Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge faces a wall of photographers after breaking his own marathon world record at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. His time of 2:01:09 was 30 seconds faster than his 2018 feat, which was the greatest improvement over a previous record (1 minute and 18 seconds) in more than 50 years.

It wouldn’t be a marathon without the familiar crunch of plastic cups – about a million in total, according to the event organizer. Waste disposal is just part of the job for most of the more than 5,000 Berlin Marathon volunteers.

Rookie and veteran firefighters alike debrief before the big event. Around 100 volunteers from the volunteer and youth fire brigades keep runners hydrated during the race and, on cold, wet mornings like this, supply hot water for the finish line showers.

For hometown photographer Sebastian Wells, the 2023 Berlin Marathon is a particularly special occasion: “Ten years ago, I stood on the course for the first time to photograph the runners and the city which frames their course. What attracts me to the Berlin Marathon is not only the sport and all the spectacular world records in recent years, but also the symbiosis between the runners and the city. Along the course, everyone becomes part of the event. Corner pubs, restaurants, and balconies are transformed into public viewing areas. Even those who are not enthusiastic about sports are attracted by the music and the spectacle. The 42 kilometres are also a tour of the town where I grew up. Running along the edge of the marathon course and taking photos always lets me discover my home anew.”

Berlin hosts the world's largest marathon in terms of participation, with more than 40,000 runners taking their place every year. The event also draws around a million spectators, who line the course to cheer on the athletes, enjoy music from more than 70 live bands, and take in the action with a cold beer or hot coffee.

Jason Suarez, a.k.a. Notafraid2fail and better known for his photography in track and field, has followed his work around the world. Highlights include the last World Athletics Championships in Doha, Eugene, and Budapest, as well as the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, where he shot for U.S.A. Track & Field. He has photographed the Berlin Marathon each of the last five years. This year, he’ll run it for the first time.

“I fell in love with the energy of the city and how the crews come together to celebrate each other,” he says. “It reminds me of the energy back home. Witnessing Kipchoge and Bekele, as well as seeing my close friends Fred, Sean, Caitlin (pictured in photo #2) and so many others chasing their dreams on the same course as the greats, has always inspired me to go out there and do it myself.”

All focus on Caitlin Phillips, who finished the Berlin Marathon in the top 20 for three consecutive years (2017-2019). In 2019, she qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the second time. In addition to an impressive professional career, Caitlin encourages women to run through the Boroughs and beyond as the founder of Distance Project NYC.

Ben Clement has a keen eye for little details that tell big stories. Of all the race-day footprints, trash is certainly the biggest. In addition to roughly 1 million plastic cups, the course is strewn with discarded clothes, foil blankets, goodie bags, and food wrappers after the race. ALBA disposed of 35 tonnes of waste at the 2022 Berlin Marathon – less than the year before, and a number organizers hope to reduce year over year.

Iku Sasajima captures the essence of the Berlin Marathon through illustrative homages. This artwork is drawn to connect one’s memory and emotion that envelop both runners and spectators. Painted in strokes that seem to echo the heartbeat of a race, her illustrations evoke the thrill and perseverance that define the marathon.

“Alungrun”

Mareike Bode, 2023.

Scent blend of natural essential oils, mirror glass, professional diffuser.

Upon entering the exhibition space, visitors subconsciously inhale a distinct scent, only later realizing that this enigmatic aroma is emanating from a mirrored box in the next room.

“Alungrun” adds a specially created olfactory note to the marathon photo exhibition. It is based on a mix of associations of the Berlin Marathon behind the scenes; underneath and around the runners’ running shoes; and the air outside and inside the runners’ and photographers’ lungs.

The concept of a marathon as a communal event has a rich historical tradition dating back to Ancient Greece. Many different nationalities come together in Berlin, sharing the same air – running on asphalt and earthy pathways, surrounded by trees and leaves of Tiergarten and other parks, between sweaty bodies and amidst a spirit of hope.

With the goal of lending olfactory and energizing support to the runners, photographers, and unseen moments of the Berlin Marathon, woody and resin ingredients yield a grounding effect while providing a solid foundation for a successful race. Meanwhile, the blend’s citrusy notes inspire a motivating force within us. An olfactory experience can serve as a reminder of how beautiful yet fleeting a marathon can be – something we work so hard and long for, and from which we can draw so much.

This video installation presents a unique perspective on the home stretch of the Berlin Marathon course, as seen through the reflection in a pair of running glasses. With the end in sight, the last kilometer of the race leads the athletes on a straight line through the iconic Brandenburg gate before finally returning to Tiergarten to cross the finish line. As the athletes tap into their last reserves of energy, the world around them seems to blur into a whirlwind of determination and adrenaline.

American long-distance runner, Olympic medalist, and New York City Marathon champion Shalane Flanagan has led an unbelievable career. In 2021, she ran six marathons in six weeks – all of the majors, each one in under three hours. What makes her feat even more impressive is that she accomplished it despite two reconstructive knee surgeries and soon after the birth of her first son, Jack, who joined her on the road. Cortney White shot the entire journey. Here, she captures Flanagan in a moment of reflection at the Berlin Marathon.

Cheer zones, fuelled by the rise of running crews, have become an integral part of the marathon atmosphere. Gone are the days of the police’s futile attempts to enforce order. Today, race organizers condone a little spectator rowdiness – especially at the legendary kilometre 36.5.

Some say you only have to run 36.5 kilometres for the Berlin Marathon. Make it this far, and you’ll be serenaded by the deafening cheer of race-day hooligans who’ve set up camp with speakers, signage, beers, and the occasional flare. Then just let the high float you over the finish line.

Eliud Kipchoge is surrounded by his group of pacers, fellow runners who take turns leading to help reduce air resistance in a technique known as drafting. With less drag, runners can shave minutes off their time over the course of a marathon.

Pacers are often professional runners themselves and play a vital role in helping top marathoners achieve their desired finishing times. Kipchoge breaking the two-hour mark for running the marathon distance, for example, was made possible by a team of 41 pacers rotating in and out in groups of 7. Many are themselves Olympians, gold medalists, and record holders.