
life and people in Kenya always
give me the calm and
grounding I need to focus
on my form. In summer,
we usually go to the Alps,
especially to Livigno in Italy.
There we can mix in family
outings that Skadi enjoys.
She always comes with
us to training camps. As a
baby she once joined for six
straight weeks—that’s no
longer possible, since after
two or three weeks she
misses kindergarten, her
friends, and her grandparents.
Listening to
Kenyan wisdom
But now, first and foremost,
it’s time to rest. Berlin was
already my third marathon
of the year, and the body
needs a break. And I’ll do
it the Kenyan way: as their
wisdom says, the best recovery
is doing nothing!
- 14 -

ALLES ÄNDERT SICH,
WENN „ICH“ ZUM „WIR“ WIRD.
Beratung durch:
Was die Zukunft auch
bringt – wir hören zu,
wir beraten, wir handeln.

THE TOP PHOTOS

Off to the EXPO, picking up the race number
and capturing the anticipation: that’s how
the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON weekend
began for most people at the Berlin Exhibition
Grounds.

On Saturday, many enjoyed the
late-summer weather in front of
the EXPO. On marathon Sunday,
however, most would probably have
wished for a few degrees less.

In front of the Brandenburg Gate, fans could meet legends of running on Friday
evening. Here, eventual marathon winner Sabastian Sawe takes to the stage to
present himself to fans and fellow runners.

The German aces were also in the spotlight at ‘Meet the
Legends.’ Haftom Welday, Sebastian Hendel, Hendrik Pfeiffer,
Deborah Schöneborn, Fabienne Königstein, and Domenika
Mayer introduced themselves. And even though only three of
the six made it to the finish on Sunday, Hendrik Pfeiffer,
Fabienne Königstein, and Domenika Mayer, with their top-ten
finishes, made it a memorable 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
from a German perspective.

Even though on Saturday only
five kilometers are run on the
marathon course between
Potsdamer Platz and the
Brandenburg Gate, everyone
can already feel the incomparable
marathon spirit at the
GENERALI 5K.

Pure joy of running, felt all across the city during
marathon weekend. One of nearly 10,613 who celebrated
the sport of running at the GENERALI 5K.

Arrive relaxed and cheer: after five kilometers at
the GENERALI 5K, that comes a bit easier than
at the marathon the next day.

Big emotions already among the youngsters:
here, two runners congratulate each other after
the R5K race on Saturday, where they showed
that they are among Germany’s top up-and-coming
running talents.

Every year, 10,000 schoolchildren
from Berlin take part in the mini-
MARATHON presented by Generali.
This makes the race one of the largest
children’s and youth runs in Germany.

This time, the little ones were allowed to run
on the synthetic track. The Bambini races were
held for the first time at the Mommsenstadion,
home to SC Charlottenburg, the organizing club
of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. It was a hit:
1,900 kids took part — more than ever before.

On Saturday afternoon, the inline skaters took to the
loop course between Tiergarten and Charlottenburg.
The compact route was well received, and the finish
at the Brandenburg Gate was as emotional as ever.

Pyrotechnics aren’t really a crime… That’s what the
Kraft Runners thought as they celebrated the marathon
with flares on the lawn in front of the Bundestag
even before the starting gun. It was only smoke
— no firecrackers involved. After all, runners are a
lot more reasonable than hardcore football fans.

This is what relaxed anticipation looks
like: a runner waiting for the start. In
the warm weather, it was certainly
more pleasant than on colder marathon
Sundays.

Others appeared more pensive
before the start, anticipating
the 42.195 kilometers that always
become tough in the end.

At the 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON,
the Governing Mayor once again pressed
the start buzzer. Kai Wegner sent
the elite runners on their way.

Sending nearly 55,000 runners onto the course takes a
little longer. By the time the last participants of the fourth
wave cross the start line around 11 a.m., the fastest pros
are almost back at the finish. But everyone is sent off with
fireballs.

For many, the marathon in Berlin is pure fun — at
least over the first few kilometers. And this time,
with the warm weather, some runners even decided
to leave their shirts off altogether.

These guys from Saarland really
celebrated their BMW BERLIN-
MARATHON out on the course.

What also makes the BMW BERLIN-
MARATHON so special: the constant
interaction with the crowd.

By the time participants reach the Kaiser Wilhelm
Memorial Church, they have already covered more
than 34 kilometers. Only some still have the energy
left to cheer. Here, many are battling the infamous
‘man with the hammer.’

At Gendarmenmarkt, the finish line comes
into sight. And with the certainty that less
than two kilometers remain, the mood
begins to rise.

In Berlin, they know how to create an atmosphere.
The cheering points are absolutely buzzing.

It’s not only the runners who give it
their all.

This is what it looks like from
a distance when almost 50,000
runners reach the finish
at the Brandenburg Gate.

And this is what it feels like to finish the
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON yourself.

Of course, the joy is only complete
with the finisher’s medal.

Sixteen runners over the age of 80
finished the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
2025. One of them was Ingrid Krügel,
who needed less than six hours for the
42.195 kilometers. Her time of
5:57:43 is truly outstanding.

Then it’s time to put your feet up and
enjoy a non-alcoholic beer — with the
Reichstag building as the backdrop.

Just a few hours after
the marathon, both
amateur and elite
runners are ready
to celebrate again.
In Berlin, everyone
comes together for
the big closing party
at Kosmos.

200.021
FACTS & FIGURES
er
Begleitende
der Teilnehmenden
35.6
percent of the marathon field
in 2025 were women. That’s
1.4 percentage points more
than in 2024.
Harry Styles stays
under three hours
Among the 49,831 who finished
the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON running, on inline skates, in
a wheelchair, or with a handbike
was British Grammy winner Harry
Styles. He had entered the race
under a false name, competing
as Sted Sarandos, and delivered
an impressive performance: the
31-year-old completed the 42.195
kilometers in 2:59:13. Styles began
his career with the boy band One
Direction and has been performing
solo since 2017. Berlin marked his
second Abbott World Marathon
Major: earlier this year, he finished
the Tokyo Marathon in 3:24:07.

THIS MANY RAN
FAST IN 2025
under 2:30 hours 139
under 3:00 hours 2384
under 3:30 hours 7797
under 4:00 hours 17,394
4
49,831
74.082 200.021
people completed the 42.195
kilometers at the 51st BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON. Teilnehmende 48,020
Sportlerinnen und Sportler
finished on foot. On Saturday,
1,697 crossed the line on inline
skates. Among Sunday’s
finishers were 44 wheelchair
athletes and 70 handbikers.
Begleitende
der Teilnehmenden
27.6
degrees Celsius was the
highest temperature ever
recorded at the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON
2025. This clearly surpassed
the previous record
from September 20,
2009, when the maximum
was 25.0 degrees.

WIEDERVERWENDUNG
KLEIDUNG
10.147 kg abgelegte Kleidu
fast 1.000 Laufschuhe wurd
gesammelt und für den gute
weiterverwendet.
NACHHALTIGES CATERI
1.25 million
An den Versorgungspunkten
PET-Becher aus recyceltem
verwendet.
cups made from recycled PET were needed to supply
the participants with a total of 250,000 liters of
drinking water. Most of the cups were able to be fed
back into the recycling process.
SAMMLUNG VON
PFANDFLASCHEN
Rückgelassene Pfandflasch
gesammelt und die Einnahm
wohltätige Zwecke verwend

T
3
seconds was the margin by which
Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru beat
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida. Her victory in
2:21:05 was the narrowest women’s
win in the history of the BMW BER-
LIN-MARATHON. Among the men,
however, it was even closer in 2012:
back then, Kenya’s Geoffrey Mutai
won in 2:04:15 ahead of his compatriot
Dennis Kimetto, who crossed
the line just one second later.
MARATHON 2024
74.082 200.0
Teilnehmende
Sportlerinnen und Sportler
Begleitende
der Teilnehmenden
250
liters of massage oil were used on the
tired legs of runners, making the massages
along the course and beyond the finish a
true pleasure.

68
At the MARATHON EXPO, only
reusable tableware was used for
the first time. An important step
in reducing waste.
times from Earth to the Moon
and back – that’s the equivalent
of the total distance covered
by participants across the 51
editions of the BMW BERLIN-
MARATHON since 1974: 52.34
million kilometers have been
run so far.
Felix Kroos in the
marathon cosmos
Former professional footballer Felix
Kroos had aimed to run the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON in under
four hours – but in the end, he crossed
the finish line in 4:28:23. ‚My
body just didn’t allow for more, the
temperatures were extreme, and
I had a few difficulties,‘ said Felix
Kroos, whose brother Toni became
a World Cup champion with Germany
in 2014. In the end, though,
he was proud to have made it: after
all, footballers usually cover only
about a quarter of the marathon
distance in a match – and with a
halftime break for recovery. He was
thrilled by the atmosphere and the
fact that all runners were cheered
on and supported, whether famous
or not. The first to congratulate
him at the finish was his wife Lisa.

THE TOP 10
NATIONS
Germany 24,259
USA 7680
Great Britain 3792
Mexico 1775
Brazil 1732
France 1705
Italy 1678
Netherlands 1460
The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is
one of Germany’s most international
events. Participants from 160
nations registered. Roughly three
percent of them were Brazilian.
Spain 1195
Denmark 1095
120.000
organic bananas were distributed
among the nearly
80,000 participants who took
part in the various competitions
over the entire weekend.

