The German marathon runner Hendrik Pfeiffer is one of the German favorites at the Berlin Marathon 2025. The 32-year-old wants to crack an extremely important brand on Sunday (live at RTL+on RTL+). In an exclusive interview, he talks about the great pressure before the season highlight, the attack on the best time, weather worries and the continuing trouble with the German Association.
Mr. Pfeiffer, how is the mood so shortly before the course of the year?
Hendrik Pfeiffer: My mood is very good, especially if you had a fulfilling preparation like me now. You go into a race confidently. I mainly feel anticipation. I am well supported, my wife is there. You always have the feeling in Berlin that half the city is on your side. However, I am aware that it will be a big challenge, especially physically very demanding.
You have set the half marathon distance and 10 kilometers exclamation mark-are you in top form?
Pfeiffer: It was the best preparation I’ve done so far. I also had no failures. Every week that was without a race, I came to more than 200 weekly kilometers. I have never succeeded before. I see a realistic opportunity to run a best time.
What specific goal do you have for Berlin? Your best time is at 2:07:14 hours. Do you attack them?
Pfeiffer: I want to undercut it. The brand of 2:07:00 is very important to me, since my status as a Bundeswehr soldier is also linked to it. I am under great pressure because the DLV has signaled me that I fly out of the squad when I do not undercut the time. Even if I had an operation on the heel this year, I am not defeated. Therefore, it will be an all-or-not-race. I had that in Berlin two years ago. It was a second decision. In this case, my clear goal is a time objective of less than 2: 07.00 hours.
Hendrik Pfeiffer with his wife Esther
Last year they had to give up in the fight of the best Germans in the end. Does that still gnaw on them, is that still an open bill?
Pfeiffer: To become the best German is also a goal for me this year. I will start in such a way that I reach my time goal. Then I also have a good chance of becoming the best German.
How do you rate the starter field and the German competition?
Pfeiffer: The German field is quite strongly occupied. I appreciate the most strongest. Sebastian Hendel will also be in good shape. I could imagine that three of us choose the same group. Johannes Motschmann could also be in a good mood. I cannot imagine that someone settles early.
With a view to the weather forecast: it could get warm on Sunday. Are you preparing for such a case as a top runner?
Pfeiffer: You look at the weather forecast every day. It is annoying that summer should return again. We hope it doesn’t happen. I am still optimistic that we will stay under the 20-degree mark. You really look at it with an arsia. But I will not prepare myself differently. It has an impact on the catering strategy. But I am also considering running with a cooling belt band.
Berlin marathon: Pfeiffer dares Sawe the big litter
The top favorite is Sabastian Sawe. How surprised were you surprised by his previous services? In his first marathon he ran directly 2:02:05.
Pfeiffer: That will be exciting to observe. I think it will be the goal of running the sound barrier of two hours. He is one of the African exceptional talents, the largest shooting star Kenya. It is exciting to see whether he can attack the Kipchoge or Kitptum times.
Is he a candidate for the world record and the two-hour brand? Maybe even in Berlin?
Pfeiffer: He is one of the candidates he will best make it. When it comes to the development of sport, it is only a matter of time. It will depend heavily on the weather. If it’s a perfect day, he’s the one who would most likely pack it.
In early summer you wrote headlines with a public dispute with the German Association. It was about non-nomination for the World Cup in Tokyo, also about norms of the DLV (background here). Was there a pronunciation or approach?
Pfeiffer: The conflict with the association is still an issue. It is one of my goals to show the DLV that it was wrong to withdraw my trust. It is still a slap in the face. Now Berlin is happy that hopefully I can deliver a top form. I would also have been in a World Cup form. You can see that a rethink does not start in the association. Even with my wife Esther, who had a top season, an attempt is made to put stones in the way.
Did you draw from it?
Pfeiffer: I still believe that I was right. Public opinion confirms this. I would like the association to draw teaching out of it and that more for its athletes. Especially now at the World Cup you prefer not to send a fatal sign to the offspring.
I therefore recommend every young athlete not to make yourself too dependent on the association. That you set up your career as early as possible, for example through a social media appearance. This is primarily my lesson from it.
In the end: do you already know how to go after the run? What are the next goals?
Pfeiffer: For me, Berlin is clearly the highlight of the season. I prepared myself very meticulously.
The year is still very exciting for me afterwards. I also run the Valencia marathon in December. The route is considered even a bit faster, the conditions will most likely be good. In the best case, I get another chance there.