2026: Review

FINISHER

MAGAZINE

The event in pictures

WEEKEND OF

RECORDS

The Half Marathon of Records

The 45th GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON was a race of records.

Amanal Petros improved the German record in an incredible

race, finishing in 59:22 minutes. The by far largest and most spectacular

German half marathon was completed by a total of 37,355

athletes—more than ever before. Among them, a record 44.9 percent

were women. In this digital magazine, you’ll find on 222 pages

the most beautiful photos, plenty of stories from both elite and recreational

runners, and everything that was interesting about your

run. We congratulate all finishers and wish you lots of fun reading

and enjoying the pictures.

Your editorial team at SCC EVENTS

CONTENTS

6

BEST GERMAN

Esther Pfeiffer on her race

In the two weeks leading up to the race, Esther

Pfeiffer had cold-related issues and therefore

didn’t know what level of performance to expect.

But then, as the best German, she put on a remarkable

race, finishing fifth with a personal best.

76

THE REVIEW

More and more women

With over 45,000 participants, the GENERALI

BERLIN HALF MARATHON was the biggest

running festival ever held at a half marathon in

Germany. 45 percent of the participants were

women – more than ever before!

90

FACTS & FIGURES

Celebrities, bananas & more

TV host Kai Pflaume crossed the finish line together

with former pro Ingalena Schomburg-Heuck

in 1:34:50, and 33,000 organic bananas were

handed out. Lots of numbers and facts from the

45th GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON.

100

THE ELITE RACES

Comeback to the record

While Andrea Kiptoo and Likina Amebaw

won the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARA-

THON, Amanal Petros launched an incredible

comeback, finishing third with a new German

record.

ALSO

14 – Photos: The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON in all its beauty

122 – Inclusion: How equal participation is practiced at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON

170 – More Events: Can’t get enough? Even more great running events

These topics and many more await you on 222 pages.

All information is up to date as of the editorial deadline on April 3, 2026.

VISITING FRIENDS

From all over the world to Berlin

Runners from 134 nations came to Berlin to

take part in the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MA-

RATHON. And each of them wrote their very

own story. Here you can read about what they

experienced on the course.

134

INLINE RACES

Ahead of the Rest

The Frenchman Ewan Fernandez pulled away from

the rest of the field early in the race and celebrated

a commanding victory. Among the women, Colombian

Keily Delgado prevailed in the final sprint.

That’s how the races on wheels unfolded.

186

WHO‘S THAT RUNNING?

Pure emotions

In the event magazine, we introduced some

of the runners who took part in the GENE-

RALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. Here you

can read about how the races went for

them.

196

IMPRINT

Finisher Magazin GENERALI BERLIN HALf MARATHON

Publisher

SCC EVENTS GmbH

Responsible for content

Christian Jost, Jürgen Lock

Production

DLM RunMedia GmbH, Köln

Editorial Team

Vincent Dornbusch, Gerte Buchheit,

Christian Ermert, Anja Herrlitz,

Jörg Wenig

Photos

Petko Beier, Vincent Dornbusch,

Marvin Ibo Güngör, Steffen Hartz,

Laura Schaeffer, die sportografen,

Sebastian Wells (OSTKREUZ),

Thomas Wendt,

Tilo Wiedensohler (camera4),

Kai Wiechmann, Jean-Marc Wiesner,

Norbert Wilhelmi

ESTHER PFEIFFER

MY GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON 2026

At the 45th GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARA-

THON, Esther Pfeiffer celebrated the greatest

success of her career as the fastest

German (and European). Finishing in an excellent

fifth place, she set a personal best

of 67:25 minutes. The Düsseldorf Athletics

runner is just as thrilled about this achievement

as she is about her husband Hendrik’s

“I Love Races

Like This”

performance, who missed his personal best

by only five seconds with a time of 61:33 at

the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON.

Here, Esther Pfeiffer shares how they both

managed this despite dealing with colds

beforehand—and looks ahead to the marathon

season this autumn, when she will run

her first professionally prepared marathon.

ESTHER PFEIFFER

MY GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON 2026

I

’m absolutely thrilled

about the new personal

best, even though I was

only three seconds faster

than in Cologne last autumn.

I just love these races

in the big cities: Berlin,

Cologne, and of course

my hometown Düsseldorf.

But being not only the fastest

German but also the

fastest European at the

GENERALI BERLIN HALF

MARATHON is something

really special. After all, this

race is one of the biggest

21.0975-kilometer events

worldwide.

For us German runners,

it felt like a home game.

The weather mostly cooperated,

except that it

got really windy toward

the end. You could feel it

in the pace. I was on track

for around 67 minutes for a

long time, but on the long,

wide stretches from kilometer

17 along Karl-Marx-

Allee and especially Unter

den Linden between Berlin

Cathedral and the Brandenburg

Gate, the wind

really hit you in the face. I

lost a little time there, and

after that, I just focused

on holding on to my personal

best and keeping the

European half marathon

champion in check. Chloé

Herbiet from Belgium was

right on my heels. All in all,

Hendrik and I are very happy—especially

considering

what we went through on

the way to Berlin.

- 8 -

“All in

all, we’re

very

happy.”

Esther Pfeiffer on her

race—and on her husband

Hendrik’s, with whom she

had overcome cold-related

issues in the weeks beforehand.

When we stood at the

start, it was very uncertain

how things would go for us

because we had dealt with

colds in the two weeks leading

up to Berlin. It was a

real up-and-down. I didn’t

even know what I was capable

of anymore. And

then suddenly you start

questioning everything.

Mentally, it was a huge

challenge, even though the

training beforehand had

gone really well.

“The German title

did me good”

Starting at the German

Half Marathon Championships

in Frankfurt was really

good for me in that situation.

As the defending

champion, I wanted to become

German champion

for the third time in a row.

Before the race in Frankfurt,

I knew I didn’t have to

give 100 percent to win. I

used that cushion to know

that I could still perform

despite the health issues.

“Training as hard as

a half marathon”

Nowadays it’s not uncommon

to run two half marathons

with only one week

in between. We train so

hard that some sessions

are already close to half

marathon race intensity.

For example, in some of my

interval sessions, I maintain

a projected half marathon

pace of 1:09 hours for

18 kilometers. You simply

have to reach this level if

you want to compete at the

top in road running—and

- 10 -

“I didn’t even know what I

was capable of anymore.”

Esther Pfeiffer on her state of mind just

before the start of the 45th GENERALI

BERLIN HALF MARATHON.

- 11 -

that’s definitely my goal.

While Hendrik will race in

Boston in April, I’m already

preparing for my first properly

planned marathon in

the autumn.

“I like to

start risky”

I don’t yet know exactly

whether that will be the

BMW BERLIN-MARATHON

on September 27. I plan my

races based on my cycle,

because there are simply

days in the month when I’m

not as strong. I ran 42.195

kilometers once before in

2023, winning in Cologne

in 2:37:00. But that was my

first full season as a road

runner, and I hadn’t specifically

prepared for that

race—I just wanted to get a

taste of the marathon. Before

that, I had specialized

in shorter track distances

from 800 to 1,500 meters.

For my next marathon, I

will approach it in a completely

different condition

with professional preparation.

And if I develop as planned

by autumn and my form is

right, I would start the marathon

aggressively—just

like I did the GENERALI


With 67:25 in my legs, I can

safely run the first 21.1 kilometers

of the marathon

in around 70 minutes or

slightly faster. And what

that could lead to is easy

to calculate…

- 14 -

With a visit to the HALFMARATHON EXPO,

the weekend of the GENERALI BERLIN HALF

MARATHON begins for most participants.

First, you look for your own name on the Wall

of Fame. With more than 42,000 registered

runners, of course, that takes a while…

- 15 -

Together with the races in Copenhagen,

Lisbon, Cardiff, Valencia, and Prague,

the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON

forms the SuperHalfs series. Anyone

who finishes all six receives a special

medal. The race in Prague took place on

the Saturday before the one in Berlin.

More than a hundred runners competed

in Prague on Saturday this year and then

traveled to Berlin to be back at the

starting line the next morning for

21.0975 kilometers.

Picking up your race bib at the former Tempelhof

Airport is almost as exciting as crossing the finish

line at the Brandenburg Gate. But only almost…

Some participants already had

a sporting highlight even before

the half marathon. How long can

you hold a giant glass filled with

non-alcoholic wheat beer with your

arms fully extended? To win a free

race entry, you had to manage it for

at least a few minutes.

For the kids in the Bambini races, the return of

the HALFMARATHON EXPO to the former Tempelhof

Airport was a stroke of luck. Where else

can the youngest participants run their very first

race on a former runway for jets?

A successful premiere: At the first

Garmin BERLIN MILE between Berlin

Cathedral and the Brandenburg Gate,

more than 3,000 participants took part

and created a fantastic atmosphere as

early as Saturday afternoon.

A run for the whole family—that was

also what the Garmin BERLIN MILE

over 1,609 meters was meant to be.

And it delivered right from the start.

And on Sunday morning, mascot Fridolin Flink welcomed the rising

sun and around 40,000 participants in the starting area between

the Bundestag and Straße des 17. Juni.

Traditionally, the first to take to the course at the GENERALI

BERLIN HALF MARATHON are the inline skaters.

With the buzzer, Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai

Wegner sent the first wave of runners on their

way through the city—also a symbol of how

important the GENERALI BERLIN HALF

MARATHON is for the German capital.

A lot of traffic on Straße des 17. Juni—

but completely free of exhaust fumes

and honking. This is actually how we like

the Tiergarten best. Thanks to all

drivers for their understanding amid

the many road closures for the 45th

GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON.

Just past the Brandenburg

Gate, the chicken is plucked—

but some inline skaters try to

squeeze out the last few tenths

of a second.

Elite runners like Amanal Petros don’t have time to

notice the many sights—every second counts for

them. Later, it was a completely different story,

as thousands passed the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial

Church, enjoying Berlin in all its beauty.

In the first few meters at the

Victory Column, runners still

like to strike an extra pose for

the photographers. Energy loss?

Doesn’t matter—there are just

over 20 kilometers left to the finish.

Driving the

runners forward

with joy and

rhythm—the

many music

acts along the

course contribute

greatly to the

unique atmosphere

of the

GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON.

Grateful to be able to experience this:

a participant on Karl-Marx-Allee,

where runners passed each other and

shared many emotional moments.

A bride at the

side of the

course. That’s

Berlin, too.

Who needs a drinking cup?

In front of the backdrop of

Gendarmenmarkt, a runner

fills her soft flask.

A motorsport crew

at the side of the

running course? No,

it’s the Kraft Runners,

who in their costumes

provide yet another

proof that Berlin is the

Formula 1 of running.

Heading toward the finish line

in matching shirts. Our guess:

the half marathon as a fatherdaughter

experience. We can’t

confirm it, but their joy in running

is unmistakable.

If you want your cheering sign

to stand out, you have to do two

things: write a good slogan on it—

and hold it up (very) high.