BMW BER
RTL CHARITY RELAY
over €42,000 ...
… was raised by a VIP relay initiated by RTL in support
of the foundation ‚Stiftung RTL – Wir helfen Kindern
e.V.‘ Ahead of the 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON,
RTL auctioned off starting places donated by SCC
EVENTS. Celebrities such as Uta Pippig, Hans Sarpei,
Anna Kraft, Laura Ludwig, Britta Steffen, Hannes
Wegener, Frank Robens, Stephan Schmitter, Inga Leschek,
and Eva Mona Rodekirchen took to the course
for a good cause. They were joined by former marathon
professional Philipp Pflieger.
Along the way, they gave interviews
to RTL co-commentator Sabrina
Mockenhaupt for the TV broadcast.
VIELFALT UND INKLU
the event program
62 Rollstuhlfahrende
81 Handbiker
0
To avoid paper,
was offered exclusively
in digital
form. With success:
28 Teilnehmende the event magazine mit Inklu
was accessed more
60 Teilnehmende than one million mit Guid
times.
SENSIBI
Worksho
Inklusion
für Mitarb
über
6
Mio. Euro
SPENDEN
für karitative und
umweltbezogene
Projekte gesammelt.
AWARE
TEAMS
Täglicher
zur Präve
grenzver
Verhalten

5700
6.000
Volunteers play a huge part in making it possible for
nearly 80,000 people to find their joy in running, inline
skating, wheelchair racing, or handbiking at the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON.
Volunteers
THIS MANY WERE
REGISTERED
Marathon (Running) 55,146
Marathon (Inlineskating) 2191
Marathon (Wheelchair) 49
Marathon (Handbiking) 72
mini-MARATHON 10,000
Bambini races 1900
GENERALI 5K 10,613
Overall 79,971

WOMEN IN RUNNING

Strong voices,
strong response

The proportion of women
is steadily growing: this
year, at the BMW BERLIN-
MARATHON, it was already
over 35 percent. The increase
is especially strong among
younger participants – in the
26–30 age group, women
now make up as much as
45 percent. More and more
women are discovering running
for themselves and are
leaving a lasting mark on the
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON.
In 2025, the organizers at
SCC EVENTS placed a special
focus on women in running.
Under the title ‚From
the Starting Line to Visibility
– Do Women Need More
Space or More Reach?‘ leading
female runners, trailblazers,
activists, and media
representatives gathered
ahead of the marathon to discuss
the role of women in
running and their visibility.
Among those present was
Kathrine Switzer, pioneer
of women’s running, who in
1967 became the first woman
to officially start the
Boston Marathon. Together
with Edith Zuschmann, founder
of 261 Fearless, a nonprofit
organization dedicated
to giving women around the
world access to running and
education, Switzer continues
to work tirelessly for greater
participation and visibility of
women in sport. Kenyan elite
runner Viola Cheptoo spoke
about her commitment to
fighting gender-based violence,
an engagement she
began after the tragic death
of her friend Agnes Tirop.
Maike Lea Nitsch (known on
Instagram as princessmai-
- 84 -

When so many strong women come
together, moving stories emerge,
along with new ideas and initiatives
that can sustainably change the
sport of running. Kathrine Switzer
proved this at the Boston Marathon
in 1967, and today running influencers
like Maike Lea Nitsch and
Svenja Sommer continue to prove it.
kelea), a doctor and running
influencer, encouraged participants
not to let societal
expectations and beauty
standards put pressure on
them. All agreed: exchange,
mutual support, and visibility
are essential. The event
created a palpable sense
of new beginnings – full of
energy, inspiration, and mutual
appreciation.
- 85 -

EQUIPMENT
We say
THANK YOU!

We would like to thank the following institutions
Senatsverwaltung für Inneres und Sport
Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr und Klimaschutz
Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie,
Tiefbauämter von Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg,
Mitte-Tiergarten, Neukölln, Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Steglitz-Zehlendorf,
Gartenbauämter von Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf und Mitte-Tiergarten
Der Polizeipräsident in Berlin | Berliner Feuerwehr
Berliner Leichtathletik-Verband e.V. | Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG)
S-Bahn Berlin GmbH | Johanniter Unfall-Hilfe e.V.
Evangelische Kirche | Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche
Landessportbund Berlin e.V. | Landesverwaltungsamt Berlin
Ministerium für Bildung, Jugend und Sport des Landes Brandenburg
Akademie für Sozial- und Gesundheitsberufe | Euroakademie Berlin
ILB-Medizinische Akademie Berlin | Krankengymnastik-Paxis Andreas Schwarz
Körperwerkstatt Berin | Rehabilitationszentrum Berlin
Staatlich anerkannte Lehranstalten für Physiotherapie und Massage
Prof. Dr. Med. Vogler Schule | Wannsee-Schule e.V. Schule für Gesundheitsberufe
all Media
An additional thank you to the sponsors and promoters
who support the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON and SCC EVENTS
realbuzz
Super Sparrow
Aktuell Vertriebs GmbH
Höffner Möbelgesellschaft
Die Sportografen
ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg
Freche Freunde
HelloFresh
K-TEL Communications
Rollerblade
Weingut Castelfeder
Messe Berlin
Rexona
Klosterfrau
Netto Markendiscount
Chiquita
YumYum
Coral
Media Partner:
Der Tagesspiegel
RTL Group
Our very special thanks go to the many volunteers from clubs and
Berlin schools, as well as from SCC EVENTS, without whose hard work
behind the scenes and along the course, the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
would not be possible. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our numerous
fans and spectators, who support our participants so enthusiastically
along the course and who contribute to the very special atmosphere
of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON.

THE ELITE RACES
Sabastian Sawe crowned the 51st BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON: The Kenyan won in
2:02:16 hours, setting a world-leading time
for the year and impressively confirming his
position as the fastest runner in the world at
present. In temperatures of up to 25 degrees
Celsius, Sawe achieved the ninth-fastest time
ever recorded and a ‘warm-weather world
record’ — no one has ever run this fast in such
high temperatures as the 30-year-old.
Texts: Jörg Wenig
Heat

Proof

SABASTIAN SAWE,
THE ‘HEAT WORLD
RECORD HOLDER’
It was almost exactly 15
years ago that the weather
once before thwarted
a world record attempt at
the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON. On September 26,
2010, Patrick Makau was
chasing the global best time,
then held by Ethiopia’s running
legend Haile Gebrselassie
at 2:03:59. Torrential
rain and deep puddles gave
Makau no chance. The Kenyan
still won in 2:05:08 –
no one had ever run so fast
under such wet conditions.
“In good weather, I would
have been about one and a
half minutes faster,” Makau
said. One year later, he returned
to Berlin and indeed
ran exactly 90 seconds
faster: Patrick Makau had
broken the world record in
2:03:38.
When the Weather
Destroys Record Dreams
Fifteen years later, it was
not rain but heat that stopped
Sabastian Sawe’s record
chase. If Makau set a
“rain world record” in Berlin
in 2010, Sawe now produced
a “warm-weather world
record.” Never before had
an athlete run so fast in such
high temperatures: Sawe finished
in 2:02:16, setting
the world-leading time of
the year and recording the
ninth-fastest time ever. He
missed the world record by
just 101 seconds.
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Sawe wanted to find out
in Berlin how fast he could
really run. The 30-yearold
set a breathtaking pace
in the first half of the race.
With the help of pacemakers,
he passed the 10 km
mark in 28:26, pointing to a
finishing time just under two
Japan’s Akira Akasaki surprisingly
finished second at the 51st BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON in 2:06:15.
THE TOP TEN
IN BERLIN 2025
1. Sabastian Sawe (Kenia) 2:02:16
2. Akira Akasaki (Japan) 2:06:15
3. Chimdessa Debele (Ethiopia) 2:06:57
4. Guye Adola (Ethiopia) 2:07:11
5. Yuhei Urano (Japan) 2:07:35
6. Hassan Chahdi (France) 2:07:43
7. Shin Kimura (Japan) 2:08:37
8. Hendrik Pfeiffer (Germany) 2:09:14
9. Joseph Panga (Tansania) 2:09:35
10. Ahmed Ouhda (Italy) 2:10:39

MARATHON
RECORDS
MEN
WOLRD RECORD
2:00:35
KELVIN KIPTUM (Kenia)
Chicago (2023)
EUROPEAN RECORD
2:03:36
BASHIR ABDI (Belgium)
Rotterdam (2021)
GERMAN RECORD
2:04:56
SAMUEL FITWI (Silvesterlauf Trier)
Valencia (2024)
COURSE RECORD
2:01:09
ELIUD KIPCHOGE (Kenia)
Berlin (2022)
WORLD BEST TIME OF THE YEAR
2:02:16
SABASTIAN SAWE (Kenia)
Berlin (September 21, 2025)
GERMAN BEST TIME OF THE YEAR
2:06:29
SAMUEL FITWI (Silvesterlauf Trier)
Hanover (April 6, 2025)
hours. At halfway, Sawe
clocked 60:16 – exactly on
pace for the world record of
2:00:35.
He had not announced it beforehand,
but his goal was
clear: to break the global
best of his late compatriot
Kelvin Kiptum. Two runners
initially followed his pace:
Tanzania’s record holder Gabriel
Geay, who fell back before
10 km, and defending
champion Milkesa Mengesha
of Ethiopia, who dropped
out after about 13 km. Both,
like many other elite athletes,
did not finish. After 23 km,
Sawe’s final pacemaker also
reached his limit, leaving him
to run alone at the front. As
the temperatures climbed,
he could no longer hold the
early speed. At 30 km, with
a split of 1:26:06, he was

Seldom have the services of ‘Bottle Claus’-Henning Schulke been as valuable
as on this hot and humid September Sunday with temperatures over
25 degrees Celsius.
still on course for the course
record set by Eliud Kipchoge
(2:01:09 in 2022). In the
end, there was no record
– but with 2:02:16 he won
by a large margin. Japan’s
Akira Akasaki surprised by
finishing second in 2:06:15,
ahead of Ethiopia’s Chimdessa
Debele (2:06:57). The
fastest German was Hendrik
Pfeiffer (Düsseldorf Athletics),
who finished eighth in
2:09:14 – the best result by a
German male runner in Berlin
since 1990.
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Race Director Mark
Milde: “Incredible”
“I gave it my best and I’m very
happy to have won the race.
It was tough in the heat,” said
Sabastian Sawe. “That was
an incredible performance in
these conditions – I can only
congratulate him,” said Race
Director Mark Milde.
That Sawe found his way
to the top of the world was
also partly due to luck. Many
runners in Kenya have talent,
but never get the chance
to show it, because their
ability is never discovered.
Talent Long
Overlooked
Raised in humble circumstances
in the village of
Cheukta, near Eldoret in Kenya’s
highlands, Sawe long
struggled to build a running
career. He moved to Iten,
the mecca of Kenyan elite
running, and joined training
groups. But no one spotted
his potential. He then turned
to his uncle Abraham
Chepkirwok, who had supported
him several times
before. Chepkirwok, an 800
m runner for Uganda, had
finished fourth at the 2007
World Championships and
still holds the national record
of 1:43.72. His neighbor,
Abel Mutai, Olympic
bronze medalist in the 3,000
m steeplechase at London
2012, was co-coach at Claudio
Berardelli’s training camp
in Kapsabet. “When Abel
asked me, I said, okay, because
it’s you, Sabastian can
come. At first, he was in our
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Without state-of-the-art carbon shoes like Adidas’ Evo, today’s marathon
performances would hardly be possible. Here, third-place finisher Chimdessa
Debele of Ethiopia thanks his sponsor.
- 95 -

