FAQ - BMW BERLIN-MARATHON

You will only receive your race material at the MARATHON EXPO.

The opening hours* are:

• Thursday, September 18th, 2025 3pm - 8pm
• Friday, September 19th, 2025 11am - 8pm
• Saturday, September 20th, 2025 9am - 7pm

Please note: no race material will be handed out on Saturday for inlineskating and GENERALI 5K.

*Subject to change

• You will need your Start Card and a photo document (identity card, passport or driver's license).
• You will receive your Start Card by e-mail up to 10 days before the event.

The race material must be collected in person. It is not possible for another person to collect the race material not even with a power of attorney.

• No! You must collect your race material in person. It is not possible for someone else to collect the race material, not even with a power of attorney! It is also not possible to have the documents sent to you.
• When you pick up your race material, you will be given the official athlete wristband which, together with your bib number, grants you access to the start/finish area on race day. This ensures that only registered participants can take part in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON.
• Please only remove your athlete wristband after your race when you have left the finish area.

No. Your race number is personal. It cannot be changed or passed on to another person. 

You can also collect all pre-booked items from the event collection at the MARATHON EXPO 2025 with your race material. The additional services you have booked will be noted on your bib number or your Start Card.

You will receive the poncho after your finish on race day in the finish area.

To avoid long waiting times when picking up your race material, we have introduced a system for reserving time slots. Booking is recommended, but not mandatory.

To change the slot, look for the green mark next to your participation fee in your user account. You can make changes until September 15, 2025. 

• The start is on Straße des 17. Juni, near Bellevueallee.
• On Saturday, skaters can only access the event site via the entrance on Paul-Löbe-Allee, opposite the Bundesrat.
• For runners on Sunday, the only entrance is from Platz der Republik, opposite the Reichstag building.
• Wheelchair users and handbikers can reach the start on Sunday from the Siegessäule via the northern pedestrian path on Straße des 17.

At best, use public transportation.

• The nearest public transportation stops are:
  • U-Bahn: Friedrichstraße or Unter den Linden (U6), Brandenburger Tor or Bundestag (U5), Potsdamer Platz (U2)
  • S-Bahn: Hauptbahnhof or Friedrichstraße (S3, S5, S7, S75), Brandenburger Tor or Friedrichstraße (S1, S2, S25)
  • Regionalbahn: Hauptbahnhof (Central Station)
• From 18.9. (00:01) to 21.9. (03:00), all participants of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON and BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inlineskating can use public transport in the ABC fare zone free of charge. You will receive your ticket from us by e-mail. Your race number is also valid as a ticket.

You can find current timetables and further information at: sbahn.berlin/en/ or www.bvg.de/en

• your personal bib number - clearly visible on your chest
• your athlete wristband - givin to you at the EXPO
• as a skater, wheelchair user or handbiker: your helmet - no helmet, no start

• Access for skaters will be open on Saturday from 10:45 a.m.
• Runners can access the event site on Sunday according to their starting group assignment:
  07:00 a.m. entrance open for groups A B C D
  07:30 a.m. entrance open for groups E F
  08:00 a.m. entrance open for groups G H J
  08:30 a.m. entrance open for group K
   

*Subject to change

Clothing drop-off is only possible for those participants who have booked the "clothing drop-off" when registering and have received a clothing bag and label with their bib number at the race material pick up. All others will receive a warm poncho at the finish (recognizable by a corresponding symbol on the bib number).

• Your personal belongings can only be handed in in the transparent BMW BERLIN-MARATHON clothing bag, unless they are on the list of prohibited items. Furthermore, no bags, rucksacks or other luggage can be taken into the start/finish area.
• Avoid bringing valuables, we are not liable for losses.

The letter on your bib number corresponds to the starting group (A-K) that is allocated for you.

The classification is based on your best marathon time in the last three years or your estimated finish time, which you entered when you registered. You can adjust this in your user account under “My registrations” up to and including August 28, 2025.
Please note that proof (certificate / link to results list) is required for times under 3:15:00.

It is not possible to change the starting group at the MARATHON EXPO.

On race day, you can stay warm in the pre-start zone with your hoodies, training jackets etc. and then donate them on site. Place the items over the bars or throw them into the marked containers. The Berliner Stadtmission collects your donations and passes them on to people living on the street in its clothing store.

No, the start/finish area is only accessible to officially registered participants. To cheer you on from the first few meters, your relatives can use the grandstand directly behind the start. There are also grandstands directly in front of the finish line.

We promote measures to improve air quality in the city. This primarily includes the free public transport ticket for participants and volunteers.

Air quality during the event can be monitored via the Berlin Air Quality Monitoring Network at two measurement points: Station 190 Leipziger Straße (located in the immediate vicinity of our start and finish area) and Station 171 Mitte (located about 800m from the course).