Feelings of joy as you turn onto

the home stretch: from Berlin

Cathedral, it’s less than two

kilometers to the finish at the

Brandenburg Gate.

Rule number one: If kids are

standing at the side of the

course with their hands out,

you high-five them. Always.

Epic: the final meters between the

Brandenburg Gate and the finish line.

This is what pure running happiness

looks like for those who can still smile

completely relaxed after 21.0975

kilometers.

Only fools run a half marathon at an advanced age? Nonsense. It’s

just a costume. At the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON, 22 participants

over 80 years old crossed the finish line. There’s still time

for “court jester” Antonangelo from Italy—he ran in the M65 category

and finished at the Brandenburg Gate in 2:09:26. Impressive. But

even more impressive: the fastest runner over 80 crossed the finish

line in just 1:50:36—Klaus Ernst from the Lupus-Team Zehdenick.

Some people enjoy the half

marathon through Berlin so

much that they can’t stop

running even after crossing

the finish line.

A group of men experiencing half

marathon bliss in front of the

Reichstag building.

Two work, one relaxes. This is the

massage service from SCC EVENTS

at the finish of the GENERALI


Beautiful medals make finishers

happy. On the lawn in front of the

Bundestag, this was captured

thousands of times.

And then: party time! In Berlin, half marathon

Sunday usually transitions into Medal Monday,

when the half marathoners celebrate themselves

and the winners in the Festsaal Kreuzberg.

Amanal Petros, Andrea Kiptoo, Likina

Amebaw, and Esther Pfeiffer (from right) set

the rhythm together with host Karsten Holland.

AN OVERVIEW

Finisher Joy

Goes Female

45 percent of the finishers

at the Brandenburg Gate

were women. That number

is set to rise. At least 50

percent is the goal.

AN OVERVIEW

The 45th GENERALI

BERLIN HALF MARATHON

was the largest running

celebration ever held at

a half marathon in

Germany. In total, the

event got more than

45,000 people moving

and created a fantastic

atmosphere for hundreds

of thousands of spectators

along the course.

45 percent of the

finishers were women,

up from 39 percent in

2019. The race was won

by Andrea Kiptoo of

Kenya in 59:11 and

Likina Amebaw of

Ethiopia in 65:07. Amanal

Petros set a new German

record of 59:22. Esther

Pfeiffer was the top

German (and European)

finisher in 67:25.

Great atmosphere everywhere

you looked: on

Sunday, more than 37,000

participants celebrated a

running festival on Berlin’s

streets.

Arecord 42,563 people

from 134 nations registered

for the 45th edition of

the GENERALI BERLIN HALF

MARATHON, making it one

of the largest races worldwide

over the 21.0975-kilometer

distance. In addition,

3,259 participants signed

up for the inaugural Garmin

BERLIN MILE on Saturday

afternoon. The race covered

the final 1,609 meters of

the original half marathon

course, from Berlin Cathedral

to the Brandenburg

Gate. A total of 37,593 participants

ultimately started

across the half marathon

events (running, skating,

wheelchair, and handbike)

as well as the children’s

races on Saturday, with

37,355 reaching the finish

line—an increase of nearly

five percent compared to

2025.

Particularly encouraging:

more women started and

finished than ever before.

Women accounted for 45

percent of finishers. The

upward trend is also clear

in registrations: in 2025,

the share was 43 percent,

and in 2019 just 39 percent.

Young women in

the majority

One striking aspect is the

younger generation. In age

groups under 30, women

now dominate registrations.

Among those aged 25

to 30, women accounted

for 54 percent in 2026, and

among 18- to 25-year-olds,

an impressive 60 percent.

The organizers also recorded

a large number of

debuts: 28,015 people registered

for the GENERALI


- 84 -

Shared medal joy is

double medal joy.

for the first time. At the

same time, Berlin proved

to be a strong host city,

with 14,349 registrations

coming from the capital itself.

Half marathon as a

community of values

Equal opportunity, performance,

fairness, team

spirit, as well as sustainability,

integration, and

inclusion—these are the

values represented by the


MARATHON, and they also

resonate with its partners.

“We are very proud to have

been part of this special

event as title partner for

eight years. For us, sport is

far more than movement—

it connects people, creates

community, and stands for

equal opportunity. Together

with SCC EVENTS, we

share these values,” said

Tina Mirzai-Spitzer, Head

of Corporate Communications

at Generali Deutschland.

“Especially in challenging

times, sport shows

its power to bring people

together.”

Long-standing partnerships

with the Berlin police,

the Berlin fire brigade, and

Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe ensured

a smooth event and

a comprehensive safety

and medical concept. This

included not only course

coverage but also consideration

of the city’s broader

needs—for example, dedicated

fire brigade stations

were set up within

the course so emergency

vehicles would not have to

cross the route if needed.

Fortunately, this was not

necessary, and attention

focused on the elite field—

- 86 -

To ensure that over 37,000 people can celebrate their finish at the Brandenburg

Gate, close cooperation between the organizers, the city, police,

fire brigade, and emergency services is essential. Accordingly, Berlin’s

Governing Mayor Kai Wegener personally welcomed the police cycling

relay at the start line of the 45th GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON.

the strongest ever assembled

for a Berlin half marathon.

The race was won by

Andrea Kiptoo of Kenya in

59:11 and Likina Amebaw

of Ethiopia in 65:07. In cold

but sunny conditions, Amanal

Petros narrowly missed

both the first German

victory since 1993 and the

European record, but still

delivered an outstanding

performance: finishing

third in 59:22, he improved

his own German record.

In the women’s race, Esther

Pfeiffer celebrated the

greatest success of her career

as the fastest German

(and European). Finishing

- 88 -

A first at the anniversary event: on the Saturday

before the 45th half marathon, the inaugural

Garmin BERLIN MILE was held against the

backdrop of Berlin Cathedral, the TV Tower,

and the reconstructed City Palace. A success:

over 3,000 participants ran the final 1,609

meters of the original half marathon course

to the Brandenburg Gate.

in an excellent fifth place,

she set a personal best and

the fastest German time of

the year with 67:25.

The 2026 GENERALI BER-

LIN HALF MARATHON was

also an anniversary race. It

was first held in 1981—45

years ago. Back then, just

under 1,000 runners took

part in East Berlin, the capital

of the GDR. In 1985, the

number reportedly rose to

70,000, and in 1987, during

Berlin’s 750th anniversary

celebrations, even 100,000

are said to have participated—though

eyewitnesses

consider these figures to

be GDR propaganda.

- 89 -

This year’s anniversary,

with more than 45,000

confirmed participants,

featured a novelty: on the

Saturday before the half

marathon, runners could

experience the feeling of

crossing the finish line without

completing the full

21.0975 kilometers. The

Garmin BERLIN MILE followed

the original course for

the final mile—1,609 meters

from Berlin Cathedral

along Unter den Linden,

through the Brandenburg

Gate, and into the finish.

Among the 3,259 participants

were some very

fast runners—winner Andrei

Dmitriev completed

the distance in 4:33. Most,

however, simply enjoyed

running along the historic

mile, passing iconic landmarks

between Museum

Island, the Brandenburg

Gate, and the Tiergarten.

One participant combined

both worlds: Tobias Singer,

former manager of the Marathon

Team Berlin at SCC

EVENTS and a 2:20 marathon

runner, first finished

- 90 -

Highly praised by all runners: Berlin

fans created a lively atmosphere

along the entire course.

fourth in 4:49 before waiting

for his parents, whom

he had encouraged to take

part. His 61-year-old mother

Myriam and 60-yearold

father Thorsten are not

regular runners. Thorsten

once ran a half marathon

in 1:45 but has since switched

to cycling due to pain

while running.

For Myriam, the Garmin

BERLIN MILE was her race

debut. Tobias waited at

- 91 -

the finish line until both

reached the Brandenburg

Gate. She completed the

course well despite little

preparation. “Even without

prior training, it was great,”

she said. “The spectators

really motivated us. Maybe

I’ll start running more often

now.”

Could there be a better

confirmation of what Jürgen

Lock, CEO of SCC

EVENTS, had said before

the Garmin BERLIN MILE?

“It’s perfect for beginners

who want to celebrate

their first personal achievements

over 1,609 meters.

Former 2:20 marathon

runner Tobias Singer

took part in the Garmin

BERLIN MILE together

with his mom Myriam

and dad Thorsten.

- 92 -

FACTS & FIGURES

44.9

percent was the proportion of

women at the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON 2026. That is

1.1 percentage points more than

in 2025 and about six percentage

points more than in 2019.

45,000

packets of

MAURTEN GEL

100 energy gel

were distributed

along the

course.

Strong Run by

Kai Pflaume

Kai Pflaume delivered a more

than respectable performance.

The popular TV host (“Klein

gegen Groß,” “Wer weiß denn

sowas?”) crossed the finish

line at the Brandenburg Gate

in 1:34:50. “I feel great. I think

I really gave it my all. The goal

was under 1:36, so I more than

achieved that. Thanks also go

to my pacemaker,” Pflaume explained.

His pacemaker was Ingalena

Schömburg-Heuck. The

former elite runner now offers

running coaching and nutrition

advice, and as “leni_runner,”

she has 266,000 followers on

Instagram.

- 90 -

Fitness Queen Imke

Salander Runs 1:19

As a teenager, Imke Salander

was a talented track and field

athlete, running 800 meters

in 2:12 after her father—a nearly

eight-meter long jumper

and national team 400-meter

hurdler in the 1970s—took her

to training. Today, the 33-yearold

is one of Germany’s fittest

influencers. 250,000 people

follow her on Instagram as she

wins Hyrox competitions—and

ran the 45th GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON in 1:19:27.

“Absolutely amazing!” she cheered

afterward. “It was so much

fun. The crowd was screaming

the whole way. People in Berlin

are just so open and supportive.

You can only understand it if

you experience it yourself.”

37,355

people completed the 21.0975 kilometers at the 45th GENERALI

BERLIN HALF MARATHON, either running, on inline skates, in

wheelchairs, or on handbikes. This also includes children who

participated in the Bambini runs and Kids Skating at the former

Tempelhof Airport. For the youngest participants, crossing the

finish line at the Brandenburg Gate is just as much of an experience

as it is for the adults.

- 91 -

WIEDERVERWENDUNG V

KLEIDUNG

10.147 kg abgelegte Kleidung

fast 1.000 Laufschuhe wurden

gesammelt und für den guten Z

weiterverwendet.

250,000

NACHHALTIGES CATERIN

An den Versorgungspunkten w

PET-Becher aus recyceltem Ma

verwendet.

drinking cups made from recycled PET were

needed to provide participants with water. Most

of the cups were able to be returned to the recycling

process after participants placed them in

the designated collection containers.

SAMMLUNG VON

PFANDFLASCHEN

Rückgelassene Pfandflaschen

gesammelt und die Einnahmen

wohltätige Zwecke verwendet.

- 92 -

- 93 -

60cubic

meters of clothing were

dropped off before the start.

