Mark Armstrong: My Berlin Marathon 2024 story

Whilst my other PBs at shorter distances suggest I should be able to, the reality was that it still felt a little out of reach. 

So I’ll always be thankful to my Berlin 2024 experience – perhaps I am capable of more than I think when it comes to running. 

A lack of organisation underpinned much of the weekend with enormous queues to buy merch at the expo bleeding into chaos around the start line as runners desperately tried to get in their corrals ahead of the official start. 

The toilet situation, and the lack of them, is well documented but I particularly didn’t enjoy the near crush to get into my starting pen. 

However, I made it, with just about enough time to calm down and regain a sense of composure. 

I always feel quite emotional on the start line of a marathon; it’s good to think about how hard you’ve worked to get there – the tough runs you did to feel prepared, the niggles you over-thought, the nutritional discipline you tried to exercise.  

However, I’ve learned not to dwell on it too long – I need to conserve as much energy both mentally and physically for those last few miles. 

I’m not religious at all but I normally look up to the sky in the hope that my mum will help me in the tougher moments: ‘I’m going to need you today, Mum’. 

There’s a sense of relief to finally getting started – no more over-thinking – it's time to get on with it. 

I wanted to stick like glue to a 4:40-minute kilometre pace. Within the first couple of kilometres I had hit it so, feeling dialled in to that pace, I turned my watch on to a different face that merely told me the time and how far I’d run. 

It was busy and felt more crowded than last year. I had to weave more than I wanted in those early miles and within the first 5K I was already about 120m behind the kilometre markers on my watch. 

However, I was feeling pretty good – not amazing by any means – but good enough to feel in control.  

I had taken a litre’s worth of carb drink with me in the form of a 500ml soft flask alongside and two 250ml equivalents. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake I made at the Helsinki Marathon five weeks previously when I got dehydrated and paid the price late on. 

I supplemented Sunday's marathon with gels and salt tablets when I felt like I needed them. I wasn’t going to under-fuel this one. 

There’s plenty of entertainment out on the Berlin course to keep your mind occupied and the support is decent without being fervent in the way it is at London or the US majors. 

I allowed myself a peak at my watch at the 10K and half marathon points just to check that my pace was around where I wanted it to be. 

I got my first sense of fatigue around the halfway point although the support gave me a little boost as did seeing my wife, Alison, just after. 

I lapped my watch at halfway and it flashed up 1:39:33 – bang on.  

The little voice in my head trying to keep me safe then said ‘you’re going to have to do that again to get under 3:20 though – are you sure you can do that?’ 

I wasn’t sure, but I was going to give it a good try and was pleased to be in a position to go for it. 

I find the period between 20-30K in any marathon is one where I really need to concentrate and not let my mind wander. I focused on getting my fuelling right to try and make sure I set up the last 10K to either pick up or sustain. 

I was taking extra water at each of the fuelling stations, which felt more and more chaotic and desperate as the race went on. 

When I reached the 30K point I took another look at my watch and found that I had slowed a little. I didn’t feel that was particularly through fatigue, so I tried to push on and felt strong finding different runners to stick to as the kilometres ticked by. 

As I entered the last 5K I still had a full 250ml soft flask and almost as quickly as thinking ‘I’m not going to need this today’ I started to slow. Suddenly, the legs weren’t clicking over like they had been. I was telling myself to stop sitting into my hips too much, something I tend to do through tiredness. 

I decided to roll the dice and take a good slug of the 250ml before hoovering a gel. It worked to the extent that whilst I still slowed, there was never any thoughts of walking. 

I thought that my target of going under 3:20 had gone in those last few kilometres though. I didn’t give myself a hard time about it – I've really pushed my body over these last six weeks. 

When I saw the Brandenburg Gates, I was ready to enjoy that glorious home straight. However, a check of my watch showed that if I could get a move on then I might just be able to get in under 3:20. 

I tried to quicken my cadence and found surprisingly there was still a bit of life. After you’ve passed through the Gates there’s still a few hundred metres to go. 

Whilst others were holding their hands aloft in celebration, I was straining every sinew to reach the finish line. Thankfully a gap emerged in front of me and as I crossed the line and stopped my watch 3:19:58 flashed up. 

An initial feeling of elation was replaced with worry that it might get rounded up. It did – but only to 3:19:59 – mission complete. 

Mark Armstrong with his Berlin Marathon 2024 finisher's medal (Image: Mark Armstrong)

As I waddled through the finish area, I took one look at the queues for the poncho I had paid for and decided I’d rather find my friends quicker and get a beer. 

Everyone else in the Norfolk party, which consisted of other Wymondham members alongside Norwich Road Runners and Norfolk Gazelles had great runs. 

Stories were told over a few lagers and currywurst until the adrenaline finally wore off (or the alcohol kicked in) and I needed to head back to the hotel for a lie down. 

I reflected on my fastest marathon yet and a feeling that maybe I should believe in myself a little more. 

What. A. Day.