Berlin Marathon 2026

 

Berlin Marathon in 6:28:24

September 27, 2026

Context

As this ancient blog will attest, if you dive into the archives, in 2008, I visited Europe for the first time. I attended a conference in Lindau, visited Munich and Berlin, finally hopped over to Oxford to see a friend from college. I loved every town and city, but most especially Berlin. 

This blog will also tell you that in January, 2010, I ran my first marathon. I was immediately addicted to spending months building up mileage, running for over five hours on race day experiencing hope, despair, and the elation of a finish line, and even hobbling post-race, medal-clad, to dinner and celebratory drinks. (Truly, while the events themselves have varied from road to trail, half marathon to 50k to half Ironman to full Ironman attempt/DNF, endurance racing hasn't left me for long since that fateful day in 2009 when friends and I decided "well we should just go for it.") 

Pretty soon after Disneyworld in January 2010, I created a Race Bucket List. It's evolved over the years, but two have remained constant: the Berlin Marathon, and the London Marathon. 

In 2024, soon after the NYC Marathon, I found out that I won a slot via the lottery in the 2025 Berlin Marathon!!! I was burnt out after NYC and battling some achilles pain, but of course I accepted the position. I eventually deferred my registration to 2026 to give myself time to heal. I spent 2025 working with my coach (Caitlyn), my dietitian (Meghann), a couple PTs. I tried out so many new shoes. I did a lot of calf raises. My only race was the Abbott Chicago 5k, which set an encouraging baseline for my Berlin 2026 plans. In November, I was hospitalized with pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in both lungs), and had to stop taking a medication that was incredibly helpful for some other health issues, as well as halt the momentum from Chicago. Then, my coach had to quit for her own health and goal's sake. 

So, starting out the year of Berlin 2026: no coach, low mileage, and concerns about old symptoms returning. Yay!

In February, I starting working with a new coach, Victoria, one of the PTs I'd seen virtually and whose strength programs I'd loved. She helped me manage an at times insane travel schedule and build confidence in my injury-prone body. We got through a record-hot summer in New Mexico, clocking higher mileage than I did before NYC, with no injuries!! I did have some fueling concerns and some long-run nausea, so I worked with Meghann again to dial that in. 

BERLIN RACE DAY!

I could write many posts about Jasper's and my trip to Amsterdam and Berlin, where we hung out with my mom and dad and Jasper's mum. How much it meant to me to be back in a nostalgic city and to use my German language skills again. How nervous I was about the race cutoff times, to the point where I had to force myself to be excited about this big Bucket List race atmosphere, and how the Race Expo helped. How Berlin City Center felt like I was in summer camp, seeing so many marathon-jacketed and -braceleted runners at literally every tourist spot. 56,000 runners in a relatively small city stand out!

But I won't. Let's get to race day!!

Jasper and I had first breakfast at 7am in the hotel, a delicious combo of Skratch Everyday Hydration (salted margarita flavor), a cappuccino, pretzel rolls, and peanut butter that I brought with me from home. I packed second breakfast to take with me, at I wouldn't start running until about 10:30am.

My sweet husband insisted on going with me to the start. We left the hotel around 7:55 to take the UBahn from Spittlemarkt partway. I'd heard so many stories of jam-packed trains at Alexanderplatz (popular transfer hub) and the stops at the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag, so we just took the U2 to Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße, and walked 17 min from there to the Start Village. 

I entered the Start Village, kissing Jasper goodbye, around 8:35am. I easily found Corral K, the very last corral (per usual). Another horror story about Berlin that I heard often and never experienced: insane potty lines, no toilet paper, no hand sanitizer, and people pooping in the bushes. I was *beyond* thrilled to walk straight up to porta potty and find it to be super clean and stocked with toilet paper. (No sanitizer, but I had hand wipes with me.)

Trying to save my legs, I sat on a curb. I finished my second breakfast right on time, right before 9am. The corral filled and I stood, anticipating being released into the starting area. I ended up sitting back down on the pavement for a while. We'd hear the countdown and Viking Clap warmup for other waves and cheer for them as they began. I had lovely short conversations with people around me. Everyone got super antsy. I started worrying about bathrooms. I'd have to fight a crowd to get back to the ones I'd used before, but there were supposed to be some in the start area...if only we could access them...