That corresponds to the capacity

of six construction waste

containers. Many did it right in

the cold temperatures: going to

the starting line in warm clothing

they no longer needed, then

throwing it into the provided

boxes just before the race started

to make it available to the

Berlin City Mission. They check

whether the clothing is suitable

to be passed on to those in need.

Everything deemed suitable is

cleaned and distributed.

Two generations,

one love of running

At the finish of the 45th GENERA-

LI BERLIN HALF MARATHON, two

runners met: 45-year-old Sabrina

Mockenhaupt, with a half marathon

personal best of 1:08:45 set in

Berlin in 2009, a multiple-time German

champion, and a marathon

PB of 2:26:11. And 26-year-old

Maike Lea Nitsch, with a marathon

PB of 2:48:11. In Berlin, they ran at

a similar pace: Maike finished at

the Brandenburg Gate in 1:19:06,

while “Mocki” took 1:20:56. On Instagram,

however, Mocki has the

edge, with 200,000 followers, while

Maike, as @princessmaikelea, has

just under 150,000.

THE TOP

10 NATIONS*

Germany 55.2 %

United Kingdom 9.3 %

Denmark 4.8 %

Italy 2.7 %

Netherlands 2.3 %

Poland 2.2 %

France 1.8 %

Norway 1.5 %

1

runner at the 45th GENERALI BER-

LIN HALF MARATHON 2026 shared

the same first name as the mascot

Fridolin Flink. He crossed the finish *)

line in 13,212th place with a time of

1:59:08 hours.

Ireland 1.4 %

Portugal 1.2 %

Share as a percentage of

the total registration of 42,563

participants from 134 nations.

33,000

organic bananas were provided

for the participants. 3,000 remained

and were donated directly

to the Berliner Tafel for people in

need immediately after Race Day.

193.368

safety pins were

provided for

the registered

participants so

they could easily

attach their bib

numbers to their

running shirts.

2,700

0

To save paper, the event program

was available exclusively in digital

form. It was a success: the

event magazine was accessed

over two million times.

The 2,700 volunteers play a huge role in making it possible for more

than 45,000 people to enjoy running, inline skating, wheelchair racing,

or handbiking at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. And they

often find great joy in their volunteer work themselves, because they

know: without them, events like the 45th GENERALI BERLIN HALF

MARATHON simply couldn’t take place.

- 96 -

rrg-auto.de

KRAFT. DYNAMIK.

PERFEKTE TECHNIK.

WIR WISSEN, WIE MAN ÜBER JEDE DISTANZ DIE

BESTE PERFORMANCE HINLEGT. HERZLICHEN

GLÜCKWUNSCH ALLEN TEILNEHMENDEN!

NIEDERLASSUNG BERLIN

Fennpfuhl | Weissenseer Weg 32- 34 | 13055 Berlin

Pankow | Blankenburger Straße 85 -105 | 13156 Berlin

Tempelhof | Germaniastraße 145 -149 | 12099 Berlin

- 97 -

50

half marathons have

been completed by Ted

Metellus, Race Director

of the TCS New York

City Marathon. He

reached this milestone

at the GENERALI

BERLIN HALF MARA-

THON. Waiting at the

finish line was Jürgen

Lock. The CEO of SCC

EVENTS congratulated

his colleague from the

circle of the world’s

most prestigious marathons,

which also includes

the BMW BER-

LIN-MARATHON organized

by SCC EVENTS.

1,173

pairs of used running shoes were donated at the HALFMARATHON EXPO

to be given to people in need. That’s more than twice as many as in 2025,

when 443 pairs were collected. This year, all shoes were in such good condition

that the Berliner Stadtmission could gather and distribute them.

- 98 -

- 99 -

THE ELITE RACES

Chasing

the Record

The 45th GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON was won

by Andrea Kiptoo and Likina

Amebaw, but Amanal

Petros made his

mark on the race

with a new

German

record.

THE ELITE RACES

Texts: Jörg Wenig

Even though he missed

the European record

and the first German

victory at the GENERALI


since 1993, Amanal Petros

delivered an outstanding

performance in cold but

sunny conditions: he broke

his own German record

with 59:22 minutes, finishing

third. And he did this

even though, shortly after

the five-kilometer mark,

it almost seemed as if the

race was over for the German

marathon record-holder

and 2025 World Championship

qualifier. Within

seconds, he had lost contact

with the lead group

around favorite Michael

Temoi. After ten kilome-

ters, the 30-year-old was

still 18 seconds behind, but

he had already regained

his rhythm and managed

to keep the gap to the leaders

relatively steady before

launching a phenomenal

comeback that ended with

third place in German record

time. He was exactly

nine seconds faster than a

year ago in Berlin, when he

became the first German

to run the 21.0975 kilometers

in under an hour, corresponding

to an average

pace of under 2:50 minutes

per kilometer. In the

interview on the following

pages, he reveals how he

views the race and what

conclusions he draws for

the rest of the season.

- 102 -

Texte: Jörg Wenig

AMANAL PETROS IN INTERVIEW

“I Wanted

More at My

Home Race”

Congratulations, Amanal,

on another great race and

another major German record.

How do you feel, and

how was it in Berlin?

I’m really satisfied. The atmosphere

was amazing,

and the course, of course,

is very good. Berlin always

feels like a home race for

me. It’s always a great joy

to come here—I see many

friends and fans, and the

atmosphere is fantastic.

Of course, I had hoped for

even more. I wanted to try

to break the European record

because I had trained

really well in Kenya.

You can see that in you—

you look really fit with a

slim face.

Yes, that meant my glas-

- 104 -

About

Amanal Petros

Amanal Petros ran another

outstanding race at the GENE-

RALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON.

The 30-year-old, who competes

for Hannover 96, finished

third in the highly competitive

field and improved his own German

record by nine seconds to

59:22 minutes. This makes him

the fourth-fastest European

of all time over this distance.

It was already the third major

German record Amanal Petros

has broken within roughly

a year. In 2025, he became the

first—and still only—German to

break the one-hour barrier in

the half marathon at the GENE-

RALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON

(59:31), then ran 2:04:03 at the

Valencia Marathon in December.

In between, Amanal Petros

secured the silver medal in the

marathon at the World Championships

in Tokyo in a sensational

race.

- 105 -

AMANAL PETROS’

BEST RACES

SINCE 2023

2026

GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON

3RD PLACE | 59:22 | GERMAN RECORD

2025

VALENCIA MARATHON

2ND PLACE | 2:04:03 | GERMAN RECORD

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MARATHON TOKYO

2ND PLACE | 2:09:48 | SILVER MEDAL

LONDON MARATHON

8TH PLACE | 2:06:30


3RD PLACE | 59:31 | GERMAN RECORD

2024

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

HALF MARATHON ROME

3RD PLACE | 61:07 | BRONZE MEDAL

ADAC MARATHON HANNOVER

1ST PLACE | 2:06:05 | GERMAN CHAMPION

2023

BMW BERLIN-MARATHON

9TH PLACE | 2:04:48 | GERMAN RECORD

- 106 -

ses no longer fit properly,

so I had to take them off

during the race. Apparently,

I had lost enough weight

that they were too loose.

Everything could have

gone perfectly for you at

the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON if it had

been a bit warmer.

It was simply too cold for

me, so unfortunately I

couldn’t run even faster.

In the past two or three

months in Kenya, I trained

at around 20 degrees Celsius.

It’s not easy when you

come into the cold. I’m quite

sensitive and my muscles

struggle when it’s as

cold as it was on Sunday

morning.

Was that also why you fell

behind the lead group after

only a few kilometers?

Yes, and there was also

quite a bit of wind. That

made my body feel tense.

With so many athletes

up front, there were also

some issues in the first kilometers

with positioning

behind the pacemakers.

Due to the cool temperatures,

the first six kilometers

were difficult for me. I kept

the pace slower so that my

body could warm up. It was

good that I didn’t push forward—that

wouldn’t have

worked—but instead, with

the help of my pacemakers,

I found my own rhythm,

even though I fell behind

- 107 -

a little. Over the past two

years, I’ve learned to stay

calmer during races. Today,

I gradually closed the

gap and caught one runner

after another. It was definitely

a very exciting race.

You came directly from

your training camp in

Kenya to the GENERA-

LI BERLIN HALF MARA-

THON. Did you have time

for a quick trip home to

Bochum afterwards, at

least to check your mailbox?

No, the mail had to wait. I

flew back to Kenya on Monday

from Berlin to continue

preparing for the London

Marathon. But at least there

was the after-race party

in Berlin the evening after

the race.

Your next race will be the

London Marathon on April

26. What are your goals

there?

In London, I’m first hoping

for more favorable weather.

It’s the end of April, so

it can’t be as cold as in Berlin.

I want to challenge my

German record in London—I

always take it step by step.

The course isn’t as fast as

Berlin’s, but the race is of

course exceptionally competitive,

probably the strongest

marathon field of the

year. I also want to try to run

near the front in London.

- 108 -

How the Men’s

Race Unfolded

The Kenyan Kiptoo won

the 45th GENERALI


somewhat unexpectedly in

cold but sunny conditions,

setting a personal best of

59:11 minutes. An even bigger

surprise came from his

fellow countryman Dennis

Kipkemoi, who had started

as a pacemaker, stayed in

the race, and then crossed

the finish line simultaneously

just behind the

winner.

Andrea Kiptoo, a newcomer,

claimed victory after

an exciting race. The

24-year-old Kenyan was

running only his third race

outside Kenya. From the

start, Kiptoo stayed in the

lead group, which gradually

thinned out. At kilometer

15—reached in 41:55 minutes—two

other runners

were still at the front alongside

Kiptoo: his compatriot

Michael Temoi, the fastest

athlete on the start list with

a personal best of 58:00,

and Swiss 10,000-meter

European champion Dominic

Lobalu. Temoi soon

fell back and did not finish

the race. Kiptoo then pulled

ahead of Lobalu, but

unexpectedly Dennis Kipkemoi

closed in from behind.

The Kenyan had been

pacing for Amanal Petros

but felt strong enough to

- 110 -

Andrea Kiptoo won narrowly ahead of

Dennis Kipkemo, who had previously

provided valuable pacemaking for

Amanal Petros and then continued

to run all the way to the finish.

continue competing. Suddenly

he was fighting for

the win himself, yet, given

his role as a pacemaker, he

was so surprised that he

hesitated in the final sprint

and crossed the finish line

just behind Kiptoo at 59:11

minutes. “It was a close

race—I’m happy about the

victory and the time,” said

Andrea Kiptoo, who had

set his previous personal

best of 59:27 just a month

earlier with a second-place

finish in Naples.

Amanal Petros ran in the

lead group initially but fell

back after about five kilometers.

In the second half,

however, he made a sudden

comeback, moving up

from tenth to third place.

He improved the German

record to 59:22 minutes.

Other national records in

The German record-holder

Amanal Petros expressed his

thanks at the finish to Dennis

Kipkemoi. The Kenyan had played

a key role as a ‘pacemaker,’ supporting

the German when he struggled

at the start of the race. Afterwards,

Kipkemoi pulled ahead of Amanal

Petros, reached the front, and was

only beaten in the final sprint by the

winner, Andrea Kiptoo.

