This year’s BMW Berlin Marathon, planned for September 26-27, 2020, will not be taking place in accordance with the Containment Ordinance as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a feasibility study, it will also not be possible to hold the event at a later date this year.
Nevertheless, the event organising team notes that ‘countless athletes will be out running on September 26-27, 2020, as they take part in the 2:01:39 Challenge.’
The challenge is to cover as many kilometres as possible in 2:01:39 hours. 2:01:39 hours is the world record time set by Eliud Kipchoge at the 2018 BMW Berlin Marathon. The 2:01:39 Challenge App provides runners with support. Starting in mid-September, the free app will be available for download for iOS and Android devices.
In addition, on September 27, 2020, a team of German top runners in the form of a relay is trying to break the time of 2:01:39 hours over the marathon distance around the Berlin Victory Column (Siegessäule).
Due to the current situation, viewers can only follow this action, which takes place in compliance with the current hygiene regulations, on screen. The motto of September 27 is ‘Berlin bewegt sich’ (Berlin moves). The relay will be broadcast live in Germany on rbb television from 09:00 to 11.30 CET.
The BMW Berlin Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world. To date, eleven world records have been set on the superfast route (3 by women, 8 by men). Since 2003, all seven men’s world records have been achieved on the Berlin route, including the current one in 2:01:39 hours (Eliud Kipchoge), set up in 2018.
In 2001, a female runner undercut 2:20 hours for the first time in history, when Japanese 2020 Olympic champion, Naoko Takahashi, won in 2:19:43 hours.
The BMW Berlin Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM), the group of six leading marathons in the world which was founded in 2006. They comprise the marathons in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en
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