2018 Berlin Marathon

Eventual winner Eliud Kipchoge began the race with three pacemakers dedicated to him. After 5 km in the run, the gap between him and the Kipsang group was 9 seconds.[3][4] After 15 km in the race, two of the pacemakers were unable to continue pacing him. The remaining pacemaker dropped out after 25 kilometres, leaving Kipchoge to cover the final 17 km alone.[5] Kipchoge had planned to run with a pacemaker though 30 km (rather than 25 km); this adversity "was unfortunate," he reflected post-race, "but I had to believe".[6] Kipchoge accelerated, covering the second half (1:00:33) of the race faster than the first half (1:01:06).[7] In sunny weather conditions, the temperature was 14 °C (57 °F) during the start and 18 °C (64 °F) when Kipchoge crossed the finish line.[8][9][10]

Before the race, Kipchoge stated that he planned to run a new personal best.[11][12] The prize money he made for his Berlin run was €120,000, consisting of €30,000 for finishing in less than 2:04 hours, €40,000 for the win and a further €50,000 for setting a new world record.[3] The world record set during this run was the 8th world record in 20 years in the men's marathon at the Berlin marathon.[3] During the run, Kipchoge used Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% shoes.[13][14]

The pace during the run averaged to 2:53/km (4:38/mile). The second half of the race in 1:00:33 is faster than all but three American half-marathon times, and the last 10 km was covered in 28:33.[15][16]

It was the most evenly paced marathon ever recorded, with the fastest 5 km interval covered in 14:18 and the slowest in 14:37, a difference of 19 seconds.[17]

• Berlin Marathon