WINNER PORTRAIT

Andrea Kiptoo

Age: 24 years

Nationality: Kenya

Personal Best: 59:11 min

Having joined the elite field of

the GENERALI BERLIN HALF

MARATHON relatively late, Andrea

Kiptoo was not considered

one of the top favorites before

the start. The 24-year-old

Kenyan is still a newcomer to

international distance running.

Before his race in Berlin, Kiptoo

had only competed twice outside

Kenya. His international

career began last November

with a third-place finish at the

Boston Half Marathon, where he

ran 61:30 minutes. A significant

improvement came in February

in Naples, where he finished

second over the ‘half distance’

in 59:27. In Berlin, he celebrated

his biggest success to date, winning

the race and improving his

personal best to 59:11. “I tried to

break the course record (58:42

minutes), but it was a bit too cold

for such a fast time. Still, I’m very

happy with the win and my personal

best,” said Andrea Kiptoo,

who restored Kenyan dominance

in Berlin. Before Ethiopian Gemechu

Dida interrupted the streak

in 2025, a Kenyan had won the

men’s race eight times in a row.

Hendrik Pfeiffer, finishing 22nd in

61:33 minutes, missed his personal

best by only five seconds and was

the second-fastest German behind

Amanal Petros.

Sensationserfolg

in Tokio:

Amanal Petros

verpasste 2025

den Weltmeister-

Titel hauchdünn,

freute sich aber

über Marathon-

Silber.

- 114 -

the men’s race included

the French runner Etienne

Daguinos in fifth place

(59:27) and Celestine

Ndikumana from Burundi

in ninth (60:23). Hendrik

Pfeiffer (Düsseldorf Athletics)

was the second-fastest

German in 22nd place

with 61:33 minutes, marking

the second-best time

of his career and missing

his personal best by only

five seconds. Johannes

Motschmann (Marathon

Team Berlin) took third

among the Germans in

23rd place with 61:47 minutes,

giving him confidence

for a strong race at

the Hannover Marathon

on April 12. Nils Voigt (TV

Wattenscheid) finished

26th in 62:29 minutes.

THE TOP TEN

MEN OF 2026

1. Andrea Kiptoo KEN 59:11

2. Dennis Kipkemo KEN 59:11

3. Amanal Petros GER 59:22

4. Dominic Lobalu SUI 59:23

5. Etienne Daguinos FRA 59:27

6. Bereket Nega ETH 59:43

7. Robert Koech KEN 59:51

8. Bastien Augusto FRA 60:09

9. Celestine Ndikumana BDI 60:23

10. Said Mechaal ESP 60:24

Johannes Motschmann

finished 23rd in

61:47 minutes.

How the Women’s

Race Unfolded

In the women’s race, the

favorites prevailed. The

fastest runner on the start

list was also the first to

cross the finish line: Ethiopian

Likina Amebaw won in

65:07 minutes, recording

the third-fastest time ever

at the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON. Second

place went to Kenyan Veronica

Loleo in 65:21, followed

by her compatriot

Daisilah Jerono, who finished

in 65:35 at the Brandenburg

Gate. As the fastest

German and also the

fastest European, Esther

Pfeiffer (Düsseldorf Athletics)

claimed an excellent

fifth place with a personal

best of 67:25, which was

also the fastest German

time of the year. From the

start, the favorites controlled

the women’s race.

At the 10-kilometer mark,

Likina Amebaw, Veronica

Loleo, and Daisilah Jerono

had already opened

a 47-second gap on the

chasing pack with a split

of 31:02 minutes. The second

half of the race became

even faster, and Likina

Amebaw eventually pulled

away. The 28-year-old Ethiopian

celebrated the second

major victory of her

career, after winning the

- 116 -

With 65:07 minutes, winner Likina Amebaw

from Ethiopia ran the third-fastest time

ever recorded at the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON.

Copenhagen Half Marathon

in 2025. “It was very

strong competition, but I

was confident that I could

win,” said Amebaw, who finished

ahead of Kenyans

Veronica Loleo (65:21) and

Daisilah Jerono (65:35).

National records were set

in Berlin by Florence Niyonkuru

(Rwanda/67:22),

half-marathon European

champion Chloé Herbiet

(Belgium/67:32), and the

Spaniard Carla Gallardo

(68:30).

Esther Pfeiffer ran the biggest

race of her career in

Berlin. The 28-year-old

started alongside Eva Dieterich

(LAV Stadtwerke

Tübingen) and Domenika

Mayer (LG Telis Finanz Regensburg)

but gradually

pulled away. Her 10-kilometer

split of 31:50 even

suggested a finishing time

of 67:10. In the end, Pfeiffer

ran 67:25, three seconds

faster than her previous

best.

Eva Dieterich delivered

a strong performance

as well, improving from

68:26 to 67:56 to finish

seventh. Domenika Mayer

finished ninth in 68:35,

marking her second-fastest

time. A significant

personal best came from

3,000-meter steeplechase

specialist Gesa Krause

(Silvesterlauf Trier), who

placed 13th and improved

by 48 seconds to 68:59.

“In the summer, I will focus

fully on the hurdles again,”

said Krause. Lara Kiene

(LG Hamm) also achieved

a notable personal best,

- 118 -

WINNER PORTRAIT

Likina Amebaw

Age: 28 years

Nationality: Ethiopia

Personal Best: 64:44 min

Likina Amebaw impressively confirmed

her upward trend from the

past year at the GENERALI BER-

LIN HALF MARATHON. The 28-year-old

Ethiopian won the race

convincingly in a strong 65:07 minutes,

marking her second major

half-marathon victory after also

winning in Copenhagen last September

in 64:44 minutes.

Amebaw has been competing in

internationally high-level road races

for about a decade. However,

during the first half of her career,

she was unable to achieve internationally

significant times over

the half-marathon distance. It was

not until 2022 that she ran under

70 minutes for the first time, finishing

second in Warsaw with 69:01.

Last year, she broke through in

Copenhagen, and now she has

added her success in Berlin. This

performance gives her a solid

chance of being selected by the

Ethiopian Athletics Federation for

the Half Marathon World Championships

in September.

“I probably could have run a little

faster, but in the last part of the

race my pacemaker slowed down,”

said Likina Amebaw.

While Eva Dieterich ran a German

best time of 67:56 to finish seventh,

Domenika Mayer was satisfied with

68:35. Gesa Krause celebrated

Amanal Petros’ German record as

well as her own personal best of

68:59 minutes.

finishing 17th in 69:56.

Two runners from Marathon

Team Berlin followed

in 33rd and 43rd places:

Deborah Schöneborn ran

73:03, while her twin sister

Rabea finished in 75:06.

THE TOP TEN

WOMEN OF 2026

1. Likina Amebaw ETH 65:07

2. Daisilah Jerono KEN 65:21

3. Veronica Loleo KEN 65:35

4. Florence Niyonuru RWA 67:22

5. Esther Pfeiffer GER 67:25

6. Chloe Herbiet BEL 67:32

7. Eva Dietrich GER 67:56

8. Carla Gallardo ESP 68:30

9. Domenika Mayer GER 68:35

10. Elvanie Nimbona ITA 68:38

INCLUSION

Championship

Battles and

Feelings of Joy

Equal participation for everyone in

sports and at SCC EVENTS has been

a lived reality on the streets of Berlin

for many years. In 2026, this continues

with the inclusion run, organized in

cooperation with the Fürst Donnersmarck

Foundation and Special Olympics,

as well as with the German Half

Marathon Championships of the German

Disabled Sports Association and

the National Paralympic Committee.

INCLUSION

The most spectacular moment

was undoubtedly

the victory of just 15-year-old

Amos Ruben Donath in the

racing wheelchair category:

the teenager crossed the fi-

nish line in 56:24 minutes,

winning the German Para

Championships, which were

held in various classes as

part of the 45th GENERALI


- 124 -

In the runners’ events, no

fewer than four German

records were set over the

21.097-kilometer distance:

the deaf athlete Thomas

Eller from TSV Bayer 04

Leverkusen defended his

national title in the T48

class in 1:22:08, after having

won the previous year

in 1:23:48.

National records were also

achieved in three other

classes: Esther Hoolt (TV

Wattenscheid 01) set a record

in the women’s T48

with 2:02:54. In the T36

class, Yannick Schroeter

finished in 1:25:23, while

in the T64 class Hans-Jürgen

Westbrock (ASC Dillenburg)

set a national best of

1:54:33.

A large group of people

with disabilities joined the

half marathon in Berlin at

the point where the course,

coming from the Rotes Rathaus,

turns just before Museum

Island onto the long

finishing straight towards

Unter den Linden. Some in

wheelchairs, others running

or walking with rollators,

participants in the inclusion

run—together with

their assistants—had the

opportunity to experience

the atmosphere of the final

two-plus kilometers of Germany’s

largest half marathon

and to feel the joy that

running can bring.

With more than 90 participants,

the number had doubled

compared to 2025.

This was made possible

by Special Olympics Berlin

and the Fürst Donnersmarck

Foundation. On the

following pages, you will

find images and impressions

from the inclusive runs

through Berlin.

- 125 -

Between the TV Tower &

- 126 -

Brandenburg Gate

Highlights

from the

Inclusion Run

- 127 -

INCLUSION: HOW IT WENT

Fabian Neitzel ...

... won the silver medal

at the Para Rowing World

Championships in 2011 in

Bled, Slovenia. At the time,

Monika Tampe was his

coach. He met her again at

the finish line after completing

the race in 2:02:20.

“The first 10 kilometers, I went

out quite fast, then I slowed

down a bit and ran the rest in a

relaxed, easygoing way. When I

saw the Brandenburg Gate and

realized that the finish line was

just behind it, tears came to my

eyes. It was a wonderful feeling,

and I was proud of my performance.

I never thought I could

run a half marathon in just over

two hours. During a 23-kilometer

training run in preparation,

it once took me 2 hours

and 30 minutes. My father, who

had brought me to the starting

block, missed me at the finish

because I was so early. But I did

get to see my rowing coach Monika

Tampe, as well as my mother

and several other participants

of the inclusion run on the

lawn in front of the Reichstag. It

was truly a very beautiful day.

My next competitions are the

Special Olympics rowing meet

in Rome at the end of April and

the Special Olympics Germany

in Saarland in June. I will always

be happy to run in Berlin again.”

- 128 -

Patrick Raguse ...

... was told after a motorcycle

accident at the age

of 16 that he would require

lifelong care. Now, he has

finished the half marathon

in Berlin for the second

time.

“I really enjoyed running through

the streets of Berlin. I especially

paid attention to all the sights.

Starting with the Victory Column

shortly after the start, then at kilometer

seven the Charlottenburg

Palace, and after that, it kept going

like that. What an impressive

course! The amazing crowd

and the many cheering points

were fantastic. My fan club—four

friends—cheered me on at Potsdamer

Platz, which felt great. I

found it really funny when I met

two spectators holding a homemade

sign with a pack of tissues.

‘Keep up the pace!’ they kept shouting.

