In late September, Berlin has become a kind of autobahn for marathon running, with seemingly no limits on speed, no strictures on the swift wonder of putting one foot in front of the other for 26.2 miles faster than any competitor who has come before.

On Sunday, Wilson Kipsang of Kenya set a world record of 2 hours 3 minutes 23 seconds at the Berlin Marathon. He shaved 15 seconds off the previous record of 2:03:38, set two years ago in Berlin by his countryman Patrick Makau, who did not participate Sunday because of injury.

This was the sixth time the men’s world record has been set since 1998 on a Berlin course known for its flatness, cool and dry weather and the orchestration of record attempts. When Makau ran his fastest time in 2011, pacesetters formed a V-shaped wing ahead of him that suggested migrating geese.

Twice, the women’s world record also has been set in Berlin since 1999 on a looped course that begins and ends near the Brandenburg Gate. The expectation for unprecedented achievement is high. Kipsang spoke confidently before Sunday’s race of being able to sustain a pace of about 4:42 a mile.