Lone winner: Sabastian Sawe crossed the finish line at the Brandenburg
Gate with almost a four-minute lead over the runner-up.
track group. Then we tried
him with road and marathon
runners, and eventually his
talent became obvious,” recalls
Claudio Berardelli, who
has been coaching in Kenya
for more than 20 years and
runs the Kapsabet camp of
Italian manager Gianni Demadonna.
From Pacemaker to
World-Leading Time
Sawe’s international career
began sensationally at the
Seville Half Marathon in
2020. “Gianni still needed
a pacemaker, and I said, I
think I have one who can do
it – let’s try,” remembers Berardelli.
Sawe flew to Sevil-
- 96 -

SABASTIAN SAWE
le and won the race with a
world-leading time of 59:02.
“I was lucky too, to get an
athlete like him. He is like
a gift to me. Sabastian has
everything – incredible training
capacity, mental
strength, and at the same
time great humility,” says
Berardelli. “I can’t predict
what will be possible – but I
look forward to finding out.”
After the 2025 BMW BER-
LIN-MARATHON, he was
already wiser. And the story
isn’t over yet. “I wanted
to run really fast and gave it
my best, but it got too hot.
I hope to have better weather
next time,” said Sabastian
Sawe. “I liked the course
– it is very good and fast.” It
is quite possible that Sawe
will return to Berlin next
year. Maybe he can follow in
Patrick Makau’s footsteps.
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Crossing the finish line doesn’t
mean the job is done for the winners
of the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON: celebrating with the fans,
the award ceremony, a photo for
the main sponsor, and then the
press conference. Ensuring that
everything runs smoothly is the
responsibility of Race Director
Mark Milde and his team.

BEST GERMAN
Historically

good
Hendrik Pfeiffer added
another highlight to his
marathon career: the
32-year-old finished as
the fastest German at
the BMW BERLIN-
MARATHON, taking
a very strong eighth
place in 2:09:14. This
marks the best placement
by a German athlete
in the men’s race
at this classic since
1990! Thirty-five years
ago, Jörg Peter finished
third in Berlin.

That was certainly the
best race of my career,”
said Hendrik Pfeiffer, who
rates his Berlin performance
even higher than his results
in Houston and London last
year. In the U.S. race at the
beginning of 2024, he had
improved his personal best
to 2:07:14 while running without
pacemakers. In London,
at the end of April, he secured
a strong seventh place in
a world-class field.
“I’m very happy – even if, of
course, we can forget about
the time,” said Hendrik Pfeiffer.
“It was simply far too
HENDRIK PFEIFFER

warm to achieve the targeted
sub-2:07. Mentally, that
wasn’t easy at the start of
the race, knowing that the
big goal would not be possible.
I had to set other priorities:
it was about being the
best German and achieving
the best possible placement.”
Heat cost him two
to three minutes
“I knew that in the final
part Johannes Motschmann
suddenly came quite close
again. He paced himself very
well. But I also got the info
that a top-ten finish might
be possible. That motivated
me again, so I was able to
push in the end,” explained
Hendrik Pfeiffer, who believes
that in good weather he
could have been two to three
minutes faster. While a number
of runners broke down
in the heat and dropped out,
Pfeiffer held on surprisingly
well. After a halfway split
of 63:58, he ran the second
half in 65:16. “Heat used to
be my weakness. But now
I cope with it much better. I
ran with a cooling band, adjusted
my nutrition, and wore
arm sleeves that I kept soaking
to cool down.”
Uncertainty about
Bundeswehr support
“Normally, I would be celebrating
now,” said Hendrik
Pfeiffer after his race. But
there was major uncertainty
for him. His continued membership
in the Bundeswehr’s
sports promotion group was
tied to a fast time in Berlin.
“I’m not sure what will happen
now. This support is an
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The heat also made the race mentally difficult for Hendrik Pfeiffer: “The
big goal was out of reach. I then had to set other priorities: it was about
being the best German and achieving the best possible placement.”
- 105 -

Celebrated as the fastest German at the 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON:
At midday, Hendrik Pfeiffer was cheered on by the spectators at the Brandenburg
Gate. In the evening, he partied with hundreds of other marathon
finishers at the official closing celebration at Kosmos.
- 106 -

- 107 -
important pillar for me as a
professional athlete. I think
today I gave the argument
that I still deserve to be part
of the program,” said Pfeiffer.
Indeed, such decisions
should naturally take into
account weather conditions
that significantly impair performance.
The fast time he missed at
the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON – after already setting
new personal bests over 10
km and the half marathon –

is one he still hopes to achieve
this year. “I’m planning to
run the Valencia Marathon
in early December,” said the
Düsseldorf native. After two
easier weeks, Pfeiffer will
begin preparations in October
for his next marathon.
He will also serve as a pacemaker
for his wife Esther,
who will run the half marathon
in Cologne and is planning
a fast marathon debut
in 2026.
Johannes Motschmann grew stronger towards the end but could no longer
threaten Hendrik Pfeiffer. With a very strong 2:10:40 given the conditions,
the runner from Marathon Team Berlin finished as the second-fastest German
in 11th place.
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Women‘s
Race
Recap

To Total
Exhaustion
In a close finish, Rosemary
Wanjiru (Kenya) won the
women’s race in 2:21:05,
just three seconds ahead of
Dera Dida. Third place went
to Azmera Gebru (both Ethiopia)
in 2:21:29. Fabienne
Königstein (MTG Mannheim)
and Domenika Mayer
(LG Telis Finanz Regensburg)
achieved outstanding
placements and personal
bests. Königstein placed
sixth in 2:22:17, making
her the third-fastest German
woman of all time. Mayer
followed in eighth with
2:23:16, now number four
on the German all-time list.
The women’s leading group
was clearly slower from the
start than planned. In the
- 111 -

Dera Dida crossed the line three seconds behind
Rosemary Wanjiru in second place and celebrated
the result as if it were a victory. Winner
Rosemary Wanjiru collapsed to the ground at the
finish, exhausted, and required medical treatment
to quickly regain her strength.

heat, the favorites adjusted
their pace. Four runners
were still in the lead pack
when they reached the halfway
mark in 69:07. Shortly
after 25 km, favorite Rosemary
Wanjiru broke away,
and by 30 km she had built
a 24-second lead. Yet by the
end, the Kenyan was so exhausted
she nearly lost the
race in the final meters. Dera
Dida closed the gap, but
the Ethiopian had to settle
for second place for the
third time this year. In both
Dubai and Paris, Dida had
also missed victory by just
DIE THE TOP TEN
IN BERLIN 2025
1. Sabastian Rosemary Sawe Wanjiru (Kenia) 2:02:16 2:21:05
2. Akira Dera Dida Akasaki (Ethiopia) (Japan) 2:06:15 2:21:08
3. Chimdessa Azmera Gebru Debele (Ethiopia) (Äthiopien) 2:06:57 2:21:29
4. Guye Viola Cheptoo Adola (Äthiopien) (Kenia) 2:07:11 2:21:40
5. Yuhei Fantu Urano Worku (Japan) (Ethiopia) 2:07:35 2:21:57
6. Fabienne Hassan Chahdi Königstein (Frankreich) (Germany) 2:07:43 2:22:17
7. Shin Degitu Kimura Azimeraw (Japan) (Ethiopia) 2:08:37 2:23:02
8. Hendrik Domenika Pfeiffer Mayer (Deutschland) (Germany) 2:09:14 2:23:16
9. Honami Joseph Panga Maeda (Tansania) (Japan) 2:09:35 2:24:36
10. Ahmed Mestawut Ouhda Fikir (Italien) (Ethiopia) 2:10:39 2:24:52

MARATHON
RECORDS
WOMEN
WOLRD RECORD
2:09:56
RUTH CHEPNGETICH (Kenia)*
Chicago (2024)
EUROPEAN RECORD
2:13:44
SIFAN HASSAN (Netherlands)
Chicago (2023)
GERMAN RECORD
2:19:19
IRINA MIKITENKO (TV Wattenscheid)
Berlin (2008)
COURSE RECORD
2:11:53
TIGST ASSEFA (Ethiopia)
Berlin (2023)
WORLD BEST TIME OF THE YEAR
2:15:50
TIGST ASSEFA (Ethiopia)
London (April 27, 2025)
GERMAN BEST TIME OF THE YEAR
2:22:17
FABIENNE KÖNIGSTEIN
(MTG Mannheim)
Berlin (September 21, 2025)
*) Athlete provisionally suspended
due to doping suspicion
a few seconds. Wanjiru took
the win in 2:21:05, Dida ran
2:21:08. “I didn’t even realize
it was that close at the
end. I’ll keep working to win
next time,” said Dera Dida.
For Fabienne Königstein,
it was the best race of her
career. Eight years after her
debut in Berlin (2:34:14),
the 32-year-old crossed the
line in 2:22:17, improving
her two-year-old personal
best by about three and a
half minutes. “I’m overjoyed.
Normally I don’t run well
in the heat, and in the final
stretch it got really tough.
But the spectators pushed
me forward,” said Königstein.
Domenika Mayer also
set a personal record with
2:23:16 in eighth place. “Top
eight in a major marathon, a