I stopped briefly, asked for a

tissue because my nose was running,

and just said: ‘Picking up the

pace.’ A spontaneous pun right in

the middle of the race. The crowd

laughed out loud. Unfortunately,

I missed my friends at the finish

line. I got cold quickly, so I headed

to the hotel. Long, hot shower and

relaxation in bed. I let the experience

sink in and was already looking

forward to the BMW BERLIN-MA-

RATHON in September.”

- 129 -

Matthias Hoffmann ...

... is a Special Olympics athlete who

was born with two sides of his body

having different levels of strength.

In 2025, he improved his time at the


to 1:22:24. This time, he took it easier

due to an injury.

“It was an amazing experience

to be part of the event in Berlin.

I felt no pressure and was able

to enjoy the atmosphere along

the course with every step. ‘Run

easy’ was my motto, because a

muscle fiber tear a few weeks ago

had put an end to my ambitions

of beating my personal best. In

return, running relaxed through

Berlin with the huge crowd and

the many bands along the route

was twice as much fun. Berlin

is incredible—I’m always happy

to come back. In June, I will

compete in the national Special

Olympics in Saarland over 1,500

and 10,000 meters. The preparation

for that starts now. Another

highlight will be the BMW BER-

LIN-MARATHON on September

26, covering double the distance

on Berlin’s fast streets. I’m

already looking forward to the

amazing atmosphere along the

course again.”

- 130 -

SCC EVENTS would like

to thank its official

sponsors and partners

for their kind support

Der Polizeipräsident in Berlin | Berliner Feuerwehr

Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH | Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG)

ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg | Bezirksamt Mitte von Berlin

Berliner Tiefbauämter: Mitte-Tiergarten, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf,

Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Kreuzberg-Friedrichshain

Renault Retail Group Deutschland GmbH Niederlassung Berlin

K-TEL Communications GmbH | Kloster Kitchen | WWF Deutschland

Feels.Like | Blistex | Sebamed

Senatsverwaltung für Inneres und Sport

Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt Abt. III — Geoinformation

Berliner Leichtathletik Verband e.V. | alle Medien | Sportograf

Do it

again!

Entry slots for runners in the 46th GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON on April 4, 2027, will be allocated

through a lottery system. The lottery gives all interested

participants an equal chance of securing a spot during

the registration period. Registration for the lottery

is open until May 28, 2026. The lottery results will be

announced by email on June 16, 2026.

Inline skaters can register from April 2, 2026, to

March 11, 2027, as long as the participation limit has

not been reached.

Wheelchair athletes and handbikers can register

from April 2, 2026, to March 11, 2027.

TO REGISTRATION

www.generali-berliner-halbmarathon.de/en/

Finisher

in Focus

37,355 runners from

134 nations crossed

the finish line at

the 45th GENERALI

BERLIN HALF MA-

RATHON. For nearly

all of them, running


Gate brought a

smile to their faces.

Here, you can get to

know some of them a

little better.

Lots of support

and even more fun

Years ago, they used to sell children’s

clothes through an online

group—and that’s how they ended

up running together. Today,

Isabel, Kristin, Dorothea, and

their friends run side by side,

not just at the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON. The “Running

Shopos” run with lots of love and

support—and very little pressure

to perform. “We support people

in their first half marathon, their

first marathon, and have a whole

lot of fun doing it,” they said with

beaming smiles. Over the years,

not only have they clocked up

many kilometers together, but

they’ve also built deep friendships.

They had an amazing time

in Berlin: “It was incredible! We

celebrated and had a blast everywhere.

That’s what makes it so

special—the drummers, the music,

the people, the kids. And on

top of that, the fantastic weather.”

The atmosphere in Berlin is a highlight

Alfred has already completed quite a few half marathons and marathons—in

South Africa, Iceland, Stockholm, and Zurich. This was

his first time in Berlin. “And I have to say, Berlin was definitely a

highlight,” he said at the finish. “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced

a course with an atmosphere like this.” The atmosphere even made

up for the fact that he wasn’t as well prepared this time as he had

been for other races. “I didn’t expect it to go this well. Before the

race, I said that finishing in under two hours would be a success.”

And with a time of 1:59:50, he actually did it. He had traveled to

Berlin with his wife and friends, who were also taking part in the

GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON.

- 136 -

FINISHER IN FOCUS

Fell in love with running

Ada doesn’t actually like running that much. Usually, at least. But

in Berlin, it was a completely different story. “Today, I love running,”

she said with a laugh at the finish. For the sports science student at

the German Sport University Cologne, who has 190,000 followers on

Instagram as “adagranada_,” it was the very first half marathon she

ever finished. “I never would have thought that time would pass so

quickly, because the people just carry you along. The atmosphere

along the course was amazing!” But it wasn’t just the spectators

who helped her—her companion did too: “She supported me so incredibly

well—sending kisses out to Devi!”

Connected through a run club

Antonia and Karoline usually study law and medicine in Berlin—and

both love running. They met just four weeks ago in a run club, the

Blend Kollektiv, which meets regularly for group runs. “Suffering together

is always a good thing,” Antonia said with a grin. Running

clearly brings people together and helps friendships grow. In Berlin,

Karoline supported Antonia a bit as a pacer, and the two of them

crossed the finish line together in around 1 hour and 50 minutes.

- 138 -

FINISHER IN FOCUS

When the chemistry is right

Bahman and Michael from Munich completed the GENERALI BER-

LIN HALF MARATHON together from the first to the very last meter.

Bahman is blind, and Michael was his guide in the capital. They

connected through the organization Achilles International, a global

non-profit that brings people with all kinds of disabilities together

through regular group runs. “Michael did a perfect job today,” Bahman

praised. “I’m happy when my guide is faster than me—otherwise

I have to pull him along and that drives me crazy. But today

was great.” And that’s certainly true: after 1:48:09, the duo crossed

the finish line in their very first official race together. “The most

important thing is that the chemistry between us is right,” said Michael.

“And then you have the same stride, the same pace, the same

spirit.”

Two half marathons in one weekend

A half marathon in Prague on Saturday in 1:52:28, followed by the

GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON on Sunday in 1:43:52. That

doesn’t exactly sound like a relaxing weekend—but definitely like

one full of running fun! Is that something only Batman could do?

Not necessarily—but Yogendran does enjoy dressing up as Batman

when he runs. The Singapore Airlines pilot thoroughly enjoyed running

through the German capital. “I love the flat streets, and especially

the finish!” He had heard so many great things about the GE-

NERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON and really wanted to experience

it for himself. And after traveling nearly 10,000 kilometers from Singapore,

he could only confirm it was worth it.

- 140 -

Sleepless in Berlin

Even a sleepless night due to excitement couldn’t stop Belen and

Delfina: after 1:49:49, the two crossed the finish line together. The

Argentinians live together in Berlin. “For us, today felt like running

at home. Argentina is our first home, and Berlin is our second,” they

said with beaming smiles at the finish. It wasn’t their first half marathon—together

they’ve already run in Rome, and they’ve also taken

part in Hamburg. “The atmosphere today was simply incredible. And

Berlin is just an amazing city: the people, the vibe—just fantastic!”

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FINISHER IN FOCUS

Running through Berlin with hot dogs

Sebastian runs a bar in Copenhagen, and Jakob works as an auditor—and

together they really enjoy running. For Berlin, they chose

special shirts featuring hot dogs and had a lot of fun. Last year, they

had already participated in Prague. The SuperHalfs, a collection of

the most beautiful and biggest half marathons in Europe, including

Prague and Berlin, are for them a great way to get to know new cities.

And after the race, they wanted to continue experiencing the

city: running through it, taking it all in, and feeling the spirit of the

German capital.

FINISHER IN FOCUS

Pulled along

by the men

“Today I ran with these two guys

for the first time, and they’re just

too fast for me,” Carlotta said,

laughing and exhausted at the finish.

“For me it was very fast, for

them very slow.” Together with

Andrea and Fernando, she really

powered through Berlin: after

just over 1:44, the three crossed

the finish line together. They

know each other from the Runners

of Rome, and the trio lives

in the Italian capital. Just a week

earlier, Carlotta had also run the

marathon there.

When a dachshund runs a half marathon

A dachshund running the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON—

sounds like the start of a joke. But this year, it really happened. Well,

almost. It wasn’t a real dachshund, but an inflatable one, and inside

it were Akif and Bardia. Last year, they had already run the half marathon

together, and for this year’s race, they wanted something

special. So they ordered the dachshund costume. It arrived the evening

before the race, and on the morning of the half marathon, it

was “taken out for a walk” for the first time. The two Berlin dentists

had a blast. “Though, of course, it would have been even more fitting

if we were veterinarians,” they said, laughing.

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From Mainz through Berlin to Hannover

Normally, Daniela works for the city of Mainz organizing the Drei-Brücken-Lauf—but

this time she was running in Berlin at the GENERA-

LI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. She clearly enjoyed the atmosphere

along the way. “Time flew by, even though I wasn’t running fast at

all,” she said. She especially loved the finish and running through

the Brandenburg Gate—something she had been looking forward to

beforehand. The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON was for her a

stepping stone to the ADAC Marathon Hannover two weeks later.

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FINISHER IN FOCUS

Finishing with a personal best

A Turkish Cypriot, born and living in England, runs the GENERALI

BERLIN HALF MARATHON: Dayer perfectly embodies what should

be natural—people coming together and having fun, regardless of

their nationality. Just like Dayer did in Berlin. “Today the conditions

were simply perfect,” he said. In September, he had already run the

BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, but the temperatures were too high for

his liking. This time, the father of three took advantage of the ideal

conditions to set a new personal best: he crossed the finish line in

1:56:51.

Sightseeing makes the run a pleasure

Dorothea and Cornelia enjoyed the atmosphere and the many

sights along the course. The biology and geography teacher and

the dentist come from near Leipzig, “from the province,” as they

said with a laugh. They have already run the Rennsteig, as well as

half marathons in Dresden and Leipzig. Now they were taking part

in the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON for the first time and

really enjoyed the run. “It was amazing! Perfect weather, great atmosphere!”

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FINISHER IN FOCUS

Birthday party after the run

It wasn’t the first half marathon for Franziska and Marc from Nuremberg,

but it was their first in Berlin—and also their first in under

two hours: they crossed the finish line in 1:57:50. The bank employee

and the police officer especially enjoyed the atmosphere along the

course. “We previously ran the Metropolmarathon from Nuremberg

to Fürth. That already had a great vibe, but today—that was a highlight!

Truly perfect.” Accompanying them was Marc’s father, who

was celebrating his birthday that day. “Now we’re going to celebrate

that too!”

For the orangutans and the fun

Guido is an IT project manager at an automotive company, and running

is a great way for him to balance work—and also a way to do

something good. He wore the orangutan costume not just for fun,

but to raise awareness that the orangutans’ habitat, the rainforest

in Borneo, is under threat. Before the race, he had collected donations.

“And then today, I was really glad it wasn’t too hot in the costume,”

he said, laughing. As always, he loved the atmosphere along

the course—Guido is a repeat participant. Every year, he tries to

secure a spot for the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON.

