34. real,- berlin marathon, berlin

registration & inline-skating marathon yesterday
went to pick up my bib number yesterday. the weather wasn't that great, drizzling almost all the way as i reached berlin. the atmosphere in the exhibition hall wasn't that cheerless as the weather. it was quite crowded. there was some last minute shopping to be done here. sport stuffs were sold at discounted rates. i bought a long tights and running shirt.




registration area and free non-alcoholic beers
the inline skaters were unlucky to start their marathon in this bad weather. it was totally wet. there was quite a number of crashes along the way and the winner skated in a time of 1:12:30 hours for the marathon.


inline skaters at the 34 km mark

before the start
i woke up late today. outside was grey and cloudy. i was at a party until 3 am in the morning and went to sleep at about 3:45 am! just a mere 3 hours sleep before the 42.195 km run. i knew that i wouldn't be running "quick" today due to my history - lack of training, injuries, pains & et cetera. so my decision for today was to do a long training run for autumn/winter. moreover i couldn't recharge my garmin 305 cos i didn't bring the recharger and worse still, it was on the whole day yesterday! the "battery is low" when i turned it on before the run. damn it.

i could see more runners on my way to the runners/starting area. i had to take the u/s-bahn (metro) to get to the starting point. some looked nervous (they must be new ones) while others were very relax (the veterans). some of the runners were escorted either by their families or friends.


thousands of runners in hauptbahnhof (main station)


scenes before entering the runners area

the start
it was yellow and orange. yellow was the colour of the plastic bags that we runners put on before the run (it was damn cold : 12° celsius)! orange, the colour of the event's bag and balloons. there was music blasting from the speakers which was quite inaudible because of the noises made by the supporters as well as runners along the starting point/road. the temperature was about 13° celsius and cloudy.


bag deposit area and the way towards starting block


running towards the starting block
there was a countdown before the gun off at 9 am. orange balloons were released into the air as it started. the elite runners & runners with best time of below 3:35 hrs started in this first wave.

as the horde of runners moved forward, i decided to get into the (side)line and while waiting for my turn (2nd wave), i met steffen and we had a chat regarding the usual topics : how fast do you want to run, how was your condition today, talking about competitions from few weeks ago + phototaking! i let him go off earlier cos he wanted to run 3:30 hrs (he managed 3:28 hrs). then i went to the bushes to load off for the last time. after being sidelined for most of the time, i began slowly to join in the runners on the road (i was busy taking photos from the pavement). talking about taking your own sweet time, i took 13 minutes(!) to cross the starting line after the gun off.

3:35 - 4:15 hours runners waiting eagerly for the start of the second wave

the countdown and the start of the marathon

my run i
i enjoyed the atmosphere of running in this big group. supporters on the pavement were clapping enthusiastically (is there such a word?). the first 2 km was really a relaxing run cos i didn't want to waste my energy unnecessarily for the later stages. unfortunately there were few who looked like they were sprinting as if 42.195 km wasn't that long enough. it was after the 3rd kilometer onwards where all the fun really began. music blasted out of the loudspeakers from the tenants in the buildings. there were bands here and there playing music, some rock music while others doing pop or jazz. you could hear samba drummers beating the drums encouraging the runners. all the bands were being applauded by the runners as they ran past them. it was really a reassuring feeling (especially for those who could read german) at the 4 km mark as we stepped on a huge sticker from the local newspaper stating "it is only another 38.195 km to go". thanks guys!


enjoying the atmosphere along the way
the danes. very huge groups of danish runners were involved in this marathon. their supporters were vocal too. all the danish runners wore either red, white or red and white t-shirt with either the wording of danmark or a danish flag printed somewhere on it. these danish supporters were great as they shouted out loud for every (i really mean every) danish runners that past them. that was what i called patriotic supporters.


pacemaker taking a pee
the sun pushed through the clouds after about 10 km. the wind was somehow indecisive, sometimes windy sometimes just a windstill. i was quite constant with my tempo, not running particularly fast or slow. just felt good. later i found out that my time for every 5 km from 0 - 25 km was almost the same 26:30 mins or thereabout. relaxing run.


towards friedrichstadt palast (km 8)


running in kreuzberg

everything went wrong
oh, no... what a day. my garmin 305 went dead after 18 km! now i'm running without the knowledge, how fast/slow was my tempo. i was quite angry with myself for not bringing the recharger for my garmin. lesson learned!


the halfway point
shortly after 26 km point. went for massage due to sharp pain in both my calves. i stopped and laid down on the army bed while the girl from the physiotherapy school massaged both my legs. time flew as i laid there and watching runners past by. i wasn't sure how long i laid there but it was at least a 5 - 10 minutes work.