With 2:23:16, Domenika Mayer ran a personal best to finish eighth – an
outstanding performance in the heat. The mother of two improved by
31 seconds compared to the 2:23:47 she had achieved in Berlin in 2023
under much better conditions.
- 115 -

personal best, and I managed
to withstand the heat
– I’m very satisfied and grateful,”
said the 34-year-old,
who improved her previous
mark by 31 seconds.
While Melina Wolf (LG Region
Karlsruhe) finished
15th in 2:30:31, Deborah
Schöneborn (Marathon
Team Berlin) dropped out
between 25 and 30 km.
Cooling was important even before the 9:15 a.m. start. Fabienne Königstein
shows how it’s done. Read all about the strategy that enabled her to
set a new personal best despite the heat in this magazine from page 6.
- 116 -

Do it
again!
As with the majority of events in the Abbott World Marathon Majors series
— except for the Boston Marathon, which requires time and age-group
qualification — entry slots for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2026 will be
allocated through a lottery system. Registration for the lottery will be open
from September 25 to November 6, 2025. All participants in the lottery
will receive their result via email at the end of November.
LOTTERY FOR RACE ENTRIES
52nd BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
SEPTEMBER 27, 2026

Finishers
in Focus

48,020 runners from 160 nations
crossed the finish line at
the 51st BMW BERLIN-
MARATHON. Running through
the Brandenburg Gate put a
smile on nearly everyone’s face.
At the finish, we spoke with
some of them – and present
them here as representatives of
all finishers.
Texts: Maria Hauser | Photos: Andreas Schwarz
With the Berlin sun and
the one from Uruguay
Alejandro, Federico, Martin and Thiago traveled
from Uruguay to Berlin and proudly held
their flag into the picture after finishing their
first BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. The South
American country lies east of Argentina and
south of Brazil on the Atlantic, and is about
half the size of Germany. The race was tough
and hot for the South Americans, but quitting
was never an option. Especially since some
of their friends were running a marathon that
same Sunday in Argentina’s capital, Buenos
Aires. “We make each other proud,” the four
said in unison.

“I’m part of something truly great”
Whoever runs Berlin can achieve anything – Barbara is absolutely certain
of that. The 26-year-old designer from Mexico City crossed the finish
line beaming after 3:26:23 hours. Her first race at one of the Abbott
World Marathon Majors exceeded all expectations by far. When she
saw the elite field in the morning, she became deeply emotional. “I kept
thinking the whole time: I’m part of something truly great!”
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On the way, they became friends
FINISHERS IN FOCUS
In Berlin, the sense of community is felt not only between spectators
and participants – sometimes friendships even begin to blossom along
the course. Betty and Yajaira met during the marathon, but by the time
they crossed the finish line, they were already hugging like old friends.
Betty is originally from Colombia but lives in the United States, while
Yajaira traveled from Peru. Normally, a seven-hour flight separates the
two. In Berlin, they ran together.

Enjoying the international metropolis
Baurzhan comes from Kazakhstan. The country is the ninth largest in the
world by area, but has only a little over 20 million inhabitants and a population
density of just seven people per square kilometer. For comparison:
in Berlin, more than 4,000 people live on the same area. But the 37-yearold
emphasizes that he likes it big and international. With his third Abbott
World Marathon Majors start in Berlin, he moved closer to his goal of finishing
all seven races in the series. In Berlin, he even set a personal best
of 2:40:59 hours!

Chasing fast times
FINISHERS IN FOCUS
Back home in Australia, she shows children the joy of movement, while
he works as a financial crime analyst tracking down tax evaders. In Berlin,
however, Ciara and Andrew were chasing a fast time together – and
they succeeded, finishing in 2:45:08 and 2:42:20 respectively. The couple
ran almost the entire 42.195 kilometers side by side. For Ciara, it was
her second Abbott World Marathon Majors event; for Andrew, his debut.

From one metropolis to another
Zheng Lei traveled from Shanghai – the largest city in the People’s Republic
of China. Twenty-four million people live there, about six times as
many as in Berlin. Still, Zheng Lei was impressed by the German capital,
which radiates so much more historical charm than his hometown. He
wanted to finish the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON in under 4 hours – and
the 49-year-old did just that, crossing the line in 3:59:12. On October 12,
he will line up for the marathon in Chicago.
- 126 -

This is what health
makes possible
Every runner proves the power of health —
from five-time BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
champion Eliud Kipchoge to first-time finishers.
That’s why Abbott and Abbott World Marathon
Majors celebrate every stride with life-changing
health technology.
Abbott.com/Marathons
Official healthcare partner of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON

Double twin power
This sibling duo brings double the power. Ntsikane crossed the finish
line after 3:44:45, while his brother Ntsikelelo completed the marathon
in 3:48:03. The twin pair from South Africa almost always run together.
At 66 years old, the lawyer and judge are part of the running crew
“Cheetahs” back home in South Africa. And what course could be better
suited for a fast cheetah than the speedy streets of Berlin?

FINISHERS IN FOCUS
Berlin – the best city for a marathon!
Daniel traveled about 9,500 kilometers to run in Berlin for the first time.
He and his group of cheerleaders spent twelve hours on the plane from
Mexico to Germany for this moment. The 33-year-old had brought his
entire family along. The long journey was absolutely worth it, as out of his
15 marathon starts so far, he crowned the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
his personal number one. “This city is simply the best place to run. ”

Thrilled by Berlin
For journalist Vidhya Prakash from Chennai, the capital of the Indian state
of Tamil Nadu, things couldn’t have gone any better in Berlin. “The people,
the course, the weather – everything was just wonderful,” the 40-year-old
affirmed after his first Abbott World Marathon Majors race. After crossing
the finish line, all that was left for him to do was wait for the four remaining
runners from his team, “MY RACE BUDDY,” with whom he had traveled.
- 130 -

A little glitter always helps!
FINISHERS IN FOCUS
A red glittering running outfit, sparkle on her cheeks, and a tiny crown
on her cap – Devon from Massachusetts was beaming as brightly as
the sun when she crossed the finish line of the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON. The neurologist had traveled with ten friends from the U.S. to run
her first Abbott World Marathon Majors race outside the United States.
Despite an injury shortly before the event, the 36-year-old crossed the
finish line in just 3:36:35.

Overwhelmed by the event
Tiago is originally from Portugal, but currently lives in Aachen – so his
journey to Berlin wasn’t too long. He was overwhelmed by Germany’s
largest marathon event. “This is something completely different from any
marathon I’ve run so far.” Despite the heat, the 35-year-old bioinformatician
clocked a time of 3:24:09. The cheering spectators played no small
part in that, he admitted with a smile.
- 132 -

A tough battle rewarded
Two thumbs up – even though Svenia had to fight incredibly hard. The
25-year-old vomited several times during the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON, and halfway through the race her foot started bleeding. “It was
so much harder than I expected,” she said after crossing the finish line of
her first marathon in an impressive 3:10:57. And that despite the fact that
the runner from Frankfurt is usually on very different tracks: she normally
competes in the 1500 meters on the stadium track.

Defying the cramps
FINISHERS IN FOCUS
“Today didn’t go the way I wanted,” admitted Sibongisen from South
Africa after his first BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. Nevertheless, he
crossed the finish line beaming after 3:07:20. “My calves started cramping
as early as kilometer 26.” The 45-year-old took it in stride: a marathon
is always unpredictable. But the atmosphere in Berlin, he said,
was more than worth the effort.

Experience helps at the eleventh Berlin start
“It was all about survival in those temperatures,” said Ibrahim from Berlin
after the race. It was already his eleventh time at the BMW BERLIN-
MARATHON, but the 49-year-old had never struggled as much as this
year. The mental challenge was enormous, yet the experience from his
ten previous starts kept him from giving up. “And when I finally turned
toward the Brandenburg Gate, the crowd carried me.”
- 136 -

FINISHERS IN FOCUS
Tough and hot, but also beautiful
Tough, hot, and sunny – but also incredibly energetic and beautiful: that’s
how Steven summed up his first marathon outside the U.S. Having already
finished Chicago, Boston, and New York, the American added his
first race on European soil in Berlin. Despite the heat and the relentless
Berlin sun, the 49-year-old physical therapist achieved his goal of finishing
the marathon in under three hours, crossing the line in 2:58:49.

Cheering zone as a boost of motivation
Ina and Jannika beamed with glitter on their cheeks. The two friends met
in their running club and traveled together from Frankfurt to take on the
42.195 kilometers side by side. For Ina, it was her very first marathon –
and she finished in 3:56:49. What a debut! A special highlight for both of
them was the cheering zone at kilometer 36. “We were feeling great, and
after the cheering zone it was like we almost flew to the finish!”
- 138 -

Full of emotions and happiness
Saltanat was overcome with emotion as she crossed the finish line after
3:53:10. Smiling, she wiped away her tears as she explained that she
had run for her women’s community in Kazakhstan. The 26-year-old is
part of the running group TRIGADA and ran on behalf of all her training
partners. “I am so incredibly happy.” The course, the atmosphere, and
the finish will remain in the young Kazakh’s memory for a long time to
come.
- 140 -

Great love for Berlin
FINISHERS IN FOCUS
For John, the 2024 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON was love at first run.
After setting a personal best of 2:39:18, the 41-year-old knew he would
be back. This time, the heat took its toll, and he finished in 2:45:02. Back
home in Ireland, he’s used to cool, rainy weather. “My time suffered a bit
because of that.” What didn’t suffer at all, however, was John’s spirit.
After the race, all he wished for was a hug from his kids and a good
German beer.

An inspiration for others
Jonas crossed the finish line waving the Swedish flag after 3:22:48. At
48 years old, he spoke about the race almost like a routine – it was,
after all, his 20th marathon. With this BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, he
celebrated an anniversary. But Berlin never gets boring for him. “I love
star-ting in this city. I love the competition!” With his marathons, Jonas
hopes to be an inspiration for others.
- 142 -

A family thing
FINISHERS IN FOCUS
In this family, the love for running is passed down. Rita ran the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON for the twelfth time, while her son Jerome completed
it for the fourth. The only thing the 22-year-old hasn’t taken on
yet are the creative costumes his 54-year-old mother always wears at
the start in Berlin. The software developer made a special point of thanking
everyone who handed out water along the course on this hot day.

