Berlin Marathon 2024

Naked Lepper

Are there many heading over?

Flying out on Fri and back on Mon myself

Looking forward to it. Did the half last year and will do the half again in April. Nice little warm up and hopefully another HM PB

djemba djemba

Yeah, I am. Well that's the plan. Have flights out booked on Friday, still debating on return, would usually wait until Monday but 6am flight or a night time flight doesn't suit me too well.

Naked Lepper

on the 06:40 aer lingus on the friday and 21:45 on monday evening. did not fancy the early one on monday either, but wanted to be able to relax without traveling to airport directly after the marathon on the sunday

i got a place through sports tour international. used them for NYC before and the hotel had lots of runners from ireland and a good atmosphere around the place.

going over for the half in april too. will be nice to get a little taster for september - lot of miles between now and then!!

Burkie1203

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121784393#Comment_121784393

Me too but have a misaligned pelvis injury atm and no idea when I will be back

brennarr

I didn’t get in via the lottery and it looks like Sports Tour International and Marathon travel are sold out.

Does anyone have any ideas where I could gain an entry?

Thanks

justfortherecor

Heading over the Friday morning and then back on Tuesday morning.

First time doing Berlin and likely a final attempt to break the PB before age starts to get the better of me! Very much looking forward to the big city marathon experience and hoping the high standard helps drag me along to a good time!

Murph_D

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121788342#Comment_121788342

Have a look at the charity options on the Berlin website. I believe there are a couple of Irish charities on there that you could probably hook up with.

Duanington

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121813558#Comment_121813558

+1 Focus Ireland definitely have spots

niallo27

I applied there through Focus Ireland, how much do they usually want you to raise.

Duanington

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121819825#Comment_121819825

I think its different for each individual, not sure they have a minimum standard or whatever - I know a couple that have raised 800 quid and gone with them

niallo27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121820206#Comment_121820206

I am signed up there with them, 250 non refundable and they want me to raise 1250, if i reach 75% they will let me register. Looks like i am doing it.

Duanington

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121822719#Comment_121822719

Congrats - fair play

Laineyfrecks

I'm also in for Berlin, got in on a qualifying GFA entry, absolutely thrilled. This is the one I've dreamed of doing since I did my 1st marathon. Travelling over on the Thursday and back on the Sunday night.

Training going good at the moment, trying out a bit of XC currently and a few different things before I knuckle down to a decent block of training (hopefully) Hoping to get myself a PB but mostly want to enjoy the whole buzz of it!

niallo27

Marathon tours have places again. About 1450 for 3 nights and entry. It’s not that bad in fairness

brennarr

Yeah just signed up with Marathon tours, it seems a few tour companies got extra slots. It’s not a price considering it’s 3 nights accommodation and the race entry.

Just need to keep an eye on flights. Currently they are pricey at €4/500. Any idea of the going rate for the flights for the marathon weekend last year?

Sandwell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121885516#Comment_121885516

Think I paid around 300 return but I would have booked before Christmas. I was surprised at how expensive Berlin worked out last year. Great event tho.

djemba djemba

If anyone fancies a day after wondering around berlin. The Monday late flight with ryanair is currently €107.

niallo27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121894576#Comment_121894576

That is good in fairness, its not too late. I'm thinking out early on Saturday with Aer Lingus and back Monday evening with Ryanair. Early start on Saturday in fairness.

niallo27

Anyone get a code this morning to register. Extra spaces added. I went off and raised money for focus Ireland so looks like I have two spaces now. Oh well at least a good cause got money.

Burkie1203

Do they offer deferral option does anyone know

kave2

Got a mail today too. Very happy.

Anyone got a recommendation for decent hotel close to start/finish?

MiketheMechanic

Hi all.

I was on a cancellation list with one of the Tour operators, and they contacted me this morning to say that they have a package for 2 places for Berlin, 4 nights, twin room B&B in the Team hotel, for 1540 per person. Only catch is I have to let them know today by 4pm.

Anyone interested in sharing?

MtM

justfortherecor

Hey all, into the final month ahead of D-Day for this one.

Belatedly realizing that the hydration stations for this serve the water/drinks in (firm) plastic cups as opposed to bottles?

Not the biggest fan of cups, especially ones that you can't form into a spout for easier pouring!

Any other suggestions? Exploring race belts but not overly keen on trying them for the first time at this late stage. Berlin also seems to operate an own-bottle pick up service for delivery to specific hydration stations out on the course - anyone used that previously and have any views!

Thanks and good luck in the final few weeks training!

