By Danilo Gladow, Peter Hell, Sabine Klier, Ulrike Krieger, Rike Fabia Lohmann, Johannes Malinowski and Pauline von Pezold
The whole of Berlin is in marathon fever! Yesterday we traveled 42.145 kilometers through the capital. At the end of the race there were many happy faces – and another record. Running with us!
Early in the morning, 48,000 running enthusiasts flocked to the Straße des 17. Juni. A participant record! After the handbikers and wheelchair users, Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (51, CDU) gave the starting signal for the main run at 9:15 a.m. Instead of a gun, he pressed a red button. “A start signal via buzzer is much more appