Tigst Assefa has successfully defended her Berlin Marathon title in a time that has shattered the world record by more than two minutes. As extraordinary as that may sound, it might be that a women’s sub-2:12 marathon is overdue.

Eliud Kipchoge has won an unprecedented fifth Berlin Marathon title, adding yet another achievement to his glittering marathon resume

The return of defending champions Eliud Kipchoge and Tigst Assefa is an exciting prospect for staunch fans. But is the 2023 Berlin Marathon all its hyped up to be? Perhaps not.