BMW Berlin Marathon 2020: cancelled edition
The 2020 BMW Berlin Marathon, scheduled for 27 September 2020, was cancelled for the first time in the race's history after Germany banned mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 BMW Berlin Marathon was cancelled in June 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Germany's Infection Protection Act banned events of 5,000 or more participants through 24 October 2020, which ruled out the race. Entrants were offered a transfer of their entry to the 2021 edition or a refund. It was the first cancellation in the event's history since the first running in 1974.
What made 2020 notable
For the first time since it was first run in 1974, Berlin did not happen. SCC EVENTS confirmed the cancellation in June 2020, with Germany's Infection Protection Act blocking events of 5,000 or more people through late October. The decision ended a streak on the course that had produced every men's marathon world record since 2003. Entrants were given a choice of transferring their place to the 2021 edition or taking a refund. Berlin was not alone: 2020 wiped out the mass fields at Boston, Chicago and New York too, leaving the spring and autumn Majors calendar in pieces. The fastest course in the world sat quiet for a year.
Finishers over time
Good-for-age standards
View full age-group standards
| Age group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:45:00 | 3:10:00 |
| 35-39 | 2:45:00 | 3:10:00 |
| 40-44 | 2:45:00 | 3:10:00 |
| 45-49 | 2:55:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 50-54 | 2:55:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 55-59 | 2:55:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65-69 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 70-74 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 75-79 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 80-84 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 85-89 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 90+ | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
Questions about the 2020 ballot
Did the 2020 Berlin Marathon take place?
No. The 2020 BMW Berlin Marathon, scheduled for 27 September 2020, was cancelled in June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first cancellation since the race began in 1974.
What happened to 2020 Berlin Marathon entries?
Entrants were offered a transfer of their place to the 2021 BMW Berlin Marathon or a refund.
Why was the 2020 Berlin Marathon cancelled?
Germany's Infection Protection Act banned events of 5,000 or more participants through 24 October 2020, which made the race impossible to stage safely.