The Berlin Marathon

The Berlin Marathon, like The London Marathon, is one of the great races of the world. This was clearly demonstrated by an outstanding athlete Haile Gebrselassie when he broke another world record by achieving a 2hr 4 minutes and 26 seconds result for the Marathon running in near perfect conditions. See above photo which is all the rest of the field could see of him.

The course is flat with only about 200 feet rise around it. The race is normally run on the third week in October each year although it was put back a week and a change in the normally good weather took place. The event in fact is a double marathon event with an In Line Skating Marathon on the Saturday followed by the road race on the Sunday. It is very well organised with typical German efficiency. A closed area is created for the event in the centre of Berlin very close to the Brandenburg Gate and changing, toilets (very well catered for) changing tents as well as storage areas for your baggage to be deposited are all at the same start and finish point making organisation that much easier.

The weather for the In Line Skating was extremely wet and with speeds up to 40km highly dangerous fortunately with few accidents amongst the thousands of competitors. The weather however changed completely by the Sunday morning so the 40215 competitors who completed the race had generally very good running conditions from the 09.00. start time.

The race in fact had two start times with a gap of about two minutes between the sub 3.30. runners and the rest of the field. Note this is not a fun run or charity run. This is a serious race with only a hand full of people wearing fancy dress.

The start itself goes out through the Brandenburg Gate into a wide open road and therefore no delays at the start line once you move off. However some of the corners in the first four or five miles a quite tight and this reduces the pace of the runners.

In the early part of the race the number of spectators is small but as time goes on support becomes very good with about 1 million watching the progress. Many bands however are on the course to build the atmosphere.

Distances are marked in Kilometres and regular water stations are available with energy drink but not Lucozade sport. Some German equivalent in fact.

The finish is also through the Brandenburg Gate and is once again very well organized. One or two highlights being the free Berliner beer stands at the end providing a quick re-load of carbs and some German Fraulines free massage adding to the runner's re-covery.

All in all a great event and one to be recommended which I thoroughly enjoyed in a great city.