Race recap: 2025 Berlin Marathon
Berlin, you were unforgettable. Finally pausing to share more about my race weekend experience at the Berlin Marathon. I went to Germany years ago but never to Berlin, so this was a fun opportunity both to challenge myself on the run but also to take a bit of a look around the fabulous city of Berlin. I wrote this all out and Substack ate it … so here’s to take two!
From high temps to surprise WWII bomb discoveries (yes, really) to airport chaos… Berlin threw everything at me. But the streets, the energy, the cause — it was all worth it. This was another race I ran in support of the wonderful work of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. So appreciative of their team to allow me again to fundraise for their cause and for all the pre-race support and encouragement! Team ASAN is truly the best.
Training
For the second time, I decided to train using Runna’s program. I chose to do the version which included strength sessions as well, as I knew I really needed to make this a priority to help combat my issues with runner’s knee. Did I end up committing fully to the latter? No… but hoping to really make it happen in my next marathon training cycle.
Pros
Easily syncs to your Google calendar, and makes it easy to slide around if you need to change up your schedule
Mile updates and paces will come over your headphones even if you are running with Peloton or other apps
Syncs with your own treadmill for indoor runs
Cons
$15 / month price tag throughout your training cycle
Adding the strength option only really adds a rep counter, so not classes to support — and not easy to shift away from this mid-cycle if (like me) you don’t end up loving this part
The recommendations to catchup on missed activities don’t always reflect safe options to avoid injury
Race Prep
For the first time in perhaps forever, I took a flight and did not check a bag. I was a little anxious about this. Could I really make it work? I tried to limit what I took to the essentials — and, as much as possible, to plan to keep my purchases while I was in Berlin to the essentials. Well, more or less. Linking some of my race trip essentials here.
I tried to keep my tourist activities to a minimum before the race, which was only mildly successful. Of course I spent some time at the race expo — a must do. Knowing that race day would be extremely hot, I decided to pick up a large water flask I could run with. Of course I had to get one with a bit of Berlin flair. Felt like an appropriate souvenir as well! I also forgot to bring my recovery slides but picked up another pair of Oofos — this time the slides since they were on sale and would be perfect for my post-race bag.
I didn’t do a ton on Friday but I did make sure to visit the East Side Gallery. When I looked through all the options of things and places to visit, it was an instant standout to me. I’m also pulling together more on where I stayed, the places where I ate, etc. I’ll add a link to that here as well once it is live!
The Saturday before race day, I made sure to make time to head over to meet up with the local run club for the Berlin Braves x Bandit shakeout run. I was admittedly ill-prepared for how wildly popular this would be or I would have arrived wayyyyyy earlier. If you’re headed to one of these, recommend you do the same. The run itself was lovely. We went down by the water and into a park, where we paused for a nice group photo. As this was a solo trip for me, it was nice to be surrounded by so many enthusiastic runners, if only for a little bit of the day!
I also unfortunately went a little overboard on the electrolytes. I realized early evening the day before the race that I hadn’t had enough water or electrolytes. In a panic, I decided to have a lot of both — which I learned is not good to do. Apparently you can’t cram in your training or pre-race hydration. I ended up ok but did have a pretty bad headache that morning and was slightly terrified it would mess up my race. Thankfully, it did not. Phew.
Race Day
I chose to check a bag, so I could put some recovery slides in just in case my feet were extra wrecked. This meant sacrificing the post-race poncho but meant I could easily have clothes to change into (the Berlin Marathon has a changing room and showers — quite a unique setup) as well as somewhere to drop a phone charger. I wanted to make sure my phone had battery to get me back to the hotel, and to easily access the weekend pass to the U-bahn which all race participants receive.
The race itself was the most challenging one I’ve ever endured, as I happily took two cups of water at each stop — one to drink and another to pour over my head. Which is why my bib also found itself hanging on for dear life as I crossed the finish line! Thankfully it did make it throughout. Several runners shared they lost theirs along the way, or moved them into their pockets, and lost their race times. Here’s hoping as many of those as possible were able to recoup those times because I cannot even imagine…
A raceday highlight for me was listening to the amazing voices of family, friends, and fellow Still I Run ambassadors throughout my run thanks to the amazing app called HollarHype. I’m obsessed. And so grateful for each message I received. You can take a listen too in the below Instagram post recapping my experience!
Overall, I will admit I was initially a little bummed. This race is the one that people choose to get that PR. To push through the relatively fast course and get a time that typically is a bit or well under other races. Well… that wasn’t in the cards for me. It was so miserably hot and I was shocked to find it did not even best my 2024 NYC Marathon time! However, a completion is a completion and this one? Was hard earned.
So it wasn’t the time I wanted but I did it. I’m thrilled to now have my third Abbott World Marathon Majors star, and to have done it in a way where I was still able to enjoy a fair amount of what Berlin had to offer.
Until next time, Berlin! Xo