Sub-3 Finish at the Berlin Marathon
A case study in data-driven performance
On 21 September 2025, Gregor Gretz lined up for a special race: the Berlin Marathon. With a time of 2:59:23 hours, he broke through one of the most symbolic marks in marathon running for the second time – the sub-3-hour barrier. And he did so under exceptional conditions, with temperatures of up to 27 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest Berlin Marathon ever recorded.
This achievement is far more than a finishing time. It reflects a precisely planned and consistently executed strategy across the full distance of 42.195 kilometres.
Consistency as the decisive success factor
What makes this run stand out is less a single fast section and more the remarkable evenness across the entire race. Gregor held a stable pace from start to finish, without any significant drop-off in the final kilometres.
In the marathon in particular, where many races are decided only in the final ten kilometres, this kind of control is a decisive success factor. It shows that preparation, race management and load control were optimally aligned.
From a data perspective, this produces a near-ideal profile: consistent performance, clear structure and a plan carried through cleanly.
An unusual race moment
A particular footnote emerged during the race itself. For long stretches, Gregor ran in the same pace range as Harry Styles, who also competed in the Berlin Marathon and completed the race in under three hours.
Time and again their race sections ran in parallel – two completely different backgrounds, but for that moment an identical rhythm. Situations like these are rarely something you can plan for, but they stay in the memory all the more.
Part of a larger goal: the World Marathon Majors
The Berlin Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors, a series of the most significant marathon races worldwide. For Gregor, taking part is therefore not an isolated event but part of a long-term goal: to successfully complete every race in the series.
The race in Berlin marks another important step on this path – combined with a performance that lays the foundation for the stations ahead.
Conclusion
A marathon under three hours does not happen by chance. It is the result of discipline, systematic work and a clearly data-driven approach.
Gregor Gretz’s run at the Berlin Marathon vividly demonstrates how these factors can come together. And sometimes moments emerge along the way that cannot be planned – but which make a story especially memorable.
We congratulate him on this strong performance and look ahead with anticipation to the next races in the World Marathon Majors.