Sat, Sep 9, 2017 - 5K - 00:29:07
5K Berlin Life Run around Former Tempelhof Airport
My 13-year-old daughter wanted to run a 5K race this weekend as a training run for next week's Berlin Mini Marathon (4.2 kilometers), so we went to runme.de (an excellent site to find races in Germany), and found the Berlin Life Run this weekend. She and I ran the 5K together with the goal to finish under 30 minutes, which we accomplished with a 00:29:07. My wife ran the 10K, and even after a two-month summer running hiatus, finishing with a strong 01:08:07. The race benefits the AIDS-Hilfe-e.V. which works for AIDS research, prevention, and social acceptance of those with AIDS, so when you run it, you get to support their cause a bit. Also, the transvestites working as announcers and cheerleaders are first-class entertainers, and apparently the highlight of this run is when the last runner comes in, the transvestite announcer runs out to them on high heels and they run back into the finish line together, to the roar of the crowd. Also, this run is not like smaller runs you find out in Brandenburg (e.g. the Teltowlauf) which are usually organized by serious running groups and so if you are not a 4-training-runs-a-week runner, you can count on finishing dead last or next to last in your age division. Rather, the Berlin Life Run has only a few fast runners with mostly people who just want to get out and complete a 5K or 10K together on a Sunday morning. I finished with my 13-year-old daughter, for instance, and still placed 2nd out of 7 in my age division. And running one time around a former airport with 600+ people is a unique experience not to be missed.