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FINISHER IN FOCUS

Running together as a surprise

Originally, only Jessica planned to run the GENERALI BERLIN HALF

MARATHON. She had registered long ago when Hamad found out.

“Then I wanted to surprise her and run with her,” he said. Getting

a race spot wasn’t easy, but ultimately he managed to secure one

through a charity organization just four weeks before the start.

And so the newly married couple from Manchester, who both love

running, started the race together, with Jessica setting the pace

for him. The speedy couple crossed the finish line in 1:44:56 and

1:44:57. Their plans afterward: enjoy a good meal and see as much

of the city as their legs would allow.

Without her husband, but with

support from the spectators

Berlin had long been on Aoife’s wish list from Dublin—the Berlin Wall,

all the history you can feel in the city. Then came the idea to run the

GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. The Irish runner was lucky to

secure a race spot. She had originally planned to run alongside her

husband, but he broke his leg two weeks earlier. So she had to run

her second half marathon alone. “I had previously run in Copenhagen,

but this was even better. The spectators are simply amazing.

There wasn’t a single point on the course where someone wasn’t

cheering you on. It really drives you forward,” she said, before going

to find her husband, who had been cheering her from the sidelines.

FINISHER IN FOCUS

After the marathon, now the half marathon

Juan Carlos is originally from Peru, but now lives in Cologne and

works there as an orthopedist. Last year, he ran both the Cologne

Marathon and the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, and now it was time

for the half marathon in the capital. He loved it, even though it was

a bit warmer than he had expected. “But the atmosphere was really

amazing!” he said after crossing the finish line in 1:48:18. He had

traveled with three friends, who also run with him in Cologne at “Albis

Lauftreff” in the Vogelsang district.

Where can you find the best currywurst?

After the race, Karen and Jorge Eduardo from Monterrey and Nayarit

in Mexico had one main goal: to find the best currywurst in the

city. They spent a total of four days in the German capital for this

mission and to run the half marathon. “Last year we ran a marathon

in Mexico, and it was scorching hot,” they said. Since the weather

in Berlin was expected to be more pleasant, they applied for a race

spot and were lucky to get one. “It was simply amazing! We especially

loved the atmosphere!” they said, before heading off to find the

best currywurst.

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FINISHER IN FOCUS

The repeat participant

Peter has been coming from Nuremberg to the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON for years. “I always enjoy being here,” he said.

The race is very well organized, the course is flat, and “super varied.

You never get bored here.” And even though he has participated

so many times, he particularly enjoyed this year’s race: “It was refreshing,

and the sun wasn’t blazing. It was a really lovely run into

spring! See you next year!” said the journalist from Franconia.

Berlin, time and again

Susann and Rico from Augustusburg in the Erzgebirge have been

married for 30 years and have been running together for 13 years.

They especially love doing so at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARA-

THON and the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. They have already run the

half marathon seven times and the full marathon three times—always

crossing the finish line hand in hand. “It’s always fast and well

organized here, just a fantastic event. Our absolute favorite course,”

agree the gynecologist and the pediatrician. And the best part: they

can combine the race with a family visit, since their children live in

the capital, as does Susann’s sister.

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FINISHER IN FOCUS

Test run for the triathlon

Romy had set herself a goal of finishing in under 1:52. In the end,

she narrowly missed it, finishing in 1:52:45. To reach her goal, she

used a hydration backpack to avoid losing precious time at the aid

stations and to reduce the number of disposable cups. For the Berlin

native, who now lives in Brandenburg, it was an all-around successful

day. “I ran in 2023 as well, but today I found the atmosphere

even better,” she said excitedly at the finish. “The music was great,

and everyone cheered so wonderfully!” Romy normally does triathlons.

The half marathon in Berlin was a test run for a middle-distance

competition she will compete in this May.

FINISHER IN FOCUS

Through Berlin’s

streets as a zebra

She always comes up with something

new! In Berlin, Rita is as

well-known as a colorful dog—or

rather, a black-and-white zebra!

Every year, the Berliner takes

part in the BMW BERLIN-MARA-

THON and the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON—always in a

unique costume. This time, she

chose “Charlotte the Zebra,” the

mascot of the SCC Berlin track

and field athletes. Her son and

his girlfriend Luise joined her this

year. “Jerome set the pace for

me today,” said Luise. “The goal

was under two hours, and she

absolutely nailed it,” added Jerome,

referring to the 1:57:05 it

took his girlfriend to finish. As for

the two of them running without

costumes, Rita commented: “I’m

still working on that!” One thing

she was certain about: “The atmosphere,

the spectators, the

music—everything was once

again amazing.” And who, if not

her, could judge that?!

Mission personal best accomplished

The sisters Ronja and Annika are originally from North Rhine-Westphalia

but now live in Berlin. While Ronja is completing her master’s

in psychotherapy, Annika works in film. “Today was amazing,”

they agreed. They had aimed for 1:45, and in the end, their times of

1:44:25 and 1:44:26 made it into the results list. Mission accomplished.

Having already run the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON together twice,

this was their debut at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON.

And they agreed: the atmosphere in Berlin is always perfect!

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FINISHER IN FOCUS

Berlin bears instead of polar bears

Simone is from Berlin, and Rüdiger is from Cologne. They met in

Svalbard, where they ran a marathon where you have to watch out

for polar bears. In Berlin, the only bears you encounter are Berlin

bears—and they’re completely harmless. “Because Rüdiger wants

to run the SuperHalfs, I invited him to Berlin,” Simone said. The SuperHalfs

are a series of especially beautiful and large half marathons,

including the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. Rüdiger

has already ticked off Lisbon and Berlin, and this year he still wants

to run Copenhagen and Valencia, followed by Prague and Cardiff

next year. Both of them enjoyed the run through Berlin. “Especially

toward the end, the atmosphere really makes it fun. The groups and

bands are really cool,” said Rüdiger.

The helper on the course

Sven is one of those who help others achieve a target time: he is a

pacemaker. This time, he was pacing those aiming to finish in 1:45.

“It was relaxed today,” he said with a grin. “Last year I ran 1:25, and

that was too fast for me. I didn’t see enough of the course.” The IT

professional from Gießen applied to be a pacemaker and has been

doing it for several years. “On one hand, it’s great training for me,

and on the other, you meet a lot of people along the way. It’s really

fun!”

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FINISHER IN FOCUS

A heart for the half marathon

Here, the name says it all: Timo’s last name is Herz—which means

“heart”—so he also sends a heart out into the world. Originally from

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, he has been living in Berlin for over 20

years. Last year, he also ran the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, but “this

year I wasn’t so well prepared for the half marathon.” So he took

it a bit slower. “But from kilometer 18, I went into the final sprint.”

In everyday life, he runs a tattoo and piercing studio in Prenzlauer

Berg. His love of running has been with him since childhood. “Running

always clears my head.”

Back to Berlin for the half marathon

Tom (pictured on the right) is from Paris and still lives there today.

In between, however, she lived in Berlin, where she met her Scottish

girlfriend, with whom she ran back then and ran again this time. “It

was just so much fun to run here today,” Tom said after the race. “So

many people, great music, perfect cheering.”

- 166 -

Met Amanal Petros while carboloading

Ozlem and Gürbüz are from Istanbul, where they train together.

“The atmosphere today was so amazing and motivating that we ran

a personal best here,” said Gürbüz after they crossed the finish line

in 1:51:23 and 1:51:24. Maybe it was the right carboloading? Before

the race, they had dinner at a restaurant, and at the next table sat

none other than Amanal Petros, who set a new German record in

the same race with 59:22. “We took a few photos, chatted a bit, and

Amanal even gave us some tips.”

- 168 -

FINISHER IN FOCUS

Party pace, then shakeout dance

Yannick and Hannah know each other from the Adidas Runners in

Hamburg and were now starting together in Berlin. Normally, the

two focus on running as fast as possible. This time, however, it was

all about party pace—though many others might not call a time

just over 1:40 a “party pace.” Yannick is aiming for under 1:30 in his

next half marathon. After the Berlin race, it was time for a shakeout

dance with the Adidas Runners.

AUGUST 23

The Best

Test

Are you ready for the BMW BERLIN-MARA-

THON? At “The Dress Rehearsal,” you can

test your fitness for the autumn highlight

with a half marathon five weeks before

the marathon. Or simply enjoy an atmospheric

half marathon in southwest Berlin.

Can’t get enough of

the half marathon?

The GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON was not

enough for you? Then sign

up now for “The Dress Rehearsal”—a

21.1-kilometer

race on August 23 in Berlin!

The excitement is building:

At the traditional dress rehearsal

five weeks before

the season’s highlight, the

BMW BERLIN-MARATHON,

the endurance of thousands

of running enthusiasts

is put to the test.

Under race conditions, you

can see if your training is

paying off and whether

you’re in top shape for

your autumn marathon (or

half marathon).

Preparing for a marathon

can be a long journey. Often,

you don’t know where you

stand. A small success along

the way brings fresh motivation

to your training and

builds excitement for the

marathon.

Through three

Berlin districts

Since the mid-1980s, the

Berlin road race—now

known as “The Dress Rehearsal”—has

been taking

place. For many runners,

it holds a permanent spot

on their race calendar—

and with good reason!

On August 23, five weeks

before the BMW BERLIN-

MARATHON on September

27, The Dress Rehearsal

offers the perfect

opportunity to test your

fitness.

Whether you use it to prepare

for your autumn marathon

or simply want to

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REGISTER

NOW

enjoy a half marathon or

quarter marathon, you

can give it your all on the

streets of Berlin! The race

takes place on a 10.5-kilometer

course, which can

be completed once or twice.

You can also have your

time recorded over exactly

ten kilometers. The route

takes you through the

Berlin districts of Steglitz,

Zehlendorf, and Wilmersdorf,

giving you a first

taste of what it feels like

to run through the wide

streets of the capital during

the BMW BERLIN-MA-

RATHON.

After the summer holidays,

“The Dress Rehearsal”

offers sporting fun for

the whole family. Not only

adults get their share of

excitement: at the Bambini

runs, young runners can

take part too.

- 174 -

15 Jahre TITANIC Comfort Mitte

Mitten im pulsierenden Berliner Bezirk Mitte, zwischen Alexanderplatz und Potsdamer

Platz, begann vor 15 Jahren die Geschichte des TITANIC Comfort Mitte. 226 moderne

Zimmer, kostenfreies WLAN und gemütliche Betten sorgen für komfortables Übernachten.

Eine stilvolle 24-Stunden-Lounge-Bar schafft eine Atmosphäre, in der sich Gäste

jederzeit willkommen fühlen. Dank der zentralen Lage sind Berlins Sehenswürdigkeiten

und Geschäftsviertel nur wenige Schritte entfernt. Seit 15 Jahren steht das

TITANIC Comfort Mitte für Komfort, Gastfreundschaft und Berliner Lebensgefühl.

