Drowning in Berlin

(A report on the Berlin Marathon 2006 by Graham Bridges)

Saturday morning: Breakfast Run from Schloss Charlottenburg to the Olympic Stadium. It was officially described as 'ganz langsam', which roughly translates as nice and easy. All very chummy, and a pleasant 7k run through Berlin's western districts culminating in a circuit of the track itself.  Unfortunately they wouldn't allow anyone close enough to the torch for a 'lighting the olympic flame' photo opportunity, but the honours boards from 1936 were still there, and it was good to see a famous British name amongst the entries for 'Owens, USA' (have a look at the winner of the 50000m walk).  The free breakfast was then handed out, and the spirit of international bonhomie dwindled slightly as people scrambled for donuts and fruit drinks with a desperation not seen since the 1948 airlift.

Sunday morning: up early enough to see the sun rise, and to note that no clouds had miraculously appeared overnight.  It was going to be just as hot as the previous few days, with a peak of around 25°C, so Haile Gebrselassie probably wouldn't have to worry about outsprinting me.

Staying in the centre meant that rather than getting on a coach at 5am, we could walk to the start, which was just as crowded as London, but a bit more scenic, as it was centred in the gardens in front of the Reichstag.  Anyway, such considerations were of less importance than trying to sneak forward from my starting pen at the back to somewhere a bit more favourable.  This wasn't as difficult as I had feared, as the Germans didn't live up to their stereotypical image of being sticklers for rules.  I take it all back.

The course was scenic and historic in the west, taking in just about all the main monuments (except the bit of the wall that had 'Geoff Boycott' written on it - whatever became of that?), and still a bit grim in some of the old eastern parts.  There were enthusiastic crowds all the way round, with more drum bands than anything else, and at least Berlin doesn't have to suffer any Pearly Kings and Queens inflicting 'Roll out the Barrel' on innocent passers-by.  While I was making my stately progress around the city, Denise was attempting a more urgent whistle-stop supporter's tour.  I think we managed to cheer/wave at 4 different points, including an improbable final cheer by the Brandenburg Gate at the finish.  Many thanks to my Support Team, and I promise to do the same for her sometime, although she has to run a marathon first...

So how did I do?  Well, I didn't walk, which was a first for me, and although the course was as fast and flat as promised, the heat and early overcrowding made for a slightly disappointing time of 3:44.  This was still a pb, before I become too downhearted about it.  As a friend kindly pointed out, it was probably worth sub 3 hours bearing in mind the conditions, but I doubt if this would be a valid statement for Club Championship purposes.

No marathon report is complete without a triumphant finishing photo and, errr, this is it.  You can just about see the Reichstag in the background, and just about see me (complete with medal and ERR T-shirt) in the foreground.