Assefa Obliterates Berlin

Marathon season is officially here, and Berlin once again delivered.

Up front the race provided what it is best known for: blazing fast times. Thanks to Ethopia’s Tigst Assefa, running only her third marathon, the women’s world record is now 2:11:53, a mind-blowing time that took more than two minutes off the previous women’s world record of 2:14:04 set by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei at the 2019 Chicago Marathon. On the men’s side, Kipchoge returned to his winning ways by capturing the crown in 2:02:42 for a record fifth Berlin win.

But the less well known story from Berlin is the continued growth of the local community and how massive a moment this race has become for the global crew scene. The locals welcomed the world with open arms, and more and more run crews are making the trek annually to soak up the vibes and energy.

Yes the course is flat and fast, but ultimately it’s community that Berlin, and running in general, is all about. Enjoy the scenes below – onward to Chicago.