This year the Pace car for the BMW Berlin Marathon 2025 was none other than the brand new, all-electric BMW IX3 NEE class. BMW has been the main sponsor of the aptly named BMW Berlin Marathon since 2011. For 2025, more than 55,000 runners from 160 countries took part. The name and vehicles from BMW were visible throughout the event. Sincerely, she not only reported on the marathon for BMWblog, but also ran in the full marathon.
A fleet of BMW support vehicles
No fewer than 65 BMW vehicles were used at the weekend, including about fifteen BMW motorcycles. However, the star of the show was the brand new BMW IX3. It served as an official pace vehicle for professional runners who completed the course in a little more than two hours. I had the opportunity to see the IX3 Pace Car up close and noticed that it promoted a Fabrik -BMW roof shelf with the LED stimmers on the gutters. It looked more like the setup that they would see on a series of 3 than after the clamping style used with X3 roof rails.
The runners started their marathon weekend at the Marathon Expo in the Messe Center, about 45 minutes from the starting line. A short journey on the U-Bahn Berlin subway. Right at the entrance, BMW had issued a strong presence with an IX2, i5 and i4. Although 55,000 runners needed ID checks, leading devices and bracelets, the process was impressively smooth.
The Marathon Expo experience
An e -mail week earlier recommended booking an appointment for BIB collection. The exhibition ran on Thursday to Saturday with a separate track for walk-ins, but the date line was quick and efficient. The athlete bracelet was surprisingly interesting: about one centimeter wide, made of robust but smooth fabric, cut and heated seal. In the days before the race, these different BMW Berlin Marathon wristbands made it easy to recognize other runners in our hotel.
From the Brandenburg Gate
The start and end of the marathon were set against the legendary Brandenburg goal. The course is famous for being flat and quick. Essentially sea level – 35 meters (35 meters) – it is the opposite of running somewhere like Colorado Springs. Course threads promise minimal changes in height and they have no jokes. The net profit is only 73 meters over the 42.2 km (26.2 miles). After I had gone it, I couldn’t tell you where this height profit was – it is subtle.
I am a temperature -sensitive runner, and unfortunately 2025 recorded record heat. The temperatures were 15 ° C above the seasonal average at 27 ° C (81 ° F) instead of the usual 12 ° C (in the mid -1950s ° F). The organizers repeatedly warned us of the risks, and every water stop was good with water, sports drink and volunteers with jugs, refill the bottles. The volunteers deserve great recognition – they kept 55,000 runners with moisture. For those who wonder, yes, there were also many portable toilets on the track.
My trip day trip
As for my race, I started in Wave 3, about an hour after the professionals and the fastest amateurs. In the heat, it is always better in the heat, so it was not ideal to wait at Berlin’s zoo for my start at 10:10 a.m. But when I was in the slide, optimism took over.
When we came to the starting line, I heard dozens of languages around me, music and even flames from the top of the starting gate. It was spectacular – I wish I had filmed it. When you cross with thousands of other runners under this gate, you feel lightly as air. Within a few minutes we separated around the Victory Column column, got out of the zoo, and we were on the way.
Cross the finish line
I had coordinated a 4-hour exit, but remembered running the race in front of me, not what I had planned. The first 10k were slower than expected, but I said it was okay – the burnout. With mile 11 (18 km) I was shocked that runners already received medical help on the side. I tried to increase the pace, but it only took 5 km before I had to start breaks. At first I limited them to water stations, but soon they came more often. Nevertheless, I somehow managed to take up and run again between the breaks.
The spectators were incredible. Berlin’s streets were lined with people, many called names from our bibs. My personal favorite celebration came from a group of British who discovered me and called: “Go King Charles!”
The BMW Berlin Marathon really feels like an urban celebration. Despite the massive amount, everything flowed smoothly. It is difficult not to be impressed if you find that 55,000 people run next to you, but everything works.
My marathon -personal record is 3:45. I’m not a quick runner, but this year my goal was easy: end. And I crossed the line in 4:36. At first I was disappointed not to be closer to my goal, but now that I had time to think, I am satisfied with the result. Everyone out there really ran and tested their limits under difficult conditions.
Would I run Berlin again? At the moment my legs are too sore to consider it at all. But ask me again in a few weeks – I could just say yes.
