Sunday April 8th 2018 Berlin Half Marathon No 6 Germany

Sunday 8th April 2018 No 6

Richard 01:59:19 Jackie 02:18:01

Tight security was very evident for this event , bag checks body searches even screening going into the event center . The start area was fenced off and a wrist band and your number were checked before entering the start area . It is a massive event 34,500.00 runners and 1,500.00 inline skaters registered and it sold out well in advance. Now in its 38th year it also attracts 250,000.00 spectators along the route .We learnt after the event that a terrorist attack had been planned and arrests were made during the early hours of Sunday .

Erick Kiptanui led a group of 6 fellow Kenyans to set a new course record in 00:58:42 while the fastest women was Ethiopian Melat Kejeta in a time of 01:09:04.

The weather for this event was stunning we left a bitterly cold Manchester and arrived in a pleasant 18 degrees with blue sky's and very little wind . The weather stayed the same for the whole weekend and if anything was too hot for the run. It did bring out the crowds and the Berliners filled the parks and outdoor restaurants for the first time this year .

I loved this run , it really was a city tour passing all the major sights . It started close to our Hotel in Alexanderplatz and after 3km we passed the Berlin Dome before going under the Brandenburg Gate, where I just had to get my phone out to take a pic . Just after was the Reichstag .

The route turned at Castle Charlottenburg and headed back through Check Point Charlie to the finish on Karl Marx Allee .

Alkoholfrei beer free at the finish

I can't praise this event enough, yes we had perfect weather but Berlin is such an interesting place and the transport system extensive and easy to use . Tourism seems to be booming in Berlin and I can see why . A special thanks also to Rolf and Baerbel who put us up in their house for 2 nights .

Before the start

The River Spree

Packed riverside restaurant on a beautiful spring day

The Television Tower can be seen from all over the city

Many reminders of Berlins past

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