World Marathon Major - The Berlin Marathon

Stephanie P

If you decide to run just one international marathon in your life, I highly recommend the Berlin Marathon. I was joined by Flyers Sondra M and Claudia O as we three departed NYC on Thursday, Sept 22nd for the Sunday September 25th marathon. With a positive weather forecast (sun, not too warm, low humidity!), we were encouraged. We were a bit worried about the potential crowds and getting around in a strange city. Our worries, however, were soon forgotten as we got acquainted with Berlin.

We arrived Friday with several other running friends from NYRR's Team for Kids who also were running the marathon. We had booked apartments to stay in the “Mitte” (Central) section of Berlin, in the former East Berlin district. Our neighborhood was a bit like Soho, lots of unique shops, restaurants and a friendly, hip vibe – so far so good, except for the five story walk-up that CO and I were sharing. (we were not looking forward to that climb post marathon!).

Marathon weekend kicked off on Friday when we took the U-Bahn (Berlin’s Subway system) to the Marathon expo – which was held at an old airstrip, converted into Exposition. The Marathon is sponsored by Adidas (and also multiple beer companies based on the refreshments served at the Expo) and the expo was very lively. At the Asics booth German dancers performed a dance routine on treadmills (they were very good!) and the German’s organizational talent made getting our bibs and other gear no problem.

We also got to meet Kathrine Switzer (the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon) at the Expo, as she was promoting her book Marathon Woman, which had just been translated into German. When we told her we were from the NY Flyers, she recognized the club, and was very friendly to us. She signed our race bibs (upside down – to give us some inspiration at mile 20 she told us!) and took a photo with us.

Stephanie P, Katherine Switzer, Claudia O, Sondra M

We awoke Saturday morning to more clear blue skies looking forward to attending the free “Breakfast Run” sponsored by the Marathon for all runners. The 6k run starts at Charlottenberg Palace, (the largest palace in Berlin and the only royal residency in the city dating back to the time of the Hohenzollern family), and finishes at the Olympic Stadium. (The current Olympiastadion was originally built for the 1936 Summer Olympics in the southern part of the Reichssportfeld (today Olympiapark Berlin). During World War II, the area suffered little damage.)

Runners Dressed Up at the 6K Fun Run on the Morning Before Marathon Day

About 10,000 runners participated in the fun run and we finished with a run into the stadium and onto the actual track, so much fun! Runners are encouraged to wear their country’s colors, or display their traditions via costume. There were many Danish and Dutch sporting red and orange costumes respectively, and we saw several Japanese runners decked out as “sushi rangers” enjoying the casual, 6k jog. We were then provided with a German breakfast and still had plenty of time left in the day to check out the starting line and then relax before the big day.

The Marathon itself was held on Sunday, September 25th. The race starts at 9am, very close to the Brandenburg Gate. (It is the only remaining gate of a series through which Berlin was once entered. One block to the north stands the Reichstag building. The gate is the monumental entry to Unter den Linden, the renowned boulevard of linden trees which formerly led directly to the city palace of the Prussian monarchs. It was commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia as a sign of peace and built by Carl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791. The Berlin Wall used to stand here between East and West. Having suffered considerable damage in World War II, the Brandenburg Gate was fully restored from 2000 to 2002).

Brandenburg Gate

We were lucky and had another beautiful morning. We took the U-Bahn to within a few short blocks from the start, and the race organizers had everything clearly marked. Because the race finishes very close to the start, you are able to drop your bags off and pick them up in the same spot, in the Tiergarten Park in Berlin. Instead of “New York, New York” our race kicked off to the sounds of “Bolero”, and a few thousand red balloons that entered the air. For a large race, the start was very well organized and it did not take much time to get to the starting mats. (There are no waves in the Berlin marathon even though over 30,000 runners finished).


Sondra M, Claudi O, and Stephanie P Looking Sharp in Their Racing Bibs

The course is flat (the men’s world record was broken that day) and all kinds of live music are played along the route, at more than 60 locations on the course. The 70-metre tall victory column (Siegessaule) is the first Berlin landmark along the course, all runners circle it at the half kilometer mark. The Bundes bank and the Reichstag are passed at 6km. The course passed along the famous boulevard Kurfurstenadamn where many spectators lined the course at 34km. From 1981 to 2001 the finish was on the Kurfurstendamm. (prior to German reunification the entire Marathon was run within the confines of what was then West Berlin). The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is at 35km and is one of the most important landmarks in Berlin. Destroyed in World War II, the church partially stands in ruins as a memorial.

Because the race is in Europe, there are some differences in how the marathon is executed. First, the markers are in kilometers, so for those of us who have trained in miles, you should either run with a GPS watch, or learn how to convert km to miles in your head, or just run for the fun of it. Also, at the water stops you have a choice of water, Powerade (not Gatorade), tea and fruit! It’s a good idea to bring your own Gatorade, if that is what you like, as you cannot easily find it in the stores in Berlin. The finish area was well organized, with a separate area for the runners where you get your baggage, a lunch bag, medical attention if you need it, and, oh yes, this being Oktoberfest, pints of non-alcoholic German Beer! (it was very good). Outside of the runners-only area there is a family reunion area, and then a small version of Oktoberfest to facilitate the runners’ post-marathon celebration. There is also a free post-marathon party held in the evening at one of the larger hotels in Berlin.

Another wonderful thing about running in Berlin is that afterwards you can stay and celebrate in this beautiful historic city, or jump on a train, or hop a short plane ride to one many of the Capitals of Europe. Flyer Claudia O headed to Brussels and Paris after the marathon, and myself and Sondra M and her husband spent a few days sightseeing in Berlin before we headed south to Munich for some Bavarian hospitality at the world famous Oktoberfest.


Sondra M and Stephanie P Sporting Marathon Medals
and
Big Mugs of, er um, Milk
During Post-Race Celebration

If you are looking for a flat, fast course (we three Flyers all set PRs in Berlin that day), in a historic, cool city with fun, friendly locals, head to Berlin, you will not be disappointed. The 40th anniversary will be held in two years, 2013, so start planning now.

-Stephanie P