Berlin Marathon
The Berlin marathon was my main goal for the autumn of 2010. During that spring, I ran my fastest10km, half marathon and Marathon, running the Mannheim Marathon in 2h34′. I had improved greatly. It took me really 2 years of marathon training and dedication to reach this level. At that time, I started to dream about running sub 2h30′.
In 2009, my coach Serge started to train me. He was confident that I could run this fast, but I was doubtful, but decided to try anyway!
So I registered for the fastest marathon in the world : 2010 Berlin Marathon. Haile ran the World Record in 2h03’59”. Serge has prepared an 8 week plan, tailored for the challenge. It is based on both quality and quantity.
Every week is intense and in the middle of August, I ran 100 miles (160 kilometers) with a lot of hills. I ran a total of 900 kilometers during these 8 weeks.
I have not been in Berlin since 2001, when I was living there, I lived only 1 hour away. Please see the map below for the many sightseeing spots along the route.
Peperone Half Marathon
Three weeks before Berlin, I race in Carmagnolia the Peperone half marathon. I started strong for the first 8 kilometers, but slowed down to finish in 1h17’30”. I ran 120 kilometers that week and without tapering, not too bad!
The training volume will be lighter for the remaining three weeks to try to get back into good shape for the 2010 Berlin marathon.
Berlin
I arrived in Berlin on Friday evening, I met my parents later who were visiting the city for the weekend. Our hotels are close to Potsdamer Platzt, and are also situated 3km from the start line (perfect distance for warming up before the race). That evening after dinner We walked to the Brandeburg Gate to enjoy the atmosphere amongst the other runners:
The day before the marathon, at 9am, I ran my last training session of 7 kilometers, of which I ran the last 4 kilometers of the race route. It was cloudy, but dry. The hamstrings were tight, especially the right one, but it improved after 30 minutes.
Afterwards I collected my race number at the old Tempelhof airport. The Marathon show was huge with children running mini-marathons on the old driveway. It was raining then and we also discovered that the forecast for the race was not great also. I returned to the hotel afterwards and prepared my kit:
Afterwards in the evening, I went with my parents to the Potzdame Platzt for the diner and enjoyed watching the roller skate marathon :
Most restaurants were full of runners, their plates were full of pasta and their glasses full of mineral water. I went to bed early, in order to be ready for the race.
Sunday
It was usual pre-race, I woke up early at 6 am. I checked the weather, and it was raining! I ate my energetic cake and at 6.30am, I went down to eat breakfast. Many of the runners were ready at the hotel restaurant.
I left the hotel at 8.05am, and I ran to the start line where I arrived within 15 minutes. I was to start in wave A, just behind the elite athletes. There are not many of us in this wave. The wheelchair marathon started at 8.45 and we could have arrived much later, perhaps at 8.45 because we could not enter the start area before they left.
The race
At 8.55, we could see the elite athletes running to the start. The elite males were on the right hand side of the road, and I was just behind the elite ladies, on the left hand side of the road.
At 8.59am, Sir Simon Marlow started to sing “This is the moment” and at 9am sharp, the starter let us go, for the 2010 Berlin Marathon :
We ran around the “Grosser Stern” and finished the first kilometer. I believed I started well, my GPS told me 3’36”. I was also overtaking a runner, in a banana outfit!!
The elite ladies should have started at 3’20″/3’25”, but I overtook them. They were at 3’50” for the first kilometer. I did not see any of the first two markers, and I finished km 3 in 10’51” well on the plan. I planned to finish every 5 kilometers in 18 minutes (with the first half in 1h15/1h16).
The rain was heavy and I kept behind the runners to protect myself from the wind.
When we arrived at the first aid station, the top ladies caught up, there were bicycles and TV motorbikes, and big BMW’s X6 from the organizer, following the elite ladies. It was a mess and I nearly missed my water bottle.
After a few hundred meters, our group of 20/30 runners re-grouped and kept a 3’35” / km pace. A few runners accelerated and ran with the first ladies at 3’20″/km.
First 5km were completed in 18’05” (average of 3’37″/km). A little slow but perfect for today.
To km 10:
Our small group was running well now, and later we crossed the rivers and the twists and turns close to the Bundeskanzleramt and to the Reichstag. We then left the center and ran along the Reinhardstrasse and then along Torstrasse.
A headwind obliged the group to run in a single line. At kilometer 9, I took my first gel and 2 glasses of water. In the first glass there was sparkling water (surprise), and in the second one it was still water. I ran easy for a while but it seemed that I was not really there, I was in a world of my own. My race will not start until km 30.
The pace was the same for the first 10 kilometers.
5km – 10km in 18’02” (average 3’36″/km). 10km in 36’05”
To km 15:
We were running around the large suburban boulevards, and even with the bad weather, there was a lot of public support, cheering us on. Many of them had a loud Vuvuzela, similar to what you would hear during a football world cup match in South Africa.
When we arrived on Strausberger Platzt, we ran around the wet roundabout, It was like a 3000m steeple:
I slowed down here, and it was difficult to accelerate. We went above the river and I slowed down on the bridge. I drank a glass of water at the aid station, but did not feel thirsty because of the heavy rain.
