Berlin Marathon
Five Stubbies went to Berlin and thankfully avoided the Wall !!
When I arrived in Germany two days before Marathon day it was 25 degrees so I was praying that the Met men had got it right about the cold front that was due to arrive at the weekend. They had, but along with the more comfortable running temperature came almost constant heavy rain; we can’t have it all I suppose !
On the start line I felt I’d prepared fairly well but after really struggling over the last few miles of my last marathon decided to take it easy for the first few miles, I ran the first half of the race with Nick in a steady but slow pace of just under 8 minute per mile going through half way in 1 hour 44 min’s. I was feeling pleased that I’d been sensible but pushed on right through the second half of the race only slowing in the very last mile to clock a negative split by 6 min’s (1 hour 38) and an overall finish time of 3.22.17, only about 20 seconds outside my pb. Although pleased with my time it did cause me to look at every detail of the race to see what I should of done differently to get a pb, should I of ran the first half quicker ? Should I of ran the 22nd mile a bit slower (6.50) ? Would I of kept the pace into the last mile if I’d remembered to take my last gel ? Oh well there’s always next time !!
Susie in only her second marathon wasn’t far behind in a great time of 3.28.18 this is what she had to say about her first race on foreign soil,
“I was a bit apprehensive about the Berlin Marathon as I felt that I had struggled with my training and everything was so different from the London Marathon. I hate flying and wasn't really focused. It rained the whole time we were there which was really disappointing as it would have been nice to do a bit of sight seeing. The marathon itself was well run but not as organised as London. I had a great run and was extremely pleased with my time as my goal was to run a sub 3 hrs 30 min marathon which I achieved. I had a fabulous weekend in Berlin, the company was fantastic and we all enjoyed ourselves and had a great laugh. I would definitely go back to Berlin and run this marathon again but would get a hostel that had a lift and didn't have 5 flights of stairs to climb ! No wonder my calf muscles were aching for days afterwards !”
Nick had been feeling so unwell at the marathon expo the day before the race that he said goodbye to the others before making a speedy retreat to his hotel where he spent the rest of the day in bed without even eating. When I met up with Nick in the runners village on the Sunday morning he was still really pale and I was surprised that he was going to run but we all know Nick, he doesn’t throw the towel in easily. Amazingly he ran the whole race at a fairly even pace to finish in 3.31.29, a time which I think Nick was initially disappointed, but then taking everything into consideration he was happy “and so he should be”.
The next green vest across the line Sam Ratzer, Sam has been running really well this year and was excited about making his marathon debut although a little nervous about how his young legs would cope with the distance, Sam had this to say about his German experience
“Entering into what was my first attempt at the marathon, I arrived in Berlin with mixed emotions; quite excited, but equally as apprehensive about covering the distance. Following a sprained ankle and a busy summer schedule, my training regime was far from comprehensive/ conventional but the over cautious fuelling did the trick as I got to the Brandenburg gates in just shy of 3 hrs 35. I loved the experience from beginning to end, and in spite of the rain I remained with a smile on my face. My legs held up well and against the odds took a walking tour of Berlin the following day and indeed the beers continued to flow in celebration of the weekend’s achievements well into my return to uni and late into the week.”
Zac made sure all Stubbie runners finished under the 4 hour mark when he came across the line in 3.58.50. Zac seemed to of taken the marathon completely in his stride, in fact if he was any more laid back he’d be horizontal, he was pleased he’d dipped under 4 hours and that he’d run faster than his last marathon in Paris. Like Sam, Zac has time on his side and will run more marathons in the future I’m sure.
The Five of us with our great supporters all met up in what must have been the only Bavarian beer cellar in Berlin for a de-brief with some great banter, food and one or two small glasses of beer, as can be seen in the photo’s.
Jon Leigh.
Click here for photos.