Pre-race: There was not a lot of e-mail communication from race about expo and starting corral information.

Expo: The expo was great, as expected from a World Major race. Lots of vendors with all sorts of gear available. There was an entire section dedicated to just Adidas merchandise, but no other apparel was available. A LOT of bigger European races were on hand to promote themselves. Due to the location at the former Tempelhof Airport there were food and drink vendors on site in case you wanted/needed a snack.

Shirt/Swag: The participation shirt is good material and fits perfectly. The design is a bit lackluster, as it just shows the course. The medal design and quality were outstanding. The medal featured Peres Jepchirchir (2020 Olympic marathon winner, but ironically not someone who has ever run Berlin).

Aid Stations: Lots of aid stations; maybe too many if there is such a thing. Each station had combination of water and Maurtens sports drink. There was also a station with Maurtens gu available, too. Due to sustainability efforts, the drinks were served in hard plastic cups, which made it difficult to squeeze and drink the beverages. There were porta-potties and medical tents at each aid station.

Course scenery: Running through the city, you pass through multiple neighborhoods and commercial districts. Start and finish areas are iconic, as you start the race passing the Victory Column and finish just after running through the Brandenburg Gate. For an city race, you cannot beat the scenery.

Elevation: Per my Strava data, I gained 206 feet over the course of the race. I never felt like I was gaining or losing elevation though. There were no bridges to cross over, so it all felt extremely flat. Overall, it is an incredibly flat AND fast course.

Overall: It was an excellent experience from start to finish. The expo was a really good hours-long experience. There were multiple instances of the crowds standing on the tangent (the blue line showing the shortest route on the course), which forced me to veer in order to avoid hitting spectators or other runners. However, the race itself had everything you need whether you're an experienced marathoner, taking on your first international race, or running 26.2 miles for the first-time ever.