Age is no limit to performance
At 60 years old, Liam is undeniably fitter than many in their twenties.
The Irishman crossed the finish line in 2:55:47 – with only two runners
in his age group finishing faster. For the fit 60-year-old, it was already
his fourth BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. At the finish, Liam could hardly
wait to call his wife back home and tell her everything. “Today was really
tough, but that’s exactly why I feel so incredibly happy right now.”
- 144 -

Marathon as a giant hidden-object picture
Where’s Lion? At the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, of course! Germany’s
biggest marathon, with more than 50,000 runners, is the perfect setting
for a hidden-object picture. That’s why Lion dressed up as Walther, the
protagonist of the well-known hidden-object books. But in fact, the Berlin
native chose the costume mainly to keep the race from becoming too
serious. “Life kind of messed up my training plan,” admitted the software
developer. “So I wanted to bring a little fun into it.”

FINISHERS IN FOCUS
With the power of the spectators
For Rachel, it was her first marathon outside the U.S. The 40-year-old
mother of four from Arizona ran her very first marathon less than three
years ago – and now impressed with a 3:26:56 finish, despite the high
temperatures. The American was especially grateful for the support of
the crowd. “There wasn’t a single quiet moment along the course!” She
also brought along her personal cheerleader: her father, who once lived
in Berlin for two years.

In love with Berlin
Lukasz has fallen in love not only with running in Berlin but with the
entire city and its wide range of sports opportunities. Originally from
Poland, he has been living in Berlin for several years and is a triathlete.
The diverse training paid off for him. “Everything went exactly the way
I wanted!” On the course, the 41-year-old spotted many familiar faces.
“All the cheering zones felt like mine. The crowd kept recharging my
energy reserves throughout the race.”
- 148 -

Run fast.
Recover
faster.
Mit BLACKROLL® – dem offiziellen
Recovery Partner des BMW BERLIN-
MARATHONS.
Sichere dir
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Recovery Guide
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Sightseeing while running
Sightseeing while running: Luke from London was thrilled after his Berlin
debut. “With just one run, I was able to see so much of Berlin!” said
the Arsenal fan happily after passing the final landmark, the Brandenburg
Gate. The 28-year-old, who has also run the London Marathon,
definitely wants to come back. Not least because his bib number went
missing. “So it can’t just be one time in Berlin.”
- 150 -

The fit, fast retiree
FINISHERS IN FOCUS
Fred traveled from the Netherlands to run the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON for the first time. The 68-year-old finished his Berlin debut in
3:37:38 and admitted afterward that it had been his toughest marathon
so far. Still, Berlin sparked his appetite for more. The retiree plans to take
on all seven Abbott World Marathon Majors. “As long as I feel physically
fit, I want to keep running marathons!”

Giving up? No way!
Quitting was never an option for her. Mariana may not have reached her
target time, but she showed incredible mental resilience. The Mexican
runner realized early on that a sub-three-hour marathon wasn’t possible
this time. “It was too hot.” Under these conditions, moral support played
a huge role for the 31-year-old. “So many people were cheering for me.”
That feeling of connection is what she carried with her.
- 152 -

Destigmatizing addiction
Niklas traveled from the small town of Klingenbach in the Rhein-Lahn
district between Frankfurt and Koblenz. He trains weekly with the gymnastics
and sports club Katzenelnbogen-Klingenbach, which, through
the initiative “laufend nüchtern” (“running sober”), works to destigmatize
addiction and create more visibility. The 26-year-old police officer took
part in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON for the fourth time and loves the
feeling of running toward the finish line beneath the Brandenburg Gate.
- 154 -

A community that’s truly special
FINISHERS IN FOCUS
Rebecca from London wished for one big party with all the participants
of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. “Because today was especially
tough, and only this incredible sense of community got me through.”
And that comes from someone whose world revolves around running –
a runner through and through. The 51-year-old traveled to Berlin with
her club, the “Mornington Chasers,” and it was already her second marathon
this year.

Running for the baby
Red, white, and maple-patterned – Courtney ran the marathon in the
national colors of her home country, Canada, finishing in 3:41:23. She
isn’t used to the hot late-summer temperatures of Berlin, yet she still
came away from the race with a positive feeling. She dedicated her very
first BMW BERLIN-MARATHON to her baby. “I just want to tell my family
everything right away,” said the 33-year-old doctor enthusiastically.
But she had to wait a few more hours – in Canada, it was still night
when she crossed the finish line.
- 156 -

Ready for another Berlin start
FINISHERS IN FOCUS
It was Wakati and Stephen’s first time at the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON—but certainly not their last, so thrilled were they by the experience.
The high temperatures came as a surprise, though it’s warm
in their home countries of Uganda and Tanzania as well. “Once you’re
done, everything feels fine,” Stephen said with a laugh. “The race was
tough, but we’ll train, be prepared, and come back even stronger.”

Running for hardworking chefs
Oliver – affectionately called Oli – shares cooking videos on Instagram.
With his costume, he wanted to draw attention to the fact that many
chefs work extremely hard. “I’m very free in my work,” the 28-year-old
explained. “But in the restaurant industry, they sometimes work 17-hour
days.” To make his own marathon experience at least a little as tough
as that of the “real” chefs, he ran carrying a pot and a spoon. The atmosphere
in Berlin enchanted the Englishman, and along the course he
even stopped to enjoy a beer.
- 158 -

A greeting to the Charité
FINISHERS IN FOCUS
Sending a quick greeting to the Charité along the course? Helena, who
studies medicine there, couldn’t resist at kilometer 38. The student also
ran a new personal best, finishing in 3:21:14. The course and Berlin’s
many impressive landmarks, however, were all new for Nelson from Colombia.
Running in Germany for the first time, the 50-year-old engineer
crossed the finish line in 3:16:01.

Superhero for a day
Who let the superheroes loose? Aquaman and The Flash – a.k.a. Oliver
and Ulrich – live a double life: teachers on 364 days of the year, and
superheroes for one day at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. Running in
superhero costumes also makes you super fast: they crossed the finish
line in 3:53:34 and 3:53:43 respectively. But performance wasn’t the
main focus. Because, as Barry Allen, a superhero from American comics,
says: “It doesn’t matter if you’re the slowest kid in gym class or the fastest
man alive, every one of us is running.”

YOUNG TALENTS
Curtains up
for everyone
with talent

On the day before the 51st
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON,
young running talents were
once again given the biggest
stage that German
athletics has to offer. The
race, called R5K, covered
the final five kilometers
of the original marathon
course between Potsdamer
Platz and Brandenburg
Gate. For the 15- to 22-
year-olds, it was about
prize money and subsidies
for training camps.
Text: Christian Ermert

Vanessa Mikitenko is the star of the R5K Series 2025.
In Bergen, Norway, she claimed silver over 5000 meters
at the U23 European Championships this summer.
In Berlin, she triumphed at the very place where her
mother Irina set the still-standing German marathon
record of 2:19:19 hours 17 years ago.
ALL
R5K
INFOS

The prizes have been awarded:
Christoph Schrick and
Vanessa Mikitenko in the U23,
as well as Tristan Kaufhold
and Carlotta Bülck in the U20,
secured the overall victories in
the R5K Tour 2025 as part of
the 51st BMW BERLIN-MA-
RATHON. The five-kilometer
race from Potsdamer Platz to
Brandenburg Gate was the
grand finale of a series of five
5K races in five German cities
that together made up the
2025 R5K Tour: Dresden, Paderborn,
Hanover, Hamburg,
and finally Berlin at the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON.
The fastest time
in R5K history
At the Brandenburg Gate, the
fastest athletes were Christoph
Schrick (Königsteiner LV)
and Vanessa Mikitenko (SSC
Hanau-Rodenbach). Both secured
the overall U23 victories
in the racing series initiated
OVERALL RANKING
FINAL STANDINGS 2025
U23 men
Christoph Schrick (Königsteiner LV) 42:31
Paderborn: 14:15 | Hamburg: 14:19 | Berlin: 13:57
Jakob Dieterich (Frankfurt Athletics) 42:43
Dresden: 14:26 | Paderborn: 14:16 | Berlin: 14:01
Floyd Schnaars (TV Lilienthal) 44:28
Hanover: 14:56 | Paderborn: 14:40 | Berlin: 14:52
U23 women
Vanessa Mikitenko (SSC Hanau-Rodenbach) 47:47
Paderborn: 15:40 | Hamburg: 16:08 | Berlin: 15:59
Carolina Schäfer (TG Schwalbach) 48:47
Paderborn: 16:34 | Hamburg: 16:11 | Berlin: 16:02
Sonja Lindemann (LG Wedel-Pinneberg) 51:33
Paderborn: 17:09 | Hamburg: 17:13 | Berlin: 17:11
U20 men
Tristan Kaufhold (SSC Hanau-Rodenbach) 43:10
Dresden: 14:57 | Paderborn: 14:15 | Berlin: 13:58
Tom Stephan (LV Lilienthal) 45:59
Hanover: 15:18 | Paderborn: 15:01 | Berlin: 15:40
Aaron Hermenau (Laufteam Kassel) 46:11
Hanover: 15:20 | Paderborn: 15:17 | Berlin: 15:34
U20 women
Carlotta Bülck (LG Erlangen) 52:17
Hanover: 17:24 | Hamburg: 17:13 | Berlin: 17:40
Johanna Ewert (Hannover 96) 52:33
Hanover: 17:42 | Paderborn: 17:35 | Berlin: 17:16
Maja Schmidt (Läuferbund Schwarzenberg) 53:28
Dresden: 17:55 | Hanover: 17:40 | Berlin: 17:53