10km – 15km in 18’20” (average 3’40″/km). 15km in 54’25”
To km 20:
At 15k, we were a small group of four runners, and I ran behind them to protect myself from the wind. Two elite top lady runners overtook us, then our group broke up, I was then alone running in the wind, it slowed me down.
My parents were on the road to support me, even with the rain. I thank them for their support. It was not the ideal weather to visit Berlin.
I took my second gel, just before the fourth aid station.
15km – 20km in 18’52” (average 3’46″/km). 20km in 1:13’17”
To km 25:
I finished the first half in 1h17’32”, my legs felt heavy and I felt a niggle in my right hamstring. My decision was to continue to push to try to run in 2h38′, but it was difficult to push. I reduced my speed until the thirtieth kilometer to check in and assess how my body was feeling.
Some runners were stopping at the half marathon stage already and I avoided looking at them. I was focused on finishing the marathon. At this stage I got overtaken by many runners.
I slowed down and the modified stride was increasing the hamstring pain.
My GPS was now telling me that I ran slower than 15km/h and I was just thinking of running forward. I hoped to finish sub 2h50′ now, even sub 2h45′. When I reached the next aid station, I just drank a glass of water.
20km – 25km in 19’34” (average 3’55″/km). 25km in 1:32’51”
To km 30:
I slowed down, and many runners overtook me. I did not follow them, I just tried to keep above 15km/h. It was tough.
I overtook a handbike, he was very tired at this point. We ran away from the center again, and I felt the finish line was getting further away. I just kept going as a habit, just as I had trained for so many hours. The goal was to run sub 2h30, and it was not going to happen, but I intended to enjoy this marathon.
I did not take my third gel, I finished with only water.
25km – 30km in 20’22” (average 4’04″/km). 30km in 1:53’13”
To km 35:
It was strange now, I should have run in 3’45″/km and I was not even running at 4’/km. Except for a few fast runners, most of the runners around me were struggling, we were all travelling to Berlin for this performance and took risks to attain a good time.
We turned right and ran finally to the center. The watch was telling me my speed was now at 14km/h. The rain was heavy and I was so tired. The hamstring was painful with some of the strides.
We arrived at the Kurfuerstendamm and its shops. There was more public now and the architecture looks better.
I drank half a glass of water at each aid station.
We arrived at “KaiserWihelmGedaechtnisKirsche” church. It was nearly fully destroyed during the war. Top runners ran here a long time ago and are already at the Brandebourg Gate.
Arriving at the aid station in Witemberg Platz, the pompom girls were cheering us on. I had 8 kilometers to go: running at 15km/h, I should close sub 2h45′.
30km – 35km in 20’29” (average 4’06″/km). 35km in 2:13’42”
To km 40:
I started to overtake runners at this point. I kept my pace at 15km/h and my mood was improving. The crowd was also helping me. My parents were at kilometer 38. My dad took an artistic picture of me:
Even with this poor weather the public was pushing us. It is great. At km38, when we arrived in Potzdamer Platz, I asked the public to support us and they got louder. It was great!
When we had 5 kilometers to go, I was ready to push.
The pace was improving to nearly 16km/h. I was starting to overtake many runners, like in a Pac-man game. I ran this route yesterday, and knew it well.
We took a left to Markgrafen Strasse and I was already at the 40 kilometer mark. The chrono was displaying 2h34′, and I should have been already done with this marathon…
35km – 40km in 20’21” (average 4’04″/km). 40km in 2:34’03”
To km 42:
We were in the center, and few streets were empty. They were full of luxury hotels and offices. We arrived now at the nice square with the Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt and the two churches. The road went right / left, then we were back to Unter den Linden.
We were in East Berlin, and ran in front of the Russian Consulate. The Brandebourg Gate was in front of us then. I was pushing and was ready to finish this marathon, enjoying every minute of it:
Mentally, I ran under the Brandebourg Gate many times. In some dreams, I was even winning the marathon! I started to “fly” and overtook a few runners.
I really enjoyed the last 400 meters to finish in 2h42′. Slower than expected but so happy to finish this marathon!
40 km – 42,2 km closed in 8’26” (average of 3’50″/km). Marathon in 2:42’29”
I got my drop bag and a nice massage. I met Orlando Pizzolato (the famous Italian runner who won twice New York Marathon and concluded the marathon in 2h52′ today: over 50 years old).
Afterwards I enjoyed a long hot shower, ate a great lunch and went sightseeing:
In total I covered 55 kilometers today!
Patrick Makau won in a sprint finish in 2h05 and Aberu Kebede won the ladies race in 2h24′.
The picture of this weekend is the flow of runners under the Brandebourg Gate (it was not possible few years back!):
Race analysis
The lessons I learned:
– The training was too much. I overtrained, especially in August, with quantity/quality and on a hilly course.
– To heal the hamstring injury before the race
– The bad weather slowed me down
I was far away from my goal, but I still enjoyed the weekend in Berlin and finished the 2010 Berlin marathon in 2h42′.
I am ready for my next races which are the Ecomarathon in Alba and the Saintelyon ultra trail race.