Berlin Marathon 2012 Running Sep 29, 2012 9:00 am

Normally held on the last Sunday in September, the Berlin Marathon (officially known as the BMW Berlin Marathon) has attracted more than 40,000 participants in recent years, and has maintained its status as one of Germany’s most popular running events since the very first race was held back in 1974.

Because the Berlin Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors – a championship racing system that includes the Boston, Chicago, London, and New York City marathons – top competitors vie for an astounding $1 million prize purse.

But that shouldn’t imply the race is only for people looking to do a 26.2-mile sprint in two hours. Thanks to a route that is largely flat, the Berlin Marathon is as popular with first-time runners as it is with elite athletes, the latter of whom have earned more world record times during this race than at any other officially recognized marathon.

Taking place over two days and covering a range of skill-level categories, the Berlin Marathon even includes stages for inline skaters, power walkers, handbikers, wheelchair riders, and a shorter children's marathon.

Although the Berlin Marathon’s route can obviously vary from year-to-year, it normally begins and ends near the Brandenburg Gate, passing through Charlottenburg and Tiergarten, around Mitte, and finally heading south to Friedrichshain and through Kreuzberg before looping above Schöneberg to create an almost perfect circle.

Upwards of one million spectators line Berlin’s streets during the event, so even if you don’t choose to compete there is still plenty to see, including The BERLIN VITAL Expo, which highlights the latest lifestyle, fitness, wellness, health, and nutrition trends at more than 200 booths.

But if you do want to run, the Berlin Marathon entry fees range from €60–€100 depending on how early you grab a ticket, so don’t delay!