From world-class drama to the finish line: What endurance runners can learn from the Berlin race events regarding tendons, pacing, and shoes.
Major marathon weekends like Berlin regularly captivate tens of thousands. At the 52nd edition of the Berlin Marathon, according to Sportschau, 56,187 people lined up at the start to tackle the classic 42.195 kilometres. The event is emblematic of peak performances, immense enthusiasm, and emotional highlights. At the same time, the events surrounding the race provide key lessons for every recreational athlete – particularly regarding pacing, physical load limits, and gear.
The fact that even world-class fitness does not protect against severe injuries was evident at the front of the field. Top Ethiopian athlete Tigst Assefa was on world-record pace for a long time in Berlin. In the final kilometres, however, she was slowed down; while she managed to salvage the course record across the line in 2:11:04 hours, she had to undergo Achilles tendon surgery immediately afterwards. According to reports from puravidasports.africa and her manager, she faces a six-month competitive break. The junior ranks also show how sensitive the musculoskeletal system is: Jakob Dieterich did secure the overall U23 victory in the R5K tour over the Berlin Marathon weekend, but had previously suffered a stress fracture during the summer and consequently missed significant training.
Physiotherapists like Kassandra Reagan and Kimberly Melvan explain in Runner's World why tendons are so vulnerable: they connect muscles to bones and act like coiled springs during running, storing energy on impact and returning it upon push-off. The Achilles tendon in particular is vital for propulsion and running economy. If these structures are overloaded, protracted issues like Achilles tendinitis, patellar tendon pain, or plantar fasciitis threaten to arise. With musculoskeletal pain, it is therefore always advisable to seek a medical or physiotherapeutic assessment rather than ignoring symptoms.
Social media is often dominated by extreme stunts or unbelievable times. One example was provided by running influencer Maren Schiller, who tackled three times the marathon distance (around 126 kilometres) in 18 hours and 45 minutes together with Imke Salander during the Berlin weekend. In an RBB interview, Schiller described extreme exhaustion, heavy legs, and cognitive lapses. When consuming such content, recreational athletes quickly lose a sense of normal benchmarks.
Reality in amateur sports looks different: according to a report by RunRepeat on US races from 2024, the average marathon finish time sits at 4 hours and 34 minutes (men on average 4:24 hours, women 4:51 hours). In Runner's World, running coach Jess Movold advises beginners against obsessing over a rigid target time for their first marathon, as unpredictable factors can emerge across 42 kilometres. Coach Jes Woods still recommends a structured pacing target to avoid running off aimlessly. Data from Apple and Coros users also show that gradually building weekly mileage and doing regular long runs over 15 kilometres measurably increase performance and aerobic endurance.
Gear also dictates success. In competitive sports, there are clear regulations from the governing body World Athletics. Just how strictly these are enforced was demonstrated by an incident at the Asian Games: according to FAZ, race walker Jasmina Toxanbaiewa was retrospectively disqualified over the marathon distance and stripped of gold because the stack height of her shoes exceeded the 40-millimetre limit.
For everyday training away from federation checks, manufacturers such as Hoka offer heavily cushioned models (such as the Bondi 9 with thicker midsole foam). The rule of thumb remains essential, however: never use untested gear on race day. Reports also highlight that inadequate fuelling – like skipping gels or using untried drinks at aid stations – can cause even well-trained runners to blow up completely.
Your takeaway: Successful running requires patience with pacing, respect for tendon loading, and avoiding untested gear.
This article was generated automatically with AI from the sources listed above and has not been editorially reviewed.