Around 1 p.m., the fastest runners had been at the finish for about two hours, probably had a shower and yes, some were probably already on their way home, so around 1 p.m. there were still masses of men and women running down Kochstrasse in Kreuzberg. They still had four kilometers to go. The runners were old and young, they were hunchbacked and athletic, tall and short, fat and thin, they ran shapely and out of round; some of them had something to share.
A runner carried a note with the inscription “For Susi” on his tummy. Others looked not at the track but at the shop windows to see themselves running. What these participants all had in common: They were quite slow compared to the top runners from East Africa, who were almost exclusively born and grew up at altitudes of around 2000 meters. These exceptional athletes sprinted over the 21.0975-kilometer route at around 20 km/h on average. But the big Berlin running events are more than a show of breathtaking runners from East Africa. They are primarily a sporting gathering of the hunchbacked and crooked.
Over 33,000 registered for the 41st Berlin Half Marathon. But even in the days before, one could assume that not everyone would take part. The weather forecast was too frosty, which unfortunately was correct. The race on the Straße des 17. Juni started at two to three degrees. Many a participant was wrapped up thick and may have regretted it half an hour later. Despite the weather, there were probably around 26,000 starters.
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey was also dressed in wintry at the starting gun. “The many runners from so many nations are a sign of freedom in this beautiful city of Berlin,” she said. Women and men from 121 nations were at the start. Giffey’s words were aimed at the war in Ukraine, which was not forgotten at the big event. The national colors of Ukraine were shown in large numbers. And the organizers had promised in advance to withdraw those who were supposed to be wearing the Russian propaganda sign “Z” visibly. With the runners’ movement, which has shown great solidarity with the people from Ukraine in recent months, the organizer’s threat was probably not necessary anyway.
Running boom despite or because of the pandemic
Thousands of people in a confined space still seem strange two years after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, events such as the half marathon reflect the general way society deals with the virus. Life is getting back to normal a bit, measures are being relaxed, people are coming together again. However, the organizers of the half marathon did not want to give the impression that they were treating the topic lightly.
Contrary to what the authorities intended, all participants were required to wear masks immediately before the start and after crossing the finish line. “You can just see that many people still have respect for the virus,” said Jürgen Lock from the organizer SCC Events. “And we want to take that into account.”
Lock and his staff, like so many people in the events space, have struggled over the past two years. Many major runs were canceled due to the pandemic. SCC Events alone employs around 70 people. The event organizer agencies cannot afford years like 2020 and 2021 more often. Running has gotten really big. Before the pandemic, the runs had increased every year, but also the number of participants, the sponsors and the transmission times. The economic benefit of the Berlin marathon alone in autumn with around 40,000 participants and one million spectators is estimated at almost 400 million euros.
However, there was no question of a crisis in running during the pandemic years. More people than ever are taking up running. Just for yourself. This running boom was also evident at the Berlin Half Marathon. It feels like never before have so many runners run crookedly and crookedly at the finish line as this year. Most did so with a smile on their face, despite the effort. You’ll still have the run in your bones for the next few days. It will probably have been worth it to them