In addition, we recommend the free and ad-free Android and iPhone app “Luftqualität” provided by the German Environment Agency (UBA) (in German only). The app provides hourly updated data on health-relevant pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, and ozone.

• Timekeeping is done exclusively with the MIKA TAG. The MIKA TAG is a transponder attached to the back of the bib number.
• Handbikers and wheelchair athletes receive 2 transponders. One transponder is attached to the back of the bib number, the second should be attached to the sports equipment with cable ties

• Skaters receive a bib number in duplicate. Both numbers must be clearly visible and upright on the outside of the thighs and worn during the race. There is a transponder on the back of each number.

  The time is measured as usual by crossing the timing mat at the start and finish. (There is also split times mats every 5km). In order to guarantee timekeeping, the TAG / transponder must not be bent. As it is a "disposable transponder", there is no need to return it. There is also no rental fee, as the costs are already included in the participation fee.

• No accompanying vehicles (cars, e-scooters, bicycles and motorcycles) or pushchairs of any kind are permitted on the course.
• Roller skates, inline skates, skateboards or other rolling devices are not permitted in the runners' race.
• Please also note the rules of conduct for inline skaters.

Please note: Only Music devices with open-ear headphones are permitted for use on the course. Participants must be alert to their surroundings at all times and must pay attention to important announcements.

Refreshment points with water, tea, isotonic drinks and fruit are set up at regular intervals and in sufficient numbers. There is also a refreshment point with gel from Maurten.

If you wish, we can bring your own refreshments to the individual refreshment points. To do this, you must hand in your container (no glass!) marked with your name, bib number and desired aid station to the "Eigenverpflegung" stand (Annemarie-Renger-Str. / Otto-von-Bismarck-Allee) by 7:45 a.m. on Sunday at the latest.

Only the following are permitted on the route

• hydration packs or vests with the following dimensions:
  • back compartment with a maximum volume of 3 liters for holding hydration bladders
  • Front pockets for water bottles (max. 0.5 liters each)
  • Front pockets for small items (cell phone, keys, etc.)
• or drinking belt:
  • Pockets for water bottles (max. 0.5 liters each)
  • Pockets for small items (cell phone, keys, etc.)

There are also toilet cubicles at the end of each refreshment point.

For first aid services, the medical team, bike doctors, medical aid organizations and patrols from the Berlin fire department are there for you at the start/finish area and on the route. Do not hesitate to contact our staff if you have any complaints or pain. This also applies if you notice emergencies among other participants.

Runners: The time limit is 6:15 hours from crossing the start line. Participants who have not reached KM 33 by 3:50 pm or KM 38 by 4:35pm must leave the official route and continue on the footpath or will be taken to the finish in the broom bus. Please note that you may then not receive a result time, a medal or a post-finish supply.

Inlineskaters: The time limit is 2 hours and 10 minutes from crossing the start line. The cut-off point is at 3:10 p.m. at the Victory Column. Until 3:10 p.m., skaters have their last chance to take the circuit lap towards Ernst-Reuter-Platz and reach the finish line within the time limit. All skaters who arrive at the Victory Column after 3:10 p.m. will be diverted toward the finish line, regardless of the number of laps they have completed up to that point. This means that skaters who are too slow can cross the Brandenburg Gate and the finish line, but will not appear in the rankings because they have not skated the full marathon distance.

We have distributed pacemakers in all 4 start waves. They carry pacer flags with the corresponding finish times.                                                                                                                                 
In wave 1 for 3:00 - 3:15 - 3:30 hours
In wave 2 for 3:00 - 3:15 - 3:30 - 3:45 hours
In wave 3 for 3:30 - 3:45 - 4:00 - 4:15 hours
In wave 4 for 3:45 - 4:00 - 4:15 - 4:30 - 4:45 - 5:00 hours

You can find your result in the results list on the event website under “The race”. Your certificate will also be available for download there.

• To personalize your medal, there is an engraving stand in Scheidemannstraße (outside the event area). You are welcome to book this service in advance via your user account. This will be noted on your race number.
• The engraving must be done on the day of the event.
• The service can also be used directly at the stand for 16.00 euros.

On Saturday, skaters can find changing tents in Annemarie-Renger-Str.

On Sunday there are plenty of changing and showering facilities in the finish area.
If you want to shower, you should take your clothes with you in the morning, because once you have left the area, you are no longer allowed to enter it.

Students of physiotherapy facilities offer free massages in the destination area to loosen up your muscles. You are welcome to take advantage of this service, but please remember that other participants also want to enjoy the "helping hands".

Tea, water, ERDINGER non-alcoholic and isotonic drinks as well as fruit (apples, bananas) will be available for all finishers in the finish area. Some fruit and goodies to reward you after the race and help you recover.

There is a family meeting point in front of the Paul-Löbe-Haus with signs with the letters from A-Z. Meet there with your relatives after your race.

In the days after the event you will get an e-mail with the information about how you can access to your pre-ordered photos and finish-line video.