We were finally released into the start area around 10:15am. I speed walked to the porta potties, and waited in a five-person line. (This one had no TP, but some sanitizer. Good thing I also packed TP with me!) I saw a line of dudes peeing on a fence, but thankfully, never witnessed "hoards of people pooping" as rumored. 

Then I walked to the crowd pushed against the starting line in the knick of time for the countdown! Corral K started right at 10:27am! I crossed the start a few minutes later!

By the time we started, I was fully excited about the day ahead. I felt good. I felt *too* good, and my paces reflect that. Starting slowly and not getting caught up in the crowds was the goal, and I 100% ignored it. Oops. 

Jasper and I made a spectating plan wherein they'd try to see me three times. The course is a big loop and Berlin has an excellent train system, making this a safe plan! He did an awesome job herding the parents around all day and the parents had a blast!

First spectating stop: between kilometers 2 and 3 (oh yeah, it's a European race. Turns out, I prefer kilometer markings over miles. They're so much shorter! So much more instant gratification for ticking off segments! Did I google "Xkm to miles" several times on the route to help with pace maths? Of course I did!). 

Mom caught me being passed by The Hobbit, and I saw Dad and Jasper holding "Go Jessica!" and Margot's homemade sign "Run Jessica Run". Mom and Margot had big smiles and cheers!!

I loved the live bands around the course. Marching band, big drum lines, rock bands, and even...smooth jazz...?? There were also tons of boom boxes and DJs keeping us motivated. I wore my Shokz, but couldn't hear my own music half the time. 

The crowds were thinner and quieter than in NYC, but that was actually a blessing. My bib had my name, and this time I loved hearing it along the course. It was less intense than the constant "OMG HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!" I got in NYC thanks to my "BIRTHDAY GIRL" shirt.

I took two pictures the entire race: the Victory Column one above, and this TV Tower:

The course was lovely. The scenery varied from historic buildings and modern skyscrapers, business districts and neighborhoods, exposed hot sunny pavement and shady tree-lined avenues. Only one area reminded me of NYC, in that it was dirty and smelly. (I love NYC. It is so dirty and often smelly.) 

I kept up my 8:1 intervals, aiming to keep my running in the 13s, until maybe 8 miles in? But my pace was definitely too fast for the first couple miles. I paid for going out too quickly, and had to slow down. In addition, it got hot. 75F was cooler than Berlin had last year (80F?) and cooler than some of my long runs, but I just don't do well in the heat. I got nauseous and had to walk a lot more as well as slow down even more to deal with it. I kept kinda hoping I'd puke, but never did. I also wondered why in the world I do this to myself, and decided Berlin would be my last marathon.

I did keep fueling on time! A major win! Every two intervals, I'd have a gel. Alternating Huma+ and Maurten, and alternating caffeine and no caffeine. 

I'm not sure why I got nauseous. Heat? Fueling slightly differently before the race? Gulping too much water? I was very thirsty and did gulp more than usual. Debriefing with Meghann soon.

Another horror story about many marathons: aid stations running out of water and fuel before slow runners arrive. Berlin had water for me every time I needed it. <3 There was no Maurten gels left at the one gel station, but that was ok. I never planned to rely on it. 

My favorite thing about Berlin's aid stations were the firetrucks spraying water. Folks did this with their own hoses in neighborhoods, too. I hit literally every hose offered. My bib soaked to the point that it kept tearing off the pin, and I had to reattach it. #worthit

I started worrying that I wouldn't make the 33km cutoff at 3:40pm. I came to be at peace with that. I looked around and soaked in the crowds and the sights. I was so grateful to make it through a very hard training cycle, including a year deferral while working on an achilles injury, pulmonary embolisms, going off medication, and then a coach change, gas leak, my busiest work year yet and a record-breaking summer heat. But I was running the Berlin Marathon!!!!! 

I abandoned caring about the watch and just ran or walked as my tummy allowed.