In Berlin, Christoph Schrick ran
13:57 minutes – the fastest time
ever recorded over five kilometers
on the road in the history of the
R5K Tour.
by the German Athletics Association
(DLV) and German
Road Races (GRR).
Prize money and
training camps
Schrick ran the fastest 5K ever
recorded in the R5K Tour on
the final stretch of the original
marathon course between
Potsdamer Platz and Brandenburg
Gate. In 13:57 minutes,
he edged out U20 winner
Tristan Kaufhold (SSC Hanau-
Rodenbach), who clocked
13:58 minutes, just ahead of
U23 runner Jakob Dieterich
(Frankfurt Athletics, 14:01
min). With these results,
Schrick and Kaufhold also claimed
the overall U23 and U20
titles, which came with prize
money and a €1,000 grant toward
participation in DLV training
camps.
In Berlin, Dieterich tried to
make up the eight-second
gap by which Schrick had led
- 166 -

in the overall standings at the
start. He pushed the pace early,
attempting to drop Schrick
and Kaufhold—but couldn’t
quite succeed.
Jakob Dieterich sets
a fast pace
“Thanks to Jakob, it was a really
fast race,” said the winner,
who stayed behind his rival
until the Brandenburg Gate,
then sprinted past in the final
100 meters to take both
the day’s victory and the overall
crown. “That was a finish
worthy of a 1500-meter runner.”
With this, Schrick defended
his R5K title and his U23 win
in Berlin, once again thrilled
by the atmosphere of the
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON:
“The atmosphere here is always
incredible. This is Berlin.
So many running fans line the
streets—it’s amazing to race
here.”
Since the launch of the first R5K
Tour in 2023, there has been no
other overall winner in the U20
category than Tristan Kaufhold. In
Berlin, the 19-year-old delivered a
strong performance, finishing second
overall in 13:58 minutes.
- 167 -

R5K: THE
RACES 2026
NTT DATA Citylauf Dresden March 22
Paderborner Osterlauf April 4
ADAC Marathon Hannover April 12
Barmer Alsterlauf Hamburg Sept. 6
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Sept. 27
The five-kilometer race in Dresden will kick off the 2026 R5K Tour
next spring.
For the third year in a row,
U20 winner Kaufhold capitalized
on the Berlin energy to
secure the R5K overall victory.
Already unbeatable in the
standings before the final, he
still put on a strong performance.
In 13:58 minutes, he
dipped under 14 minutes for
the first time over 5K. “The
atmosphere really pushed
me today,” he said after the
race. “It was even better than
in previous years. The crowd
was shouting at us all along
the course.”
The R5K Tour is an initiative by

Vanessa Mikitenko’s
first victory in Berlin
Among the women, Vanessa
Mikitenko celebrated her first
win at the Brandenburg Gate.
In 15:59 minutes, the U23 European
Championships silver
medalist over 5000 meters triumphed
at the very spot where
her mother Irina Mikitenko
set the still-standing German
marathon record of 2:19:19 in
2008.
Vanessa secured the overall
R5K title, having carried nearly
a one-minute lead over
Carolina Schäfer (TG Schwalbach)
into Berlin. “I ran tactically
and stayed with Carolina
at first,” Vanessa explained.
At the Brandenburg Gate,
she made her move, finishing
in 15:59 ahead of Schäfer
(16:02).
That first victory at the Brandenburg
Gate was especially
meaningful. As a three-year-old,
Vanessa had been
present when her mother set
the marathon record 17 years
ago. Even today, the family’s
trip to the BMW BERLIN-MA-
RATHON remains a highlight
of the year. “Winning in Berlin
means so much to me. It will
surely take many more years,
but maybe one day I’ll come
back here to run the marathon.”
Carlotta Bülck’s
U20 crown
In the U20 category, Carlotta
Bülck of LG Erlangen took
the overall title. In Berlin, she
finished only fourth in 17:40
behind Franziska Drexler (LG
Telis Finanz Regensburg,
16:39), Ada Werner (SCC
Berlin, 17:10), and Johanna
Ewert (Hannover 96, 17:16).
However, her earlier victories
in Hanover and Hamburg had
given her a sufficient cushion
to secure the U20 overall ranking.
- 170 -

Carlotta Bülck (center), Johanna Ewert (left), and Maja Schmidt took the
top three spots in the overall R5K standings. In addition to flowers, they
received prize money of €500 (1st place), €250 (2nd place), and €150 (3rd
place). Overall winner Carlotta Bülck also received a €1,000 grant toward
a training camp.
“It didn’t go well today,” she
admitted afterward—but
immediately had a clear explanation.
She had come directly
from training camp
in Kienbaum, where she is
preparing with the German
triathlon national team for
the World Championships in
Australia.
- 171 -

From Berlin to the
Triathlon World
Championships
Last year, she placed tenth
at the Triathlon World Championships,
where the U20
competes over 750 meters of
swimming, 20 kilometers of
cycling, and five kilometers
of running. This summer, she
finished fifth at the European
Championships and is now
excited to see what she can
achieve in Wollongong near
Sydney. In Berlin, she was still
fatigued from the intense training
load, but hopes to run the
closing 5K much faster in Australia.
She also sees her future in triathlon—for
now: “Running is a
lot of fun for me, and today’s atmosphere
was great. Let’s see
what the future brings.” One
thing is certain: she’ll be back
for the R5K Tour in 2026, because
even as a triathlete, she
says, “It’s just so much fun.”

Must
Runs
by
The SwimRun at Rheinsberg
Castle takes participants on a
stunning journey through nature
– with plenty of running and the
occasional swim. The 2026 edition
will take place on July 5.
Berlin
& Brandenburg

Old Gate.
MARCH 28, 2026
The day before the GENE-
RALI BERLIN HALF MA-
RATHON, runners have
the chance to experience
a historic route on an iconic
course. After completing
the final 1,609 meters
of the original track
and passing through the
Brandenburg Gate just
before the finish, you’ll be
among the very first finishers
of the BERLIN MILE.
Distance
1.609 km | running
New Mile!

Half the distance.
All the fun.
MARCH 29, 2026
A spectacular season opener on a
sightseeing course past many of
Berlin’s landmarks, finishing right
behind the Brandenburg Gate.
Just as captivating as the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON – only
shorter!
Distances
21.0975 km | running, skating, wheelchair, hand cycling
500 m/1,000 m | bambini run
Full Respect!

Move for change
Germany’s largest women’s
run puts charity at
the forefront. Running for
a good cause and raising
funds for women with
cancer in need is its mission.
At the same time,
14,000 participants celebrate
their party of the
year in the heart of Berlin.
MAY 16, 2026
Distances
5 km, 10 km | running, walking, nordic walking
At the largest
women’s run!

In a team.
MAY 21, 2026
In a relay quartet on a beautiful
loop through historic Brandenburg
an der Havel. The atmospheric
TEAM event in early summer.
Distances
4x5 km | relay
ca. 400 m/800 m | bambini run
To the finish!

The fastest
night.
Berlin’s fastest night is the highlight
event in the middle of summer.
Samba bands, cheering zones, and
enthusiastic fans turn Ku‘Damm in
City West into a vibrant party zone.
The climax is running through the
glowing finish arch at the Kaiser
Wilhelm Memorial Church.
SUMMER 2026
Distances
5 km | running
10 km | running and inline skating
From all of Berlin!

SCC EVENTS
AT A GLANCE
December 31, 2025
BERLIN NEW YEAR‘S EVE RUN
January 1, 2026
BERLIN NEW YEAR‘S RUN
March 28, 2026
BERLIN MILE
March 29, 2026
GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON
May 16, 2026
VITAMIN WELL WOMEN‘S RACE BERLIN
May 21, 2026
STWB TEAM RELAY BRANDENBURG
June 2-4, 2026
BERLINER WASSERBETRIEBE
5X5 KM TEAM-RELAY
June 27, 2026
HIKING HERO
July 5, 2026
SWIMRUN RHEINSBERG
Summer 2026
ADIDAS RUNNERS CITY NIGHT
August 30, 2026
DIE GENERALPROBE
September 27, 2026
BMW BERLIN MARATHON
- 180 -

INCLUSION
United in

running

On two prostheses
to the sub-threehour
marathon
Before the start of the
BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON, two men met who
shared the same goal: British
Grammy winner Harry
Styles, who was running
incognito under a false
name, wanted to complete
the 42.195 kilometers
in under three hours. Just
like his compatriot Richard
Whitehead, who has been
one of the biggest stars
in Paralympic sport since
2012. Back then, he actually
wanted to compete in
the marathon at the London
Paralympics. But the International
Paralympic Committee
informed him that
RICHARD WHITEHEAD
The British Paralympics star
waited calmly in the tent where all
the elite athletes warm up,
fully relaxed before the start.

athletes missing both lower
legs were not permitted to
run the 42.195-kilometer
distance. Instead of complaining
about this injustice,
he began training for the
sprint – and sensationally
won gold in the 200 meters.
Thirteen years later, at
49 years old, he once again
achieved exactly what he
had set out to do: he finished
the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON in under three hours.
He clocked 2:58:47 for the
42.195 kilometers, crossing
the line 26 seconds ahead
of Harry Styles. What an
achievement by Richard
Whitehead, who was born
without lower legs and runs
with special carbon prostheses!
He has now completed
all seven Abbott
World Marathon Majors in
under three hours.
Before the start, a quick Instagram
photo with superstar Harry Styles
– at the Brandenburg Gate finish,
Richard Whitehead crossed in
2:58:47, 26 seconds faster than the
Grammy winner.

Celebrated inclusion
Around 40 participants from the
Special Olympics Berlin and Fürst
Donnersmarck Stiftung network
enjoyed the atmosphere of the
51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
between Gendarmenmarkt and the
Brandenburg Gate. Special Olympics
is the sports organization for
people with intellectual and multiple
disabilities. Through inclusive
sports programs and competitions,
Special Olympics Berlin creates
opportunities for encounters, participation,
and greater self-confidence
for all participants. Together
with volunteer helpers, they ran the

1.5-kilometer course. The atmosphere
was fantastic – with lots
of applause from the crowd and
palpable enthusiasm turning the run
into a powerful symbol of solidarity.
It wasn’t about record times, but
about the joy of movement, shared
experiences, and raising awareness
for inclusion in sport.

