Day 1: The Berliner Wasserbetriebe 5 × 5 km TEAM Relay 2026
Start & Transition Area: Kick-off at the Sculpture Park
The start and finish of the Berliner Wasserbetriebe 5 × 5 km TEAM Relay are located within the grounds of the so-called Sculpture Park (‘Sculptures Against War and Violence’) south of the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. This is where the race begins, in a unique atmosphere blending art, history and sporting excitement. The Sculpture Park features several works of art and memorials that explore the themes of war, violence and peace. The installations, deliberately embedded within the urban landscape, make the start of the relays particularly impressive. Incidentally, the Berliner Wasserbetriebe 5 x 5 km TEAM Relay moved to this location back in 2009 for the 10th edition of the event, as the field by the Goethe Monument on Ebertstraße had become too small for the rapidly growing number of teams.
Looking towards the Reichstag – the first burst of motivation
The race gets underway with a direct view of the Reichstag building – one of Berlin’s most famous landmarks. The historic building of the German Bundestag, with its striking glass dome, symbolises transparency and democracy. Especially at the start of the Berlin Relay Race, this backdrop provides extra motivation and creates a spine-tingling atmosphere for the participants.
Picking up speed on Straße des 17. Juni
After just a few metres, a sweeping right-hand bend takes the runners onto the cycle path running alongside Straße des 17. Juni, heading west. This wide boulevard is one of Berlin’s best-known running routes and regularly hosts major sporting events such as the BMW BERLIN MARATHON or the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON, organised by SCC EVENTS. The Berliner Wasserbetriebe 5 × 5 km TEAM Relay is also one of Berlin’s major running highlights, offering a major event atmosphere right in the heart of the capital.
Between kilometres 1 and 2 – past the Victory Column
Even before reaching the two-kilometre mark, the route passes the famous Victory Column. This Berlin landmark, featuring the golden statue of Victoria – better known as the ‘Goldelse’ – is one of the city’s most popular photo opportunities. With a shoe size of 92 (93 in running shoes), the Goldelse lives a lavish lifestyle and, standing 8.3 metres tall, weighs 35 tonnes. For many teams, this section is the perfect moment to pick up the pace and make up ground.
A leisurely run through the Großer Tiergarten
The route then continues right through the heart of the Großer Tiergarten – Berlin’s green lung. Originally established as a hunting ground for the Elector, it was converted into a public landscape park in the 18th century. Ancient tree-lined avenues, sweeping meadows and shaded paths provide ideal conditions for the participating athletes.
Get into the swing of things at Bellevue Palace
Until just past the three-kilometre mark, the route runs alongside Bellevue Palace, the official residence of the Federal President. This neoclassical building, situated directly on the banks of the River Spree, is one of Germany’s most important political landmarks. Many running teams use this section of the course to find their own race pace and prepare for the final sprint.
The final few kilometres along the Spree – pace yourself
The route follows the Spree back into the greenery of the Tiergarten. The Spree is Berlin’s most important river and shapes the cityscape with its numerous bridges, riverside promenades and historic buildings. It flows through the heart of the capital, connecting well-known landmarks such as Museum Island, the government district and the Port of Berlin. The final one-and-a-half kilometres now demand a final burst of concentration and team spirit from the participants.
Final sprint with a view of the House of World Cultures
With a bit of luck, the final stretch offers a view of the Berlin Congress Hall, now known as the House of World Cultures. This architecturally striking building, with its curved roof, is one of Berlin’s most famous cultural venues. Leaving the “Tipi am Kanzleramt” to the left, the finish line – or rather, the next baton handover – now awaits. The famous Tipi event marquee right by the River Spree is an integral part of Berlin’s cultural scene and provides an atmospheric conclusion to the course.
Here's how the first day of the relay went
On the first day of the Berliner Wasserbetriebe 5 x 5 km TEAM Relay, 2,075 registered teams created a lively, colourful and vibrant atmosphere. Almost a tenth of the roughly 10,000 participants wore a light blue shirt and were part of Charité – the Berlin University Hospital fielded the most teams of the day with 200 relay teams. Among them was Juliane, a nurse originally from Brazil who has only been living in Berlin for a year and was running for the first time. For her, it was initially a huge “Superacao” (a real challenge), which she ultimately overcame with flying colours. The gathering of so many people, the joy on the day and the run itself gave her a great deal of energy and motivation. It certainly won’t be the nurse’s last team relay.
It was also the first time that radiologist Finn had taken part in a running event of this kind. For him, the Berliner Wasserbetriebe 5 x 5 km TEAM Relay was an overwhelming experience. What he particularly enjoyed was overtaking runners who had actually overtaken him at the start – and, unlike on most motorways, there was no speed limit. That was the ultimate motivation for him.
The “SCC Longdistance Boys” coped best with the course described above in the men’s race. With a time of 1:25:05, they were the first team of the evening to cross the finish line. In the women’s race, the “SCC TG Braun 3” team secured first place in 1:48:09. Congratulations!