But then!! My tummy cleared up! I ran more, though still very slowly. I started the maths. Okay, I can make the cutoff at 33km and meet my fam at 34km, if I keep it up! I made the cutoff with 9 minutes to spare! (Though, while the runners' handbook said 3:40, the website now says 3:50? so maybe I had 19 minutes to spare...the motivation was good for me either way.)

The fam was waiting right in front of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche, smiling and cheering and waving their signs! I couldn't stop smiling as I approached and Mom yelled "wow, you look so happy!!" (I was so pleased. When I saw them at mile 16 of NYC, I was not at all happy, and was dreading the last ten miles.) I pointed at Jasper, and gave him a big salty sweaty kiss. (He's gotten one at every marathon he's spectated, aka Berlin and NYC.) I decided that Berlin would NOT be my last marathon!

The church is such a cool monument. It's just visible behind me here:

With less than 10k to go, the maths started again. ("9k is how many miles? What about 8k? 7k?") As did the blisters. I got several, which would hurt sharply for a while and then dull. I figured out that I couldn't make the 4:45pm (the 6:15:00 cutoff), but I could cross before they closed the finish line at 5pm! Goal: get that medal!! 

As we ran by the Deutscher and Franzözischer Doms toward the center of town, the crowds thickened and became more boisterous. A gal ran with me for a bit, saying, "at km 21, I was a block from my hotel. I almost quit and went straight there." We happened to be at 40km, one block from our hotel. I told her this, and she replied "NOT TODAY SATAN!" We laughed and kept running.

Near 41km there was a big group of finishers, wearing medals and yelling for us to RUUUN! My hands were numb and I felt kinda lightheaded, but I ran!

Then, we turned left onto Unter den Linden, and I gasped because there it was! The Brandenburg Gate!! It was time to really give it all I had left. On the side just before the gate, my family's smiles beamed and I heard Jasper cry, "she's going do it! She's really going to do it!!" 

I ran through the Brandenburg Gate, sobbing and also warily watching for the finish line closers. I looked up and embraced the moment I've been dreaming of for ages. 

That's not the finish though. About 400m of blue-clad course left, by grandstands, so many photographers, and finally, the finish line arches and timing mats. 

I ran my second-fastest split for the last half mile and was an exhausted blubbering mess as soon as I stopped. 

A sweet volunteer placed my medal over my head, and told me "good job, herzlichen gluckwünsch!!" as I smiled through tears at her. Apparently I looked a mess, as several others checked on me as I wobbled through the finish village, searching for my poncho and goodie bag. 

I snapped a quick selfie and sent it to my people, including my awesome coach!! Victoria! WE DID IT!

As I hobbled along, a British lady matched my stride and said, "well wonder where them ponchos are." We had a good chat as we looked, and were both excited to see our husbands, if we ever found the exit.

I'm overall thrilled that I made the finish line cutoff to get a medal, and that they did have ponches and goodie bags (with, among other normal things, chocolate, a box of dry penne pasta, and a ramen packet??) left by the time I finished. But my British friend and I were bummed: they were totally out of the Erdinger Alkohol-frei beer they'd advertised ad nauseum to us since registration. Oh well.

Apparently, even though the runners' handbook had the finish line cutoff at 5pm, according to social media and now the website the finish line cutoff was enforced at 5:15pm. I'm very glad I thought it was 5pm: without that motivation, I would've walked more and not gotten in under 6.5 hours. Someday I hope to get back to times I hit in my 20s, and I'm grateful that I chipped away at that goal.

I shuffled out, finally, and over to the family meeting area, where my sweet husband found me! I sat on a bench for a while with another runner and her family, until I worked up the nerve to limp down the UBahn steps. A classic Berlin rite of passage. 

We celebrated with a cocktail with the parents at their hotel on the way to ours. After a blissful shower (in which I learned where I could've vaselined better and just how ugly my toes now were), we reconvened for dinner at our hotel. I got into bed supremely happy. A major bucket list item ticked off after a longer-than-planned journey!

Thank you to...

