Race report by Gaz:
Berlin did not disappoint!
The day started with a sunny but cool 2°C, the wind chill at the start line was slicing through like a bratwurst knife.
I clung to my emergency charity shop hoodie (acquired the day before for €5—bless you, Berlin thrift gods) until the very last second.
It had a short but meaningful life… made it about 400 metres into the warm-up and numerous nervous pees before being dramatically flung aside. I was in the zone!
The course? Absolutely iconic. A proper sightseeing tour (at threshold pace) we passed the bombed-out church, Berlin Cathedral, the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the TV Tower, and meandered over the various river crossings!
The long flats straights (some random cobbles thrown in) were perfect for finding a rhythm and a welcome change from previous routes (I believe) with more airpins and weaving!
I really set into a nice pace, my breathing was good and my legs felt ace, I was enjoying it!
And the vibes? Unreal. I charged through a full-blown rave tunnel (complete with strobes and banging techno), got cheered on by actual pom-pom-wielding cheerleaders, and slapped what felt like 100 kids’ high-fives along the way. There were even people dishing out the trusty mushroom power-ups (no idea if they worked, but I tapped a few of them like Mario anyway 🍄).
Then came that final stretch—running toward the Brandenburg Gate felt epic… until it started moving further & further away the harder I ran. Classic Berlin.
Finished with a new PB of 1:37, feeling strong, steady, and surprisingly upright. Pacing was dialled, energy was good, and recovery snacks may or may not have included a weird warm tea at the finish and a pretzel the size of my head.
Berlin, you were cold, loud, weird, and utterly brilliant. I’d do it all again tomorrow.*
(*With better gloves and maybe a whistle for the rave tunnel.)
