division:bpm – Where the Berlin community runs together

Words by Robert Birnbaum. Photography by Lukasz Wolejko-Wolejszo, Milena Zara, Maria Camila Ruiz Lora and Catherina Rocío.

A typical Sunday morning in Berlin’s cafés: people everywhere. The hustle and bustle is undeniable, especially between the popular areas of Kreuzberg and Neukölln. Everybody seems to be chasing the same thing this morning: a warm cup of sustainably sourced coffee and a fluffy cinnamon bun with vegan icing. “Dit is knorke,” (German slang for “that’s terrific”) as true Berlin oldheads would say, even though they are unlikely to make their way to these highly instagrammable cafés. But while others are busy hunting for a table at the many breakfast spots, an unmissable group of runners is gathering in front of Isla Coffee on Hermannstrasse.

Introducing division:bpm. A run crew preparing for their Sunday social run, taking over whole blocks in the process.

The group includes some dedicated runners, as indicated by their speedy sunglasses and fancy gear – yet, the pace remains easy. Mixing up the typically all-black outfits of the running community, though, are colorful tracksuits with 80s vibes. This anomaly is part of what makes division:bpm unique. Peter – co-founder of the crew – says this colorful openness was one of the founding principles of the project.

“The whole thing started during the pandemic when two friends and I were able to create a community around our Sunday 10K runs. The group grew and grew – a big part of that was our easy pace. We were always able to include new people, no matter their fitness level. We only run as fast as the slowest person.”

Only a few hundred meters from Isla lies the Tempelhofer Feld – a hulking former airport turned runner’s paradise. Those who’ve had enough after 5K can turn around here. Those with some juice left in the tank take it up a notch to complete the full 10K. But no matter the distance, all runners eventually reconvene at Isla Coffee, which Peter also co-founded and now manages. The meeting point doesn’t only provide much-deserved post-run sustenance, it becomes a hallmark for the welcoming culture within the run crew.

“The people see us on Sunday morning at the café and get curious. Most people wouldn’t just join a running group on the spot, or go to the track by themselves. But seeing a group at your local café disarms the situation. This is how we manage to also include those who aren’t deeply rooted within the running community. So on one side, we have dedicated runners that care a lot about the running. On the other side, we run with everybody who just wants to move in good company.

Our focus is simply on moving together. This way you do not just get to know new people, you also learn a lot about yourself – no matter how you like to move. We have people who cycle together, who go climbing, another group does calisthenics.”

The name “division:bpm” was the product of the founders’ shared passions, Peter recalls – a reminder of the connection between music and running. “All of us were living the run and rave lifestyle. We were no pro athletes, that was clear to us. But we also didn’t just want to party and go out all the time. Luckily, one doesn’t rule out the other. That’s how my two co-founders Collin and Lou came up with division:bpm quite quickly – when dancing, we think about the BPM (beats per minute) a lot, the same for running and heart rate.”

division:bpm is all about uniting Berlin’s growing run community. This happens not only on their accessible Sunday runs, but at unique events that attract a diverse crowd – even amid the notoriously rich menu of activities available in the German capital.

Just recently, the crew transformed Peter’s Isla Coffee from a concert venue into a museum, then from a forum into a showroom for On apparel – all within the span of one weekend. Berlin-based photographer Philipp Gladsome revealed his running-themed portraits here. OAC-athlete Fabiane Meyer shared valuable insights into her life as a pro runner. Rapper Apsilon set the tone for the night with his energetic performance. But there was no one highlight moment in the event series. Its success was in celebrating cohesion and diversity of the Berlin run community by combining its many facets.

This close connection among runners naturally exists outside of Berlin, too. Peter details a pre-race event they hosted on the day of the Berlin half-marathon. The participants enjoyed an easy shake out run before they were rewarded with coffee and donuts. Witnessing the electric atmosphere and unique impressions, Peter began pondering. “What would such an event look like in other cities, other countries? What’s the vibe of the local run crews? What’s their loop like? At which café do they end up?” To shed light on these questions, division:bpm began working on “Crews & Brews” – a content series about the run crews of the world (and their local cafés).

After their first events, more and more run crews from all over the globe started reaching out to Peter. And he answered their call and traveled to run together. Whether it was a soggy run through sideways rain in Dublin or a heat fest in Athens, the newfound friendships created tight bonds among the run crews. “We basically only explained the rough format of the event and asked if they could help us organize it. They put in so much effort and everything turned out to be so amazing – truly incredible. And it wasn’t just this one-time, transactional thing, but much more than that. It’s simply heartwarming to see what people create when you give them a platform.”

Next up on the Crews & Brews world tour are Barcelona and Copenhagen, and also Zurich. After all, the Swiss metropolis isn’t only home to On and, but also to a flourishing running scene. If you’re looking for a crew to run with before Peter and division:bpm visit your city, you’ll find inspiring run crews – and the uniting power of running together – via our Run Crew Finder.