15 Years TITANIC Comfort Mitte

In the vibrant Berlin district of Mitte, between Alexanderplatz and Potsdamer Platz, the

story of TITANIC Comfort Mitte began 15 years ago. 226 modern rooms, free Wi-Fi, and

comfortable beds ensure a pleasant stay. A stylish 24-hour lounge bar creates

a welcoming atmosphere for guests at any time. Thanks to its central location,

Berlin’s landmarks and business districts are just a short walk away. For 15 years,

TITANIC Comfort Mitte has stood for comfort, hospitality, and a touch of Berlin lifestyle.

BOOK NOW

Must

Runs

by

The SwimRun at Schloss

Rheinsberg takes runners

for a swim in a beautiful

landscape as well. In 2026,

it will take place on July 5.

Berlin

& Brandenburg

- 176 -

Move for change

At Germany’s largest

women’s run, charity

takes center stage. Doing

good while running

and raising donations

for women with cancer

in need is the motto. At

the same time, 14,000

participants celebrate

their party of the year

in the heart of Berlin.

Course distances

5 km, 10 km

Running, walking and

Nordic walking

400 m | 800 m

Bambini Run

At the largest

women’s run!

- 177 -

MAY 16, 2026

As a Team.

MAY 21, 2026

To the finish!

As a relay quartet on a

beautiful course through

historic Brandenburg an

der Havel. The atmospheric

TEAM event in early summer.

Course distances

4x5 km

Relay race

approx. 400 m | 800 m

Bambini Run

“The team is everything!”

is the motto on

the three hottest relay

days of the year, when

laps are run again and

again in central Berlin

between the Victory

Column and Schloss

Bellevue.

Course distances

5x5 km

Relay race

approx. 400 m | 800 m

Bambini Run

One for all.

JUNE 2-4, 2026

All for one!

Swim.

JULY 5, 2026

Run.

Repeat.

Run through the forest or past

Schloss Rheinsberg and swim

in the crystal-clear lakes of the

area – this is the ultimate nature

experience!

Course distances

approx. 21.4 km

Half SwimRun

approx. 11.3 km

Sprint SwimRun

approx. 4.4 km

SuperSprint SwimRun

Introductory distance for newbies

approx. 0.9 km | 1.8 km | 2.7 km

Youth SwimRun/

Family Fun SwimRun

approx. 500 m | 1,000 m

Bambini SwimRun

The fastest night

AUGUST 1, 2026

Berlin’s fastest night is the top

event in the middle of summer.

Samba bands, cheering zones,

and enthusiastic fans turn the

Ku‘Damm in City West into a

vibrant party zone. The highlight

is running through the glowing

finish gate at the Kaiser Wilhelm

Memorial Church.

Course distances

5 km

Running

10 km

Running and Inline skating

From all

over Berlin!

The Test.

AUGUST 23, 2026

For

autumn!

Four weeks before the spectacular

season highlight, the BMW

BERLIN-MARATHON you can test

your skills for the ultimate event

at the “dress rehearsal.” The half

marathon through Berlin’s neighborhoods

will be the ultimate

check of your preparation.

Course distances

21 km

Running (two laps)

10.5 km

Running (one lap)

ca. 400 m | 800 m

Bambini Run

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Taste the

SEPTEMBER 26, 2026

Marathon-

Spirit

The day before the legendary

BMW Berlin-Marathon, you

have the chance to run the last

five kilometers of the original

course. Experience the unforgettable

finish through the

Brandenburg Gate and be

celebrated like a marathon hero.

Course distances

5 km

Running

At the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON,

the inline season is always kicked off as

well. Here you can read how the fast-paced

races turned out.

- 188 -

Dominant

Victory for

Fernandez

The Frenchman Ewan Fernandez and the

Colombian Keily Delgado secured the victories

in the inline skating race. Ewan Fernandez

achieved his win after a solo effort

at the front, finishing with a lead of almost

three and a half minutes over the rest of the

field.

The inline skaters had

the first start on Sunday

morning. In the men’s

race, Ewen Fernandez (Powerslide

Vesmaco Team)

broke away from the field

shortly after the start. “I

coped very well with the

varying road conditions. At

times it was completely dry,

then wet again,” said the

experienced Frenchman

from Team Powerslide.

He went on to win solo in

34:04 minutes—more than

three minutes ahead of the

chasing pack. Second place

in the men’s race went

to Alexander Bastidas from

Venezuela (SRC Berlin),

who has lived in Berlin for

many years, in 37:27 minutes,

while third place went

to Mike Paez (MEX/37:27

min) from the Swings World

Team.

The chasing group stayed

tightly packed until the finishing

straight, although

the skaters raced much

more defensively. From

halfway through the course,

three women caught up

with the men. In the women’s

mass sprint on the finishing

straight, Colombia’s

Keily Delgado (Powerslide

Vesmaco Team) secured

victory in 39:28 minutes.

Delgado wins

the sprint finish

She had experienced a

moment of shock halfway

through the race: due to the

wet surface, she crashed

but was able to fight her

way back to the front group.

“That makes me even happier

that I was able to win

today,” said Delgado. In the

women’s race, second and

third place went to France’s

Alison Bernardi (Manao FR

- 190 -

Keily Delgado (center), Alison Bernardi (left), and Maria Camila Carmona

Mendoza secured the podium places in the women’s race.

SKATES/39:29 min) and

Colombia’s Maria Camila

Carmona Mendoza (Rollerblade

X Spspsk), who finished

in 39:32 minutes.

Season opener for the

German Inline Cup

The winners in both the

men’s and women’s races

now also lead the GERMAN

INLINE CUP (GIC), which celebrated

its season opener

as part of the GENERALI


In addition to the speed category,

the GIC also features

a separate fitness ranking.

After the first race, Michaela

Egelseer (Team Bayern)

and Sandris Snore (Latvia)

are leading in this category.

The grand finale of the

race series will take place on

September 26, 2026, also in

Berlin, at the BMW BERLIN-

MARATHON inline skating

event.

- 191 -

MORE HIGHLIGHTS ON WHEELS

REGISTER

NOW

BMW BERLIN-

MARATHON

On September 26, the inline

marathon finale takes

place at the BMW BER-

LIN-MARATHON. Set within

an exciting marathon

weekend, the course runs

through the heart of the

capital. And the best part

is: entries are still available.

adidas Runners

City Night

On August 1, Ku’damm

turns into a high-speed

track: the adidas Runners

City Night inline skating

event draws recreational

and fitness skaters to the

city for a 10 km course.

Speed, atmosphere, fun—

and the unique feeling

of experiencing Berlin on

wheels.

REGISTER

NOW

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Your Berlin weekend

doesn’t end at the finish line.

You did it. 21.0975 kilometers, crossing the finish line at Brandenburg Gate,

a medal around your neck. Now comes the part without the stopwatch.

Whether you’re from Berlin or staying a few more days, this is your moment

to wind down and make the most of the weekend.

Unwind

Your legs are heavy, your mind still in race mode. From the former air

traffic control tower, you can see the city from a different perspective - the

horizon stretching out, Berlin at your feet. The perfect place to let the race

sink in. Enjoy spectacular 360° views along with drinks and snacks at the

pop-up café at THF TOWER.

Discover

The hangars, home to the half marathon expo, have a history of their own.

During the Berlin Airlift, Allied aircraft landed here every minute, delivering

vital supplies. Today, guided tours take you through spaces otherwise

closed to the public – from the legendary film bunker and former intelligence

rooms to the basketball court once used by the U.S. Air Force stationed here.

Explore

Tempelhof Airport brings together a wide range of formats in a place

with rich history: yoga on the roof, opera in the hangars, concerts, major

events, and intimate talks. There’s something here for everyone.

10% off guided tours

Valid until April 19, 2026

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37,355 runners reached the

finish line at the 45th GENE-

RALI BERLIN HALF MARA-

THON 2026—each and every

one with their own running

story. We share how the race

went for all those we had already

introduced in the event

magazine before the race.

A Race of

Emotions

Often at a big running

event, you mostly notice

the large crowd. Almost

40,000 runners start at the


MARATHON—that’s an impressive

sight. Running, having

fun, and even suffering

a little. But if you look closer,

there are so many individual

stories. None are alike.

And their very own story

was written by Evrim and

Açelya Bahceci. It may well

have been the first chapter

of a long running journey.

Inspired by

Excitement

For 53-year-old Evrim and

her 17-year-old daughter,

the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON was

their first official race. The

previous September, they

had met a man in front of

their house who had just

finished the BMW BER-

LIN-MARATHON and was

still euphoric and inspired.

They talked with him, and

he told them about running

through the German

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Here we introduce some of the over 37,000 runners

who reached the finish line at the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON. Seventeen-year-old Açelya

Bahceci from Berlin convinced her mom, Evrim,

to run the half marathon with her. For both, it

was an incredible experience.

capital. Evrim and Açelya

thought: “We want to experience

that too!” And so

they signed up for the half

marathon.

A first race, especially over

more than 21 kilometers, is

many things: an adventure.

An experience. It can make

you excited, full of anticipation,

and maybe even a

little nervous. After all, you

don’t know exactly what to

expect. “I had a bit of mental

imagery beforehand

and was also nervous,” Evrim

recalls. And it’s good to

approach a race with some

respect—21.0975 kilometers

don’t run themselves.

Açelya ran the first kilometers

alongside her mother—and then

pushed even harder.

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Suddenly Part of the

TV Coverage

In the end, the 45th GE-

NERALI BERLIN HALF MA-

RATHON turned out to be

a completely successful

and positive experience

for Evrim and Açelya. And

many other people shared

in it. After the story about

the mother-daughter duo

appeared in the event magazine

before the half marathon,

the TV station RBB

noticed them and asked if

they could follow them. Of

course, they agreed—and

were featured on Saturday

at the expo when picking

up their race packets, as

Evrim caught the joy of everyone

around her and fully enjoyed the

run.

Music Along the Route

Gave Extra Energy

And then there were all the

other people cheering. “It

was amazing to experience

the support from so many

strangers,” Açelya recalls.

Evrim was equally thrilled:

“Passing all the important

Berlin landmarks, surrounded

by a crowd of people

enjoying running—it was

incredible and gave me

so much energy. The live

music bands gave me the

most strength. Pure energy

boosters!” You could

even see it in the RBB broadcast

that evening. “At

one point, it looks like I’m

dancing while running,”

Evrim laughs.

Both ran the first kilometers

together, enjoying the

experience. After about

10 kilometers, Açelya puswell

as on Sunday before,

during, and after the race.

Evrim and Açelya even appeared

in the RBB evening

show on both days.

“When we were in the

starting block and the

countdown began, I was

just full of anticipation,”

Açelya says. Her mother

also looks back on this

moment with excitement:

“There was an exuberant

party atmosphere, everywhere

smiling faces and

pure joy. It was contagious,

and my first nervousness

quickly disappeared.”

Both started together, enjoyed

the atmosphere, and

had fun reading the many

different signs that spectators

had made. Friends

and colleagues had come

out to support them along

the course.

