Berlin Marathon 2009

Posted September 19, 2009

This marathon was by far the most memorable ever: my brother Pete got up at 4 A.M. in New Hampshire and simultaneously ran the last 30K together with me. We texted throughout the run and I called him right before the Brandenburg Gate and we ran into the finish line together talking on the phone. He gave me some great coaching support along the way, and it was fun to hear how he was running alone in the dark through the forest and on the beach as I was running past a million spectators in the hot sun through the city. I'm sure the organizers of the Berlin Marathon didn't know they had a ghost runner in America. I put all of our text messages plus dozens of photos and videos are into chronological order below.

At 7:20 A.M. I tweeted that I was off to the marathon, then went to the Berlin Morgenpost website to print out an article and saw my tweet on the front page of the sports section. Nice way to start the day and be on the same page with Haile for a couple seconds.

on the way to the start, the sun was up and promised to shine all day:

only about 5000 of the 41000 runners are from Berlin, more than 50% come from other countries:

cameras everywhere:

the walk to the start:

early-race optimism:

the Berlin Marathon had to be pushed up a week earlier this year because of the German national election, in any case, it made for wonderful weather:

first turn, everybody still feeling great:

5K, everyone starting to wake up:

zero clouds:

everyone breaking a sweat:

I know a runner who doesn't run the Berlin marathon because she says it's too crowded, here's one solution, run the sidewalks:

8K, onward:

11K

12k

runners as far as you can see:

the Berlin marathon has the best food/water support of any marathon I've run, all the apples and bananas you can eat:

water every 5K, thanks to all the volunteers:

here I am talking to Pete on the phone as we run through the Brandenburg Gate together:

200 meters later, finished:

Well that was the slowest marathon I have ever run. I realized at 22K that I had not done enough training this year to get anywhere near 4:15 as I usually do in Berlin. But it was also one my funnest marathons ever, thanks to Pete and his proactive ghost running and much appreciated text coaching throughout the race. Truly unique. Wonderful memories.