Trampas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122554229#Comment_122554229

I use soft flasks now to carry my drinks within a running belt built into shorts. As you drink them they squash down to nothing unlike bottles. I go for the 250mls and carry 2/3 of them. If you’ve someone on course you can throw them at them when empty. More and more bottles will vanish and replaced by cups but races still seem to think having same number of water stations is ok when really it’s not as you’ve no hope in getting 100 ml in a cup and they think that replaces a 250 ml bottle and sufficient

justfortherecor

Very helpful, thank you. Might explore the running belt option promptly and get a couple of training runs in to see if it's comfortable for me.

May I ask, did you go for a flip belt or is that some particular type/brand of shorts that have the belt built in?

Naked Lepper

the Maurten 500ml soft flask is ideal. Thats what I’ll bring and I’ll have it in my flip belt as usual , it fits perfectly and there’s room for gels

does anyone have pics of the water stations? Is there taps to refill bottles? I heard there will be taps so hopefully it is a 10 second job and we can refill them quickly and continue on

Naked Lepper

https://www.maurten.com/products/drink-flask-550

brennarr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122554229#Comment_122554229

I seen on sk8baords review of last years race that “The plastic cups this year were ideal for pinching” so hopefully same this year.

They had cups for Chicago last year and I had no issues pinching them so hopefully they’re similar.

Murph_D

Can second that - last year’s cups were perfectly pinchable, and there are loads of stations. I only used every second one on average, probably. You’ll be grand - but do practice with plastic cups if you are going to use them.

niallm77

Having to.give this a miss due to injury. Finally got a lottery place and then got injured.

djemba djemba

NIce to get the free travel ticket for the weekend of the marathon.

niallo27

I’m travelling over the Friday myself for this. Prices were crazy so going Shannon to London and London to Berlin. Just hoping there is no major delays going over.

brennarr

Same as myself, heading over Friday morning through Amsterdam with KLM as prices were crazy with Ryanair and Aer Lingus.

MiketheMechanic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122621654#Comment_122621654

Flying Thursday afternoon from DUB-BER with Ryanair. The Friday flight options weren't great for me - either too early/late or expensive. hard to believe there's only a week to go!

niallo27

The weather is now showing very very wet for Sunday. I don’t mind a small bit of rain but this looks like it could be shocking.

brennarr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122648683#Comment_122648683

It’s showing 14-15c and sunny on my two weather apps. Though it says it is going to be wet in the days leading up it.

Naked Lepper

weather looks ideal

Between 8 degrees at 9am and rising to 13 by 1pm

Sunny with some clouds and no wind

trying to manage a tight IT band (knee and glute) this week so am praying I feel strong by wknd :-/

best of luck everyone!

niallo27

Sorry apologies, looking at the wrong place. Heading to expo on saturday, is it mental on the saturday, not that i have much to do for the day anyway.

kave2

Trying to log in with new app. Anyone knows what's the registration ID? Tried few things from mails I have received but nothing seems to be working.

niallo27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122651939#Comment_122651939

Its on your start card, 4 digit code under the QR code, SC: before it. Just enter the 4 digit code

kave2

Thanks, works now.

Things not going well for this race for me.

Got injured towards end of the training plan(missed 3-4 weeks) and yesterday morning woke up sore throat, runny nose and feeling like sh..

It's going to be a long day on Sunday

Not sure if I should be laughing or crying 🤣

brennarr

Hope everyone is set for tomorrow. Starting in wave A at 9:15am time should I be there at? I’m thinking around 7:30 to be safe with bag drop and all.

ergo

Good luck everyone tomorrow, have done Berlin twice but not in a long time, am very jealous, enjoy!

kave2

I'm wave G, start time 10:10. I'm thinking to go to Branderburg Tor S-bahn stop, be there by 8:30. Not feeling great tbh but hopefully it's only nerves. Only my second marathon and feeling a bit intimidated.

ergo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122663870#Comment_122663870

Don't be intimidated, support all the way around, last time I did it the wheels came off a bit, had to stop multiple times, crowd were really supportive, offering to help me stretch etc - lovely feel about it - it is big though, a lot of people at the start - such a nice city to do a marathon in - try to enjoy...!

marathon2022

Good luck today guys 🍀

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djemba djemba

On the good days I post my time, so today shouldn't be any different. 2:57:19. Wheels came off big time in the second half. I knew I wasn't in pb shape but that was a tough day which I just had to grind it out. I wasn't looking for a pb but would have liked to have kept the Q time but not to be. Looking at the positives, the buzz is back.

Laineyfrecks

What an amazing experience! I dreamt of running Berlin 5 years ago & today I did. Finished in 3:17:02 so a slight PB for me but today was about so much more than the time, I can't believe I have ran my 1st major marathon, absolutely buzzing 😊

djemba djemba

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122666183#Comment_122666183

Congrats Elaine. A slight pb for now. Enjoy and well deserved. Flying

brennarr

Conditions were ideal yesterday. A 11 minute PB for me coming in at 2:42