Our 2026 Berlin Marathon Instant Reactions, Live From Berlin!

Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth, live from Berlin, react to a dramatic 2026 Berlin Marathon. Tigst Assefa was 10 seconds ahead of world record pace at 40K and on track to break Ruth Chepngetich's 2:09:56. Then an apparent right Achilles injury left her limping through the final 2K. She still finished in 2:11:04, a course record and the third-fastest women's marathon in history, and Haile Gebrselassie was the first to help her at the finish line.

On the men's side, 35-year-old Guye Adola won his second Berlin title in 2:02:50, knocking almost a minute off a personal best that had stood since 2017. Michael and Jessy go through both podiums, Rosemary Wanjiru's fade, and Adidas sweeping the women's podium in the Adios Pro Evo 3 and a new speed suit with the bib built in. They also cover Sabastian Sawe missing the race, the warm conditions, and whether Berlin should move to an earlier start time.

Chapters:
00:00 – Instant reaction live from Berlin
01:02 – Jessy's view from the start line
01:38 – Assefa's world record attempt & Chepngetich's tainted record
03:38 – Splits: Assefa's patient pacing vs. Chicago 2024
05:29 – Drama at 40K: Assefa's Achilles injury
09:35 – 2:11:04 finish, third-fastest ever & Haile Gebrselassie's gesture
12:00 – Women's podium: Hirpa, Dida & Wanjiru fades
13:55 – Adidas podium sweep: Adios Pro Evo 3 & the integrated-bib speed suit
16:28 – Men's race without Sabastian Sawe
16:47 – Jessy's photo op with Sawe
18:02 – Guye Adola surges at 34K to win in 2:02:50
20:30 – Men's podium: Dida, Geay & Solomon Barega's PB
22:00 – Warm weather in Berlin & the case for an earlier start
25:06 – Jessy's 26K day (without running)
26:25 – Big takeaways from Berlin 2026
29:30 – Chicago shakeout run, live show, Toronto & NYC

We love Wahoo’s KICKR RUN treadmill – go to wahoofitness.com and use promo code MHRUN to get a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order.

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: marathonhandbook.com/runclub

Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: store.marathonhandbook.com

marathonhandbook.com/newsletter