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An RBB TV crew accompanied Evrim and Açelya on their first half marathon

adventure—including, of course, a finisher interview.

hed a little harder. After

2:20:23 hours, she crossed

the finish line of her

first half marathon, first


Gate and then into the finish

area, where she waited

for her mother, who

finished in 2:41:19 hours.

“We were just so happy

to have accomplished it—

physically apart but men-

- 203 -

tally together,” they celebrated

the experience

together.

Their conclusion? “It was

even better than I expected,”

Evrim says. Some

time before the half marathon,

she had injured

her foot. But she didn’t

want to miss the experience

of starting. “And when

I crossed the finish line, I

thought: I did everything

right! I was overwhelmed

by the atmosphere on the

course; I hadn’t imagined

it could be this amazing.”

Maybe the Full

Marathon Next?

Will they do it again? Definitely!

Both agree. And

they’re already thinking

a bit further: maybe a full

marathon? Why not… But

first, they will both take

part in the VITAMIN WELL

Women’s Run Berlin in

May. “I’m even more motivated

now to train harder

and improve,” Açelya

says.

Relaxing and

Enjoying

They ended the evening

in a relaxed way, among

other things watching TV,

where the RBB report on

their half marathon run

was broadcast. “It was really

fun to watch and relive

our race,” Evrim says. And

who knows—maybe what

viewers saw inspired some

of them to try a running

event themselves, just like

the marathon runner inspired

Evrim and Açelya

last autumn.

- 204 -

The 31-year-old Mexican Mariana Becerril

had her goal firmly in sight: breaking 1:20 for

the first time. Why it didn’t happen—and why

she is still proud of herself.

The Sub-1:20

Is Just

Postponed

Sometimes it’s just not

meant to be. Not because

it’s impossible, but

simply because on that particular

day, it isn’t possible.

Mariana Becerril had a goal

for the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON: to run

the 21.0975 kilometers in

under 1:20 for the first time.

An ambitious goal, but not

an unrealistic one.

The 31-year-old Mexicanborn

runner, who has been

living in Berlin for eight years,

had trained hard for it.

She has been running for

around ten years, and for

the past two years she has

been training with a clear

focus. Mariana has tried

many things: 5 km road

races, marathons, even

ultramarathons in the

- 207 -

mountains. But for her, the

21.0975 km distance is the

perfect middle ground.

Fast, but not reckless.

Tough, but strategic. Her

current plan includes

four running sessions per

week, complemented by

strength training, yoga,

and road cycling.

The Legs Hurt

Early On

Last December, she ran

1:23:05 in Málaga, and this

February she improved to

1:21:52 in Barcelona—even

though she wasn’t in peak

condition. Now, Berlin was

supposed to be the place:

her first time under 1:20.

But: “My legs just weren’t

100 percent there that

day,” she said after the

race. In the end, her official

time was 1:30:38.

After just 5 kilometers, her

legs were already hurting.

“It was incredibly difficult

to stay ‘in the flow’ and

maintain a good running

feeling while my body was

resisting.” She had started

the race with two other

runners aiming for a

similar finishing time, but

the group quickly broke

apart. Mariana was on

her own. “That’s mentally

even tougher than running

in a group,” she said.

The thought of dropping

out kept crossing her

mind. Still, she kept fighting.

“The mental battle is

a huge part of racing—it

shapes your character,

both as a person and as

an athlete. You finish what

you started.”

After 5 kilometers, she already

knew it would be al-

- 208 -

Even though she didn’t manage

her first sub-1:20 this time,

Mariana knows she has the

capability in her legs. The

perfect day for it will come

eventually!

most impossible to reach

her goal. So Mariana simply

redefined it: “I told myself

I didn’t want to completely

fall apart. Then I

decided to treat the rest

of the race as a hard training

session.”

The Spectators

Give Her Energy

Why didn’t it work out on

the streets of Berlin? The

last three to four weeks

had been challenging for

Mariana—both mentally

and physically. She had

been traveling a lot between

different cities. “In

the end, the fatigue caught

up with me—my body was

exhausted.”

What helped her through

this tough race was the

atmosphere along the

course. Friends cheered

her on and even ran a

few meters with her. “The

spectators were just incredible.

The energy really

helped me keep my pace

up when my legs were already

screaming.” After

the race, she even went

back to the course with a

friend to soak in the atmosphere.

“I wanted to

absorb the energy of the

race. A time or a number

doesn’t define who I am as

a runner—that’s why celebrating

the community

was the best part of the

day.”

Looking back, Mariana has

mixed feelings. Of course,

she’s disappointed she

didn’t reach her goal. But

she’s also proud—proud

that she had the courage

to set such a goal in the

first place, and proud that

she pushed through and

gave everything. “You put

- 210 -

in the work and want the

result to match the effort.

But that’s competition—if

running under 1:20 were

easy, it wouldn’t be such a

meaningful goal for me.”

Half Marathon in September.

Maybe that will be the

perfect day when everything

comes together.

It Will Happen Eventually!

One thing, however, is certain:

“I’m not done yet! I’ll

keep going until I reach

this goal.” Because Mariana

knows: the fitness is

there. And she has a great

support system behind

her—from the Momentum

coaching team to friends

and family. She’s planning

to race the Copenhagen

After the race, Mariana was

proud of herself: proud to have

had the courage to set a high

goal and to give it her all.

- 211 -

Read Every Sign,

Enjoyed

Every Kilometer

- 212 -

Sandy Adam, Marcus Rädel,

and Robert Sensfuß from Freiberg

in Saxony share a passion

for football. This later developed

into a shared love of running.

At the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON, they started

together but ran separately.

Still, the three had similar experiences:

the creativity of the

fans along the course is incredible,

keeping the finish line in

sight is hugely motivating, and

running with your own hydration

system is more fun and more

sustainable than relying on

water cups at the aid stations.

What stays in memory

when three Saxons

run a half marathon

in Berlin? For Marcus Rädel

from the Saxon trio,

who met through football

and tackled the 45th GE-

NERALI BERLIN HALF MA-

RATHON together, it’s the

signs held up by people

along the course. “After a

few kilometers, I didn’t really

know exactly where I

was in Berlin, but I read all

the slogans,” said the Freiberg

native after finishing

his first half marathon in

1:47:33.

- 213 -

Original slogans

make you smile

What he liked best were

two signs in English that

had a certain spice or

double meaning, which

we won’t translate into

German: “Those who have

farted, please smile now.”

And: “No one likes a quick

finisher.” Mostly held up

by women, these made

Marcus grin as he ran.

“Many of the signs repeat

themselves. It seems there

are running books you

can take them from,” Marcus

said, “but these two

were really original.”

Although he was the least

experienced of the three—

Sandy and Robert had already

finished the BMW

BERLIN-MARATHON—he

paced himself very well.

The trio had started from

the same starting block

together, but each ran at

their own pace, so they

quickly lost sight of one

another.

When your buddy

sprints ahead…

Robert Sensfuß took off

the fastest. “I only saw him

sprint away,” said Sandy

Adam, who chose the calmest

pace of the three. “I

kept an eye on Marcus for

a while, though. And even

though their approaches

were so different, Marcus

and Robert crossed

the finish almost simultaneously.

In the end, Robert

finished in 1:47:04—less

Meeting at the HALF MARATHON

EXPO, picking up the race bib,

taking a photo—the half marathon

weekend got off to a perfect start

for Robert Sensfuß, Marcus Rädel,

and Sandy Adam.

- 214 -

than half a minute ahead

of his running companion.

“I was able to maintain my

five-minute pace until kilometer

14. I had aimed

for 1:45. But then it felt

like I might get cramps, so

I slowed down.” Marcus,

on the other hand, started

more calmly and picked

up speed toward the end.

Spared from all the

aches and pains

And Sandy? He consistently

ran his planned

pace of about six minutes

per kilometer and finished

in 2:09:30. “I’m very

satisfied, especially because

I didn’t suffer from

any of the usual aches

you can get in a race—no

Used running shoes for those in

need: it was only natural that

Sandy Adam brought shoes to the

EXPO and donated them to the

Berlin City Mission.

Good spirits despite the cool temperatures: The trio from Saxony before

the start on the Straße des 17. Juni.

side stitches, no cramps.

I was able to enjoy Berlin

for two hours, the city I

love.”

While the other two traveled

from their hometown

of Freiberg to Berlin

on Saturday, Sandy came

from Potsdam, where he

has been a professor at

the University of Applied

Sciences for Sport and

- 217 -

Management since February

2026. In the afternoon,

the three visited

the HALFMARATHON

EXPO, where Sandy even

donated a few used running

shoes to the Berlin

City Mission and treated

himself to one of the available

massages. “For the

tension in my back and

shoulders that builds up

from sitting so much at

work.” That evening, they

carb-loaded at “a great

Italian restaurant in Schöneberg.”

Hydrated and

Happy

On waking up, they were

glad the night’s rain had

passed. “The temperatures

before the start and

during the run were ideal.

And the advice to run the

race in shorts despite the

cool weather was spot

on,” said Marcus. “We put

on old training clothes

in the morning and only

took them off right before

starting, leaving them

in the clothing donation

boxes. That was perfect,”

added Robert. During the

race, all three were fascinated

by being cheered

on by so many people who

knew their names.

What Robert found challenging,

however, was the

turnaround section on

Karl-Marx-Allee between

kilometers 16 and 18. “So

many runners come to-

Robert on Tauentzienstraße:

At the five-minute pace, things

went smoothly for the runner from

Freiberg. Later, he had to slow

down a bit.

- 218 -

- 219 -

Robert Sensfuß, Marcus Rädel, and

Sandy Adam didn’t miss out on the

beer afterwards.

ward you, and you keep

thinking the turnaround

has to be coming soon…

and then it just keeps going.”

All three ran with their

own hydration systems

and enjoyed being able

to pass the aid stations

without using disposable

cups. “That was ideal

both for race strategy

and sustainability,” said

Sandy, who carried threequarters

of a liter of water

in his backpack bladder.

Bladders and flasks

prove their worth

“At first, I worried that the

sloshing water might bother

me, but it didn’t. I barely

noticed the backpack,

- 220 -

and it was great never to

be thrown off rhythm by

stopping at an aid station.”

Pit stops work

Robert and Marcus relied

on soft, squeezable plastic

flasks. “I also had two

gels and refilled the flask

once at kilometer 14. The

pit stop worked well,” Robert

recalled.

Their conclusion: the 45th


MARATHON was even

more fun than expected.

“We come from a rural

area, so you rarely meet

anyone while running,”

explained Marcus. “I was

a little worried it might

be too crowded.” And Robert

added: “The crowds

are a challenge. You have

to stay alert to avoid collisions.

But it also makes

the time pass quickly.” All

three want to carry the

Berlin experience forward

to stay in their running

flow.

Learning how

goals motivate

“We’ve learned how important

goals are and

how motivating it is to

achieve them,” said Robert,

thinking of the moment

when the Brandenburg

Gate came into view

on the final kilometer of

the GENERALI BERLIN

HALF MARATHON and

everyone knew: we’re almost

there.

- 221 -

THANK

YOU FOR

BEEING

PART

OF IT

See you in Berlin!

2026: Review

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