Berlin Marathon 2017: Reporting live from the Berlin Studio (apartment)

Just got back from my run in time to watch the last hour of the BMW Berlin Marathon as Kipchoge, Berkeley, and Kipsang (as the advertised world record strivers) fight for first place and hopefully the world record on this dreary Berliner day.

Opting for a more comfortable spectator position than last year (in my defense, I’ve also got wicked jetlag), I’m taking advantage of Berlin’s major TV station, RBB where the whole race is reported live. These are my thoughts while watching (disclaimer: I’m not a sports reporter, nor get paid to be one on TV 😉):

• Right now (1:08), they’re talking about Anna Hahner, one of Germany’s top marathon runners and also the hopeful for the top German result. She is about 20 meters away from the top women. (Spoiler alert: she only gets mentioned two more times and finishes alright)
• Kind of interesting this year are the thousands of election campaign posters lining the course and constantly caught by the camera
• Berkeley is off course (1:10:48) for the record. He could still make it up but eh…
• Guye Adola missed his water bottle at km 25…he’s a debut runner doing pretty well. Go underdog! No one shared his bottle with him, though. Competition is tough
• My bet is on Kipchoge, because he has that sub 2-Hour attempt to draw meantal strength from
• I think I’m glad I’m not volunteering today. The weather is kind of miserable
• I also hope no one forgot their glide… chafing=ew
• 1:24:29 Kimputo is kind of bouncing around in the back, my bet is he’s next to fall off the pace
• The water (light rain and sweat) is flying off their feet
• Pacer 60 Kimpare is doing a great job
• Oh! They’re at km aid station 30, and before I could finish writing about how I was there last year and didn’t even realize I could end up in the footage…
• WHAT Kipsang is out?! WHAT!?
• Now it’s just Kipchoge and Adola! I guess I may win my bet after all
• Kimpare is gone now too
• It’s not long now
• The bicycle leaders are are having a hard time not working as pacers for the two
• Marathon running televised is a bit like watching sloths play soccer.
• 1:43:11 Adola still there, slightly irritating Kipchoge it looks like. Hang on for 7 more km, Adola! Wouldn’t it be wild if he won?
• And how lucky is Kipchoge, after the other two fell off, to have this competition? Someone who keeps him on pace?
• Bekele is now also completely out. :-(
• Kipchoge is running the blue line (the adidas three stripes to be seen throughout the city weeks after the race) Adola is running long curves. What is going on? Is a Adola letting Kipchoge keep his own pace?
• 1:50:40 Okay, yeah, it’s getting a little more interesting  now
• 4 more km
• Less than 10 more minutes
• 1:54:55 Kipchoge looks like he’s losing a bit of form :/
• What the heck, Adola looks like a running god. He can have the win. I’m a fan
• Okay Kipchoge, you still got this after all. He closed the gap
• Adola doesn’t take any fuel? What? He may also have surged too early
• Max 5 more minutes. I’m actually on the end of my seat. I take back my sloth comment
• C’mon Adola! Hang on!
• Kipchoge is claiming the last km for himself
• Okay, experience wins. Aber Adola, aller Respeckt!
• Damn. Kipchoge, look at that smile. 1km left and he knows he has this
• Stride, smile, finish.
• KIPCHOGE IS THE WINNER!
• 2:03:34
• AND ADOLA, fastest debut in history, 2:03:47 :-)
• First woman, Gladys Cherono, doing a really nice job, on her own these last km.
• Wish I had that kind of stride
• Wins in 2:20:21 (and still gets a 15,000€ time bonus). Wooh!

In summary: what a race. Had I bet, I’d have won. Still proven: there are some fast runners out there. Athletes have a tough fight; it takes a lot to know when to step out of a race. Love the Berlin Marathon and hope to maybe run it one day!

Now, I return to my regularly scheduled Sunday. Hope you also have a nice day! -Dorothea