French
Triumphs

The Marseillaise rang out twice for the inline skaters: at breathtaking
speed, Ewen Fernandez and Aubane Plouhinec stormed
to the top of the podium at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inline
Skating. In the men’s race, there was even a French sweep, with
Ewen Fernandez, Nolan Beddiaf, and Hugo Gerard taking the top
three places.

Gone in a flash: Ewan
Fernandez broke away
after 28 kilometers and
raced alone towards
victory.
THE TOP 3
MEN
1. Ewan Fernandez FRA Powerslide Vesmaco Team 59:27
2. Beddiaf Nolan FRA Manao Frskates 60:09
3. Hugo Gerard FRA SPSPSK Rollerblade 60:09
– 190 –

Ewen Fernandez
Dominates
From the very first lap,
the men’s race was pure
excitement. The pace was
high, the corners tight, the
air filled with tension and
adrenaline. Ewen Fernandez,
veteran and winner
in 2011 and 2012, made a
spectacular comeback. After
a six-year break, he had
only resumed skate training
in the spring – but the many
cycling kilometers he had
logged made him virtually
unbeatable.
With a bold breakaway, he
pulled clear of his rivals at
kilometer 28 and kept extending
his lead. “I knew I
only had a chance if I distanced
the field early. In a
sprint, Nolan Beddiaf would
have been stronger,” said
Fernandez, who entered
the finishing straight with
more than a 40-second
lead. “Knowing that no one
could catch me anymore
was simply incredible. I was
able to fully enjoy the ride
through the Brandenburg
Gate to the finish,” he enthused.
In the mass sprint of the
chasers, Beddiaf edged out
Hugo Gerard in a photo finish,
while the fastest German,
Felix Rijhnen, narrowly
missed the podium in
fourth place.
– 191 –

Thrill to the
Finish Line
In the women’s race, a thrilling
duel unfolded especially
over the final kilometers.
The skaters bided their time,
watching every move of
their rivals, waiting for the
decisive moment. “The real
action began in the last five
kilometers,” reported Noraly
Berber Vonk at the finish.
No one managed to break
away, the pack stayed tightly
together – until the magical
moment at the Brandenburg
Gate. On the home
straight, Aubane Plouhinec
found herself in the perfect
position and pulled ahead
of Noraly Berber Vonk and
Laura Perdomo of Colombia.
“Last year I was 35th, today
it’s the greatest success of
my career! I’ll definitely be
back next year,” the winner
exclaimed in disbelief at her
triumph.
THE TOP 3
WOMEN
1. Aubane Plouhinec FRA SPSPSK Rollerblade 76:06
2. Noraly Berber Vonk NED SPSPSK Rollerblade 76:06
3. Laura Perdomo COL UltimaVPBearings 76:07

Aubane Plouhinec (center)
celebrated the greatest
success of her career.

Over 2,000 skaters as well
as numerous children in the
KidsSkating event celebrated
under brilliant sunshine
on the streets of Berlin.
The crowd cheered and applauded
– an electrifying
experience. The passage
through the Brandenburg
Gate was the emotional
highlight, perfectly showcasing
the speed and elegance
of inline skating in Berlin.
At the same time, the race
marked the finale of the GER-
MAN INLINE CUP and the
WORLD INLINE CUP. The
overall winners were crowned
and celebrated at the after-race
party at Kosmos.

rollerblade.com
born in 1980
Who said you have to run, to run a marathon?
See you at BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inlineskating

Record
Race

Just before the more
than 50,000 runners, the
wheelchair athletes and
handbikers took to the
course, once again showcasing
high speed on
Berlin’s streets. France’s
Joseph Fritsch became the
first handbiker to break
the one-hour barrier – and
by a clear margin.

– 198 –
Joseph Fritsch had
every reason to smile:
the Frenchman not
only won the race but
also shattered the
world record.

Among the handbikers,
it was an extremely
fast race, won by France’s
Joseph Fritsch in 57:53.
This incredible time not
only set a new course record
but also a new world
record (the previous world
record was still over one
hour, meaning a true time
barrier was broken). He
was followed by Daniel Ulmann
(GER) in 59:16 and
Michael Jörgensen (DEN) in
1:04:05.
In the women’s race, Annika
Zeyen-Giles (GER) took
the win in 1:10:38 ahead
of Katrin Möller (GER) in
1:12:14 and Anne Vosgerau
(GER), also in 1:12:14.
Annika Zeyen-Giles built up
a lead of around one and a half
minutes on her way to victory.

He remains the dominator
in Berlin: Marcel
Hug claimed victory in
the German capital for
the tenth time.
In the wheelchair racing
competition, the men’s victory
went to Marcel Hug
in 1:21:46. For the Swiss
athlete, it marked a milestone:
for the tenth time, he
was the fastest wheelchair
racer at the BMW BERLIN-
MARATHON. He was followed
by David Weir (GBR)
in 1:27:55 and Jetze Plat
(NED) in 1:28:49.
In the women’s wheelchair
race, Manuela Schär (SUI)
claimed victory in 1:35:08,
ahead of Jade Hall (GBR) in
1:40:18 and Eden Rainbow
Cooper (GBR) in 1:40:19.
– 200 –

No one could
threaten her: Manuela
Schär won
with a commanding
lead.

© Josua Piorr
Ein Motor
Being there for each other when it counts
Lisa Wölken had originally planned to set a new personal best in Berlin after her
baby break. But things turned out very differently. And although the young mother
from Berlin came close to giving up several times, she knows today: this race was
still beautiful. Because it showed her and her husband something essential – how
important it is to be there for one another.

More than 48,000 runners crossed the finish
line at the 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
2025 despite the high temperatures. And each
of them with their own running story. We introduce
four of them. We start with Lisa Wölken,
who may not have achieved the personal best
she had hoped for, but instead experienced
something far more important.
Who’s that
running?
Texts: Tom Rottenberg
No, things didn’t go quite
as smoothly as the
“Berlin Bagels” had hoped
and trained for on Sunday.
Lisa Wölken, her husband
Thies, and their running-enthusiast
circle of friends—
who have been stirring up
the Berlin running scene
under this name for several
years—had big plans for the
capital’s marathon. They had
trained hard, prepared well,
and done everything right.
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Hand in hand to the finish: Lisa
and her husband Thies battled
through the marathon together.
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But sometimes things turn
out differently: “Practically
overnight,” sighed the Berlin-based
food technologist,
“the temperature jumped
by ten degrees compared
to our training runs.” The
night before the marathon
was sleepless, and the daycare
adaptation phase of a
toddler, as they were experiencing
with their own
child, is often a challenge
for the whole family. The
combination of all this can
quickly shatter young parents’
plans for new personal
bests.
A Happy End
Despite Failed Plans
Before the story takes a negative
turn, here’s the twist:
although almost none of the
ambitious plans of the “Berlin
Bagels” founder worked
out, there were more than
a few “happy endings.”
Yes, Lisa and Thies (and
their running and cheering
friends) suffered and struggled.
“But even though we
were close to quitting over
and over again, we pushed
each other across the finish
line—literally.”
And the next day, Lisa was
radiant and jubilant in conversation,
almost as if she
had won the race. Why?
Because, as she explained,
this BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON developed an “almost
unbelievable dynamic
and quality” in hindsight. It
proved one thing: long-distance
running, a marathon,
is a beautiful metaphor. A
metaphor for life itself. “This
race showed me: together
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we can do anything. What
greater achievement could
there be than to experience
and feel that? That’s a true
best performance—one far
more important than any
ranking or finishing time.”
The Real Goal:
Sub-3:25
But let’s rewind: on Sunday
morning, the Wölkens each
set off in different starting
blocks, aiming to beat their
marathon bests. He was
targeting sub-2:55, she
A smile – even when it’s
tough. Because every marathon
is something special.
© Hanniel Hu

sub-3:25 for her first marathon
after maternity leave.
Training, motivation, and
preparation had gone well.
Up to kilometer 15, their
splits looked promising.
But only until then. The heat
got to both of them, and they
alternated between stomach
and circulation issues.
“I couldn’t keep anything
down—no gels, nothing,”
Lisa later recalled. Dropping
out? At least in her mind, the
scientist had already thrown
in the towel. “At the halfmarathon
mark my parents
were waiting with our son in
the stroller. Secretly, I hoped
he would be fussy and not
want to let his mom go—
that would’ve been the perfect
excuse to stop.”
The Son Slept
Through It All
But the boy didn’t give her
that “excuse.” He slept peacefully.
He didn’t notice that
his dad was also waiting
there, having realized he
wouldn’t meet his own target
time and deciding instead
to support his wife.
Enjoyable? Hardly. Nothing
resembled the “flying, almost
weightless feeling”
Lisa remembered from her
first BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON in 2021, when she
was able to accelerate over
the final ten kilometers. This
time, there was no such
thing: “We had to keep walking.”
Giving up? They clung
to every bit of motivati-
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on: “Friends were waiting
all along the course—we
couldn’t disappoint them!”
Hugs gave energy. Encouragement.
“At one point, I
saw a Berlin Jubilee runner
in front of me. His shirt
read: ‘Finisher.’ That means:
if I want to join that club, it’s
not enough just to start, you
have to finish.”
The Jubilee Club—those
who have run the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON at
least ten times—is Lisa’s
declared goal.
Nothing Felt
Like Triumph
This year was supposed to
be the third marathon in her
hometown and favorite city.
Jubilee? Nothing felt like ce-

Shared joy is double joy: At the finish,
the couple celebrated with their running
friend Maurizio, who had crossed
the line just ahead of them.

lebration—until the Brandenburg
Gate came into
view. “On Unter den Linden,
I felt okay, but those last
200 meters were endless:
I was finished.” But she did
finish—after 3:45:34. And
then? “Maybe I even ended
up briefly in the medical
tent …,” she laughed the
next day. “It was horrible—
my circulation just needed
to recover.” Thies also felt
miserable until the evening.
What Really Counts
Anyone who has never suffered
through a marathon—
or any truly long race—like
they did may not understand
how this can still be a
positive and beautiful story.
But it is, for several reasons.
One is not giving up, finishing
something that suddenly
feels anything but
light and effortless.
More importantly: “Reaching
a goal together is
worth so much. It’s really
beautiful,” said Lisa Wölken.
“This marathon was
not meant to be run alone.
We tackled it as a team and
proved we’re stronger together.
It wasn’t about the
finishing time, but about
the time we spent side by
side—fighting, supporting,
and carrying each other beyond
our own limits.”
Or, to put it differently: this
marathon was a metaphor.
For what really counts.
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WHO‘S THAT RUNNING?
We introduce four of the more than 48,000 who
finished the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. Two of
them: Werner Stöcker and his grandson Keanu,
who ran their own private and very special - 212 race -
against each other.

