• Drawing of the starting spots for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2021 starts
• Registration for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inline Skating 2021 opens
• Maurice Lacroix is the new timing partner for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
• #20139 Challenge is celebrated as a great success by the community

After the execution of the #20139 Challenge on the last weekend of September, the organiser SCC EVENTS was very satisfied. Nearly 15,000 participants from over 120 countries took part in the #20139 Challenge to find out how many kilometres they could cover in 2:01:39 hours. This time corresponds to the world record set by Eliud Kipchoge in 2018 at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. A relay team of top athletes — women, men, skaters, and youth — also took up the challenge on a loop around the Berlin Victory Column. After 105 rounds, the time had been reached: The men’s team with Philipp Pflieger, Richard Ringer, Florian Orth and Johannes Motschmann beat the world record of Kipchoge with a time 2:01:34 hours. For the inline skaters, the damp weather of the past days posed a special challenge during the final preparations. Their resulting distance of 70.24 kilometres was great under the conditions. The women’s quartet (Anja Scherl, Melat Kejeta, Christina Gerdes, Deborah Schöneborn) was also convincing and achieved a result of 36.58 kilometres, ahead of the Junior Relay with 30.55 kilometres.

Now, SCC EVENTS will focus on the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2021, and tomorrow (October 28, 2020) the registration for the drawing of the starting spots for the runners will open. Haste is a tiny bit necessary for the prospective participants, because after the cancellation of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2020, 85 % of the runners registered decided to transfer their personalized right to start to next year’s race. This is an overwhelming amount, which fills the SCC EVENTS team with pride and gratitude. The situation is somewhat more relaxed for inline skaters, hand bikers as well as wheelchair athletes, but even these participants should not wait to register. 

But what will the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2021 actually look like? At this point in time, nobody can give a serious and proactive answer. Jürgen Lock, as Managing Director of SCC EVENTS, sees the success of the #20139 Challenge as a clear demonstration by the endurance community of the importance of endurance sports, especially in these difficult times, and hopes “that this strong signal will not be misunderstood by society or political leaders”.  

Another strong signal for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is set by its organisers with the introduction of the new timing partner Maurice Lacroix. For more than 40 years, Maurice Lacroix watches have been manufactured in the innovative workshops in Saignelégier in the canton of Jura, Switzerland, in keeping with the well-known traditional Swiss watchmaking tradition. Managing Director Stéphane Waser underlines the importance of this partnership:  “This accessible and modern urban race is in perfect harmony with our vision for this type of event. This marathon is also a life-changing challenge for athletes and amateur sportspeople alike. We are delighted to be part of this incredible adventure.”

Christian Jost, Managing Director of SCC EVENTS, is delighted with the commitment of the traditional Swiss watch manufacturer: “With Maurice Lacroix, the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON gains a partner whose recipe for success is based on quality, reliability, masterly skill and determination. In my opinion, this is a promising combination for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON and for every runner. Hans-Peter Zurbruegg, Senior Vice President Personal & Corporate Fitness at the marketing partner Infront, sums it up: “Maurice Lacroix’s values and innovative spirit closely match those of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON and made the decision to begin a partnership easy for both parties. With the event’s global exposure, matched quality and expertise in their fields, we are delighted to introduce a new name to an Abbott World Marathon Majors event in this specific area of sponsorship.”

Just a few weeks ago during the #20139 Challenge, BMW and SCC EVENTS, as organisers of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, announced the extension of their title partnership for Germany’s largest marathon. More informations here.

About the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
The BMW BERLIN MARATHON is one of the largest marathons in the world. To date, eleven world records have been set on the superfast route (3 by women, 8 by men). Since 2003, all seven men's world records have been achieved on the Berlin route, including the current one in 2:01:39 hours (Eliud Kipchoge), set up in 2018. In 2001, a woman achieved  - for the first time - the dream to undercut 2:20 hours. The Japanese Olympic champion from 2000, Naoko Takahashi, won in 2:19:43 hours. (ends)