Coach Victoria and Dietitian Meghann for all the amazing guidance in 2026

Coach Caitlyn for getting me through a tough 2025

Best runner-nerd friend Michelle for all the encouragement and advice

Sibs and nibs for the support from afar

Mom, Dad, and MIL for joining me in Germany 

and obviously Jasper, for going above and beyond in supporting me through yet another long, long marathon journey. I love you!

NYC Marathon 2024, Part III: Manhattan, The Bronx, Manhattan

 NYC Marathon 2024 Race Recap, Part III: Manhattan, The Bronx, Manhattan. 

Part I: Getting to the Start Line.

Part II: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens.

We've just had a rejuvenating run over the Queensboro Bridge after covering our first three boroughs in 16 miles. The quiet on the bridge is giving way to the roar of First Avenue in...

Manhattan (the first time): miles 16-20

Entering Manhattan, my first thought was, "I get to see Jasper and my parents around mile 16.5!!" 

But then, amid the generic cheers of the crowd, I heard something that made me do a double take...oh my goodness, it's MANDY AND JUDE!!! I had no idea they were going to come out to cheer. The absolute glee I felt seeing them is in evidence in the pictures from Jude, of me taking a 90-degree turn to swoop in to hug Mandy. 

That carried me for another half a mile to a mile until I found these beautiful faces. Husband, Mom, and Dad. They've followed me all over for races and spectate well. They spent the morning at the top of the Empire State Building, eating street hot dogs, and moseying over to 1st and 72nd, where they apparently made a few other Jessicas and many Cookie Monster fans smile. (Thanks to the Sesame Street booth at the Expo for the sign--I only saw one other actually along the course!) I took a quick breather with them and definitely teared up leaving for my final ten miles!

Some details are a little hazy, but I'm going to say these were in Manhattan:

First, I saw two people cheering and holding Swiss flags. I almost ran straight on by, but I noticed they had a stack of cups and a bottle of Coke. 

I said, "Oh my goodness, could I HAVE SOME OF THAT?"

"Ohhhh! Yes! Yes! It will help!"

Reader, it did help. I rarely drink Coke, but I absolutely crave it late in endurance events. It was life giving.

Second, at some point, as I ran by a small group, I overheard them say to a man about my dad's age "you just missed her! She literally just ran by!" He sprinted off after a woman about my age, caught up shortly, and gave her a big hug. She smiled ear to ear!

Eventually, around mile 19.5, I hit the Willis Avenue Bridge. It doesn't stick out as particularly hard, but it was pretty as the sun had started to set.

The Bronx: mile 20-21

The Bronx was my favorite borough, and it was only about a mile of the course. It was a mix of good music, enthusiastic crowds, and a few sweet encounters.

My hamstring cramped a bit, so when I spotted a tent of police officers offering massage sticks and Biofreeze, I popped over. A wonderful young woman quickly asked what I needed and got to work rolling out my hamstrings and calves, then rubbing in Biofreeze. Felt magical!

Next, as I was nearing the final bridge on a walking break, I saw a woman follow runners for a bit and come back to follow another, and she followed me. She gave me the best pep talk for me in that moment. "You can walk as much as you want or need, but you WILL RUN across the finish line. YOU WILL. TELL ME."

I told her. I promised I would. (With a couple tears.) Actually hearing that "I could just walk" was great motivation to *not* just walk, so...thank you ma'am!

And then, just like that, we were at the Madison Ave Bridge. The Last Damn Bridge, as they say:

I happily grabbed some Jelly Bellies and Nerds, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Manhattan (the second time): mile 21-26.2

Back in Manhattan, we ran about three miles down 5th Ave, chasing the sun setting behind the Empire State Building. Please note all the walkers in this photo:

Yes, my cohort as it were was very, very tired by this point. It got dark just as we started to feel 5th Ave's incline. They all say you wouldn't notice that it's uphill if you weren't near the end of a marathon. I definitely felt that.

I passed the woman on crutches who was the second-to-last finisher of the marathon: she'd started in an earlier wave than me, hurt something at mile 17, asked for crutches in a medical tent, and kept going. So inspiring that she finished!

Even in the dark, the streets were lined with people encouraging us, handing out fruit and tissues and water (never mind the official aid stations themselves), and playing music. Amazing.

