I am back from Germany and finally did an easy 3 miles after I put my kids to bed last night (after I had been awake 24 hours from our travel day). I thought it would help snap the jet-lag out of me. I have been exhausted today, so not sure if it worked. Anyway, some of my thoughts on the Berlin Marathon:
1. Communication from the beginning of registration to race day is very poor.
2. Signage is almost non-existent. I am glad I gave myself lots of time, because it took me nearly 45 minutes to figure out how to get to my corral. Same went for the end of the race. There was multiple ways to go after you got your medal. It took me forever to get my poncho and whatever food they had in a bag, take the stupid chip off my show, and then find the family meeting area.
3. Corral enforcement is a JOKE. I was in the first wave, corral C. This was 2:50-3:00 marathon times. I could not even get in it because it was so full. I stood with a bunch of others at the entrance to it and filed in when the race started. So many people were just jumping over the barrier and getting up front--people who were supposed to be further back. The volunteer just watched it happen, never saying a word.
4. It was so crowded, for awhile, but I seemed to be able to find open space. Many men were not nice and I would every now and then, find myself boxed in, unable to easily pass.
5. About half the amount of porta potties than they needed. I peed in the park behind some greenery as did so many other people.
6. Plastic cups. That was what water was in. They do not crush when running and became so slippery once it started raining. I don't get it. People have complained about it for years and yet there they were. They were suppose to use a recycled reusable cup but it wasn't there. I have no idea what happened with that plan but with they just used paper cups like every other race.
7. The shoe chip. You have to rent this and then take it off and give it back at the end or get charged another 25 euros. Have you ever tried bending and untying your shoe after a marathon with numb hands from the rain and cold? I could bend to the chip, but took me awhile to untie my shoe. They don't have anyone helping you and I saw just 2 ladies collecting the chips. So many people left with their chips. Also, I am hearing of people being charged even though they turned it in. They have to come up with something better.
8. No mile markers, just kilometers. I had mixed feelings about this before the race. I actually liked it. I didn't have the mile markers to play with my head and the kilometers come so much quicker--instant gratification.
9. Smoking along the course. So much smoking.
10. The course is as flat and fast as its reputation. There was a good amount of spectators which made it really nice. The rain put a little damper on it for spectators, but many were troopers and stayed out there. The roads are very well maintained and not as pot holed as Boston and NYC.
11. Around the 33 km mark, a spectator crossed in front of me with a bike. I sped up to get around her and she clipped my heel with the bike tire. I almost went down, Again, the volunteers do very little to prevent this stuff.
12. Despite all the negatives, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I would do it again, but not anytime soon--too far and expensive for travel.
A few pics:
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