The Legend
and
the Rookie
Werner and Keanu Stöcker raced each other at
the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON: Would 21-yearold
Keanu manage to cross the finish line an
hour ahead of his 85-year-old grandfather?
Two Crates of Beer – or
Just One? On Sunday
afternoon, as they strolled
along the Spree, the two
men couldn’t quite agree
on the stakes of their bet.
“One,” said the older. “Two,”
countered the younger with
mock indignation.
But really, it didn’t matter
whether Keanu Stöcker, the
younger of the two, would
owe his grandfather Werner
one or two crates of
beer in the coming days.
Because while grandfather
and grandson had indeed
competed against each ot-
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her, their bet was never really
about beer. The wager?
Keanu, 21, would start
the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON with the task of finishing
one hour ahead of his
85-year-old grandfather at
the Brandenburg Gate. In
the end, though, it was about
the joy of running.
Werner Stöcker Still
Runs Top Times
At first glance, the challenge
might have seemed like
an easy task, given the age
gap. But a closer look showed
it was anything but.
Not only because the 2025
BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON was Keanu’s debut
over the distance, but also
because Werner Stöcker is,
well, Werner Stöcker.
The time the 85-year-old
clocked in Berlin the previous
year commands respect
from runners decades
younger: 4:11:19. The
former plumber from Erndtebrück,
a small town of
7,000 in Siegen-Wittgenstein,
covered the 42 kilometers
in a performance
that was no fluke. Back in
2022, he had run 9 seconds
faster in Valencia.
And his grandson knew full
well that he hadn’t slowed
down since September
2024: in February 2025,
Werner completed a 50K
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85 years old and not the
least bit tired: Even as one
of the oldest in the field,
Werner Stöcker still delivers
top performances.

With such a fit grandfather
as Keanu Stöcker
has, you really have to
give it your all to beat
him – and the 21-year-old
managed just that with a
bold marathon debut.

in Kraichgau in 5:21:27—
shattering the previous
world record for his age
group by over an hour. Afterwards,
he simply shrugged:
“That wasn’t difficult.”
Werner Stöcker is a legend,
even if he doesn’t trumpet
his countless age-group records.
Knowing all this made the
grandfather-grandson
showdown in Berlin much
more exciting. And the bet
itself became secondary for
another reason: Keanu actually
lives with his grandparents.
Who brought
home the beer didn’t matter
much—but how the race
ended certainly did. Especially
on a hot September
21, 2025, when temperatures
started at 25°C and
kept rising. Most would expect
an 85-year-old to slow
down—or not start at all.
And no one would blame a
rookie for running his first
marathon cautiously.
Pull Back Because
of the Heat? Not
the Stöckers!
But that’s not the Stöcker
way. Neither Werner nor
Keanu considered giving
anything less than 100 percent.
Quite the opposite.
And although both finished
with more than respectable
times, afterwards they each
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- 218 -
agreed: “There was more in
us.”
Werner crossed the line in
4:32:33. “A beautiful race
with a fantastic atmosphere.
I started in block J, third
row, and was able to run
freely from the start,” he
beamed. Though for him,
running marathons at his
age is routine, “it’s still nice
when complete strangers
congratulate you and show
respect.” Still, he wasn’t fully
satisfied: “Over the last
10 kilometers, I had cramps
in my left foot—otherwise
4:20 would have been possible.”
But even then, Keanu would
have won the bet. He flew
across the finish line in

3:18:32. For a marathon
rookie, an outstanding time.
The 21-year-old HVAC
technician was delighted:
“An amazing race. Fantastic
course, incredible atmosphere—and
really fast.”
One or Two Crates of
Beer? Doesn’t Matter!
The answer to whether they
had bet one or two crates
of beer ultimately wasn’t
important. Next time, they
joked, they’d put it in writing.
And there will be a
next time, both promised.
And after that, they’ll toast
again—celebrating running,
and the joy it brings.
No matter how young or
old you are.

WHO‘S THAT RUNNING?
We introduce four of the more than 48,000 who finished the BMW BERLIN-
MARATHON. One of them: Maria Bendeck. The American had calculated
precisely how fast she needed to run in order to reach the Brandenburg Gate
just before the course closed.
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The Doctor
on Her Fifth
Majors Round
This year, American runner Maria Bendeck completed
the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON for the fifth
time. Partly because she loves running and this
capital city marathon. But also because she was
kicking off her fifth “Big Six” round here – and is already
looking forward to the day when it may even
be called the “Big Nine.”
At some point, about
two-thirds into the
race, Maria Bendeck glanced
briefly at her phone.
She saw that a dear
friend had sent her a message.
He was concerned:
he was tracking her via
the BMW BERLIN-MARA-
THON app. And although
the dot marked “MB” was
steadily moving along the
line on the map through
the German capital, he had
a question: “Are you on
track with the time limit?”
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At that point, Bendeck was
“absolutely sure” she was.
“I can do the math, and I had
done my homework,” said
the doctor. Still, at that moment,
she decided to pick
up the pace. “Even though I
knew I had a safety buffer.”
Her system works
once again
And she carried that buffer
across the finish line: On
September 21, 2025, the
doctor from Naples, Florida,
crossed as the 47,946th finisher
at exactly 4:57 p.m.
She had been on the course
for 7:03:43 hours. The buf-
Run for two minutes, then walk
briskly for one – with this system,
Maria Bendeck has already finished
numerous marathons.
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fer she refers to is the remaining
time until the “cutoff”
– the official closing
time. The very last runner
in the classification finished
this year at 5:28 p.m. as the
48,028th: 82 places behind
Maria Bendeck. That’s the
“buffer” she means. And
she beams about it. Because
her plan, her system,
worked. Once again.
Her “system”? “I run for two
minutes and then walk briskly
for one. That has always
worked well for me and has
gotten me through every
race,” she explains, while
emphasizing in the same
breath that she sticks to
the etiquette, the unwritten
rules. That means raising a
hand before switching from
running to walking – “so no
one crashes into me” – or
staying far to the right while
walking. “The organizers
always remind us of this.
But hardly anyone listens. I
do.”
The experience
matters more than
the performance
The doctor, also a journalist
(she writes and comments
for regional U.S. media
and stations on health,
as well as on running and
charity events) and online
running empowerment activist
(@running_with_the_
butterflies and @fabulous_
friends_fellowship), knows
she is not fast. That was
never her goal. Since Maria
ran her first marathon distance
in New York’s Central
Park in 2012 (after the “official”
marathon was can-
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celed due to a hurricane,
tens of thousands ran the
42.195 km “unofficially” in
the park), she has lived and
loved the “marathon feeling.”
For that, she has been traveling
the world for years:
“You meet people from all
over the globe who share
the same dream. And at
many races you can also
raise money for good causes
or spread awareness of
important issues.”
And have fun along the way.
Experiencing and enjoying
the world’s most beautiful
cities by running. And not
just once. Maria Bendeck
is the best example: “This
was my fifth BMW BER-
LIN-MARATHON. It was
wonderful, like every time:
I love Berlin. The city, the
atmosphere on the course,
the people here.”
Countless dream runs
And, almost in passing,
Sunday’s race was also
the first run on Maria Bendeck’s
fifth Majors round.
Yes, you read that correctly:
the internist from Florida
has already completed the
legendary “Big Six” – Berlin,
Boston, Chicago, London,
New York, and Tokyo
– four times. And she has
also ticked off numerous
other dream races such as
the Paris and Rome Marathons:
by now, more than
30 long-distance races in
total.
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Sydney is an experience
– and exhausting!
A few weeks before Berlin,
however, she treated herself
to a very special run, a
“first” for her: “I ran in Sydney.
Beautiful, but really
tough: it’s constantly uphill
and downhill there.” And
perhaps, she admits, the recovery
time between hilly
Australia and flat Germany
was a little too short. Her
fifth Berlin race definitely
felt more intense than her
previous ones here: “It was
also hot, really hot. And I
say that as someone who
lives and runs in Florida
The Brandenburg Gate, the blue
line, the finisher’s medal – this trio
makes Maria Bendeck happy.
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…” Normally, she adds, she
runs at home in long pants
and long-sleeved shirts.
“This time I was really glad
to be in short gear. I did not
expect these temperatures
here.”
“Big Nine’?
Absolutely!”
But back to Sydney – and
thus to the global marathon
collecting: with Sydney, the
“Big Six” became the “Big
Seven.” That doesn’t make
the running harder, but it
does make the traveling
more demanding, says the
four-time Majors finisher.
Especially since it is no secret
that things may go even
further soon: “Cape Town is
likely to be officially announced
as the eighth location
in October. And someday,
Shanghai will probably join
too: that would make the
‘Big Nine.’” Will she be there
for all of them? “If my health
and my professional schedule
allow it: absolutely.”
Still, Bendeck emphasizes,
Berlin will always hold
a special place for her: “In
2021, Berlin was the first
major marathon after the
pandemic. Not only, but
also for that reason, this
city and this race are something
very special to me:
Berlin is a symbol, a sign of
our determination to stick
together. To rise again and
again. To not let ourselves
be beaten down. To believe
in ourselves, in people, in
the good – and to keep on
running.”
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THANKS FOR BEING PART OF IT!
See you in Berlin!