I just kept swimming, kept deciding to not walk the whole way back, kept restarting my running intervals.

Around mile 24, we ENTERED THE PARK!! CENTRAL PARK!! I loved the change of scenery and terrain. The rolling hills brought some life back into my legs. A man in combat boots passed me, blasting music. I passed a woman in all hot pink and glitter. We saw a sign that said "Hi Barbie!" And then we hit mile 25!

At mile 25.5, we left the park to frantic crowds on 59th street. I knew my family would be waiting, and compulsively checked my forearm--must not miss them!!

I knew I'd get confused later in the race. 

THERE THEY WERE!!!! No stopping this time, save to toss Jasper my bottle and kick it into a higher gear! 

We rounded the corner back into Central Park at Columbus Circle to tunes of an awesome band, and a street lined with flags.

   

Markers switched from miles or kilometers to meters: 800m to go!!

400m to go!!

200m to go!! The lights were blinding and grandstand empty, but the finish area full of volunteers and spectators, go go gooooo!

Fin. :D

I teared up yet again, in relief and happiness and some disbelief that after two years of planning and 6:45:28 hours of running, I'd finished the New York City Marathon. 

Post-race celebration

I got my medal, my recovery bag with snacks I never ate, and my fleece-lined poncho that is currently my couch blanket.

 

My coach texted me immediately. We're both so pleased, given *waves hands vaguely* everything. The dazzling NYC Marathon experience and no injuries is what we trained for, and we did it.

I texted Jasper, and started a new Garmin workout with Livetrack so he could follow my slow progress leaving the infamous finish area. My walk from the finish line to the subway was over a mile.

The zombies in orange hobbled away from the finish line through a maze of fencing. I kept checking my forearm to make sure I remembered the cross street. Wait, isn't this 72nd? Can't I leave here? Volunteer says no...sigh.

I shuffled down to 68th, and a-ha! An exit! THERE'S MY JASPER!!!! And mom! Dad! Mandy! Jude!

We waddled to the subway, and I sort of controlled fell down the stairs.

Back at the hotel, after a photoshoot with my new favorite jewelry, I showered. Oh my goodness, I left out details of the portapotties, but I mentioned general NYC smells, and things on the ground, and well...let's just say I felt like a new woman after a hot, thorough shower.

Then, Jasper and I dragged my increasingly hungry self down to Goldie's Tavern, the perfectly acceptable sports bar under our hotel, and said goodbye to Mandy and Jude, and hello to Beth and Josh for a bit!! Mom, Dad, Jasper, and I got the best burgers, tater tots, and Manhattans. The very slow service was not what I needed, but the protein and carbs definitely were. We exhaustedly hugged Mom and Dad goodbye before their super early flight. They're so good to me. Thanks for coming to NYC and hanging out with your son-in-law all day while I raaan! (They're good buds.)

First night after: ouch

As I expected from other events, I couldn't sleep at all from pain and overstimulation that night. Rolling over hurt everything from my core down to my toes. Walking was hard the next day, but between Chelsea brunch with my friends before they left for the airport, visiting the LEGO flagship store for a free minifig trophy and medal (if I showed my medal), Refinery Rooftop dinner, and Aladdin on Broadway, I covered 7 miles! That movement helped; I slept INCREDIBLY well with no pain the second night, and walked mostly normally the next day.

Final Thoughts: do it

I'm not sure I'll do the NYC Marathon again, but it was an unforgettable experience. For the record, I liked Pink Start and the Queensboro bridge, and did not like having something specific on my shirt that excited the crowd. I am apparently not 90% of NYC marathon runners. That's okay.

We would definitely stay in the Courtyard Marriott Manhattan/Chelsea again. It was perfect for race logistical stuff and so clean and comfortable.

Bagel Pub has amazing bagels and like twenty different kinds of cream cheese, but their coffee is terrible.

Chelsea is my current favorite NYC neighborhood.

Barn Joo was my favorite meal.

Jasper, Mom, Dad, Mandy, Bethany, Josh, and Jude made my 40th Birthday and Marathon Trip incredible, thank you all!!! 

Official video. If only I knew where the video cameras would be, I'd time my walking breaks differently. :P