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Our man in Berlin

Elswick Harrier, Tony Prince, reports on his running of the Berlin 25 KM (8 May 2005)

Ever since I saw an article in Runner's World giving details of European Races I've wanted to 'Do an International'. My first choice was the Prague Half Marathon (I don't do marathons). The information gave a website address and I diligently checked for entry details, however, I couldn't quite figure out how to get an entry without going to a tour operator. Then my eye caught the Berlin 25 km. Can't be much more than a half marathon I thought. My calculations put it at about 15.5 miles, not much more than a half marathon! Let me tell you, it is more than you think.

Entry on the web was easy, booking flights direct from Newcastle was easy - the only difficult part was the training. I was pretty conscientious about my training regime, long run every week; I even wore out a pair of shoes between November and April.

As race day approached I received my instructions in the mail - in German. I managed to figure out that I needed to pick up my number and get a 'chip' prior to the day. In the event it was all pretty straightforward and organised beautifully. Turn up at a sports hall near to the Berlin Olympic Stadium, and in a one way system, pay 31 euros for a chip, pick up your entry pack - an envelope with name and bar code containing race number, safety pins, race programme, sponge!!, register your chip (that's where the bar code came in), pick up finisher's tee shirt and out. Amazing.

We then walked along Jesse Owen Strasse to get to the stadium to do a recce of the start area, the stadium and plaza in front looked great.

Race day dawned - miserable weather. We had checked out the trains and arrived about an hour and a half too early. It was freezing, wet and windy, but eventually they opened the stadium and we were able to have a look. The stadium has recently been refurbished with new seats, loos, and all weather track. The big screens were on and it was open for spectators and 'pit crew'

Run Berlin is the umbrella organisation and they do a marathon and half marathon in addition to the 25 km. 25 km is apparently quite common in Europe. On 8 May, in addition to the 25 km race there was a 2.5km race for 'kinder' the Nike 10 km challenge, and a 23.5 km inline skater race. The inline skaters went off at 0845 and the 25k went off at 0900. Great atmosphere, marching bands and cheerleaders. The weather started to improve and we were off.

As usual I went off too fast. After about 2 km we turned onto Kaiserdamm - a long dead straight road that goes to the Brandenburg Gate. Usually the race goes through the Brandenburg Gate, but there was a concert to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the war. Instead we ran through the Tiergarten to Potsdamer Platz at about 10 km. I must say that the sightseeing in the previous two days started to take its toll around this point. From about half way I struggled. I ran past some of the most famous sights in Berlin and didn't notice them. What I did notice was the fantastic support from people lining the street. There were, cowbells, rattles, whisles, ompah bands and loads drum bands making an incredible noise. They all spurred me on and at about 18 km I thought 'I can do this'. I went though half marathon within 3 secs. of my PB turned a corner into a street that leads to the Olympischer Platz, into the wind. From that moment on I really struggled. I must have lost about 5 minutes in the final 2 miles. I could see the stadium but it didn't seem to get closer, then with about 1 km to go I turned another corner and there was a hill, groan. The top eventually came and I was on the flat again, all of a sudden into a tunnel and the loudest of drum bands, turn a corner and out into the stadium. That feeling was awesome, loads of cheering, there was me on the big screen and all of a sudden I was overtaking people heading for the finish. The finish!!

I don't remember much about the race, but I do remember coming into the stadium. It was brilliant. I managed to stagger up a huge set of steps where my wife Marion, my long-suffering pit crew, was waiting - she had just about thawed from the freezing start. By the time I had showered I was able to pick up my position, finishing time and half marathon split, it really was amazing.

I finished 1906 out of 4850.
My time was 2 hrs 12mins 44sec
My half marathon split was 1hr 50min 41 sec.

The whole weekend was a brilliant experience, and the beer was great. I'm just looking for the next one. Where can I fly, direct from Newcastle, where there is a good half marathon? Well, there is Prague, Toronto, probably Budapest. I wonder about Rome. Watch this space.

Tony Prince

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