The Berlin Marathon was founded in 1974 by Horst Milde and a small group of running enthusiasts at a time when recreational distance running was still in its infancy in Europe. Initially staged in the Grunewald forest, the race moved into central Berlin in 1981 and quickly gained international recognition for its fast course and professional organization. Over the following decades, Berlin became the sport’s most prolific world-record venue, hosting numerous historic performances by some of the greatest marathon runners in history. Today, the Berlin Marathon stands as one of the most respected events in global athletics and is universally recognized as the marathon course where history is most likely to be made.