getting a massage
after the disappointment with my calves, i'd decided to take a break and drank and ate quite a lot (water, isotonic drink, tea, apples & bananas). i got the message later not to be greedy during a marathon. i had a stomachache and was looking for a suitable place to stop. i didn't want to go to the portable toilets cos i would definitely not going to feel comfortable. at 29 km point i found a greek restaurant - spent about 10 - 15 minutes (not sure cos i don't have the time). the guests in the restaurant was looking at me as if i came from the moon. not quite right, just from singapore! they must be thinking what the heck was this guy doing in a restaurant, he should be running!


my run ii
i started my run again after taking photo of the restaurant. before i continued with this report, i would like to highlight about the route 2 km back. it was wilder eber (wild boar). the atmosphere there was absolutely super. 200 meters before you reached the main stage, sounds of the samba drummers were heard via several loudspeakers positioned along the road. it got louder as you approached that area. commentators reading out loud some of the runner's name as they ran past them which was accompanied by huge applause from thousands of spectators. the stage was occupied by the samba drummers (i didn't see the samba dancers - they must be taking a break) while at the side of the road, cheerleaders were doing their stunts. i saw a guy running on the treadmill next to the cheerleaders which i later found out he ran the marathon (on the treadmill), under the supervision of a doctor. he couldn't run the marathon because it was fully booked - as a reward, he received a guaranteed start for next year berlin marathon. (ot : cute treadmill video).


platz am wilden eber
it was only 13 km to go but my legs didn't want to move as it should. i tried to relax and ran really slowly and sometimes i felt the twitch in my right calf. warning for cramps. i had to slow down even further or came to a stop. at km 33, i walked past the refreshment area for drinks and i heard an old lady shouted at me (even though i had my mp3 on). "drink!", she commanded while handing out a plastic cup to me. she must be very experienced with runners and i didn't dare to disobey her! i took my cup and thanked her and ran slowly forward.

the next few kilometers gave the same pictures as before - supporters encouraging the runners and bands playing music or individual person blowing the trumpet or other instrument from the side of the road. along the ku'damm, i had to stop and went to the side of the road and breathed deeply as i felt pain on my chest. weird stuffs. i didn't know why cos i've never had this experience before - must be lack of sleep and too much partying the night before.

along the way, i've read several signboards or posters from the supporters. one read something like this : those who turned back, will reach the goal (a verse from the bible) and a small note below stated : do you really want to turn back after more than 30 km? another was held high by a guy, with simple words : run, bitch, run! i love that.


brandenburg gate
i really enjoyed the last 4 km of the run. running in the eastern side of berlin with small cramps that came up now and then and the knowledge that it wouldn't be that long before you reached the finish line. got my last drink at the 40 km mark and ran down the unter den linden. supporters were again everywhere along the side of the road. it was really a nice moment when one had to run through the brandenburg gate and had only 400 meters to go and the finish line was right in front of you. it was very loud here as supporters clapping and shouting encouragement to all the runners. i took my time to reach the finish line with my last photo along my marathon route. the music from my mp3 was appropriately from heather small's proud as i crossed the line.


few meters before the finish line

after the run
we were greeted with the ever smiling volunteers who put the medals on our neck. an old lady congratulated me as i went to her to have my medal. as she put that medal around my neck, she said something really soothing to my ears, "du hast es geschafft, junge! gratuliere!" - you've done it, boy, congratulation. i felt like hugging her after experiencing what happened along the route.


after crossing the finish line


happy faces waiting to receive the medal
the runners were given yellow plastic bags to keep ourselves warm after the run, cos the way back to our bags were quite far (for some). i went to the side of the road to do some stretching while others simply sat there enjoying the moments that they had conquered the marathon. we received a plastic bag containing water, banana, biscuits and muesli for the bites. then i heard this from the loudspeaker : haile gebrselassie had broken the world record in a time of 2:04:26 hours. i smiled and was thinking, where was i when haile crossed the line?

lucky for me my bag tent wasn't that far away. picked up my bag and went direct to massaging area. had to wait for about 10 - 20 minutes but the time spent was absolutely okay, cos i got tea from someone and talked all the way with a danish guy behind me. everyone was happy regardless of the time that we took to run the marathon. i guessed it was just a big running family.

it drizzled as i went to the shower tents. the warm water felt really like heaven. went to collect my inofficial certificate and prepared myself for the 300 km way home back to hamburg.

the day ended with sweet memory knowing that haile broke the world record and the german women's football team clinched the world cup.


haile's face will soon occupy this space
i'll definitely come back for the 35th real,- berlin marathon on the 28th september 2008 for my tenth berlin marathon. i'll be back.