History was made at last year's Berlin Marathon, with Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge winning in a world record time ©Getty Images

A predicted one million spectators are expected to line the course for tomorrow's BMW Berlin Marathon, which has a reputation for fast times.

In fact, the men's marathon world record was set there last year, when Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge crossed the line in 2 hours 01min 39sec.

The women's race followed a similar pattern in 2018, as Gladys Cherono of Kenya set a course record of 2:18:11, which had stood for 13 years.

In the men's field, the fastest man is Ethiopia's long-distance superstar, treble Olympic gold medallist Kenenisa Bekele, who ran a personal best of 2:03:03 to win in Berlin three years ago.

His likeliest challengers are compatriots Leul Gebrselassie, Sisay Lemma and Birhanu Legese.

As for the home contingent, the leading German runner is Philipp Pflieger. 

His priority is running the Olympic qualifying time of 2:11:30 for Tokyo 2020.

In the women, the Olympic qualifying target of 2:29:30 will be a key focus for many, but Cherono is confident lightning can strike twice.

"I've trained well and my aim is to retain my title," Cherono said.

"I hope also to set a personal best."

Cherono's main competition may come from veteran Ethiopian Meseret Defar.

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele has an excellent record in the Berlin Marathon and won there in 2016 in 2:03:03 ©Getty Images
Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele has an excellent record in the Berlin Marathon and won there in 2016 in 2:03:03 ©Getty Images

The 35-year-old has twice won Olympic 5,000 metres titles at Athens 2004 and London 2012 and has a best of 2:23:33 from her two marathons to date.

"In the last few years I often had injuries but now I've been training well," Defar said.

"I decided to run Berlin because the course is so fast."

Mare Dibaba should also be in contention, although she hasn’t been in great form recently.

"My aim is to run at the level of my personal best [2:19:52]," Dibaba said.

The women have broken 2:20 nine times previously in the history of the Berlin Marathon.  

Race director Mark Milde is hoping for some quick times again.

"After the fabulous world record by Eliud it was always going to be hard to beat that," Milde said.

"I think it's safe to say we are not going to see a world record attack and people running at 2:01 pace, but I expect there to be a compact lead group, running at around 2:03 finishing time."

Organisers have recorded a record entry number of 46,983 runners from 150 nations for this 46th Berlin Marathon, part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors alongside Boston, London, Chicago, New York City and Tokyo.

Berlin is hosting the final event in this year's series for the first time