Vainio's Marathon Streak Continues in Berlin — image accompanying Athletics Weekly's report. Image accompanying Athletics Weekly’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Alisa Vainio, Finland's European champion, races in Berlin for the eighth time in a year. She aims to improve her personal best and break 2:20. Vainio's marathon streak began last September at the World Championships in Tokyo.
Vainio's remarkable run includes breaking the Finnish and Nordic records. She won the European Championships in Birmingham, dominating the race. Vainio's next race is scheduled for Valencia in December. Read more racing coverage.
Berlin's marathon features strong competitors, including Tigist Assefa, who targets the 2:10 barrier. The men's race lacks its top names, Sawe and Bekele, due to injuries. Tanzania's Gabriel Geay leads the men's field. Related: Berlin Marathon: Tigst Assefa Aims for World Record.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Athletics Weekly. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
Reader questions
Questions about this report
What should runners know about Vainio's Marathon Streak Continues in Berlin?
European champion Alisa Vainio races in Berlin for the eighth time in a year. Alisa Vainio, Finland's European champion, races in Berlin for the eighth time in a year. She aims to improve her personal best and break 2:20. Vainio's marathon streak began last September at the World Championships in Tokyo.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on September 24, 2026. The underlying Athletics Weekly report was dated September 24, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Athletics Weekly. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
THE WEEKLY BRIEFING
Start the week a step ahead.
A concise edit of the running stories worth knowing, sent every Monday.