The marathon will provide for a very special highlight during the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics berlin 2009™. For the first time in the history of this major athletics event, the course will not begin or end in a stadium, but rather will lead through the heart of Berlin. The start and finish will be located at the Brandenburg Gate—could there be any better backdrop in Berlin?

The 10 km-loop will lead past the main sights of the city, including Potsdamer Platz, the Victory Column (Siegessäule), Bellevue Palace, the Reichstag, and Museum Island, and will return via the grand boulevard Unter den Linden to its starting point at the Brandenburg Gate. On the fourth lap, an additional 2.195 km-loop around Alexanderplatz and past the Red City Hall will be added in order to complete the 42.195 km marathon course.

The course through the heart of Berlin will create the best possible atmosphere for both the athletes and spectators. All sports and athletics fans and visitors in Berlin will be able to see each runner up to four times along the course, providing for an optimal opportunity to follow the race.

The road race events for berlin 2009™ will be implemented in cooperation with the Berlin Marathon organiser, SCC-RUNNING, who will provide 700 volunteers along the course and an additional team of about 80 doctors and physical therapists to assist with the competitions both in the city centre and in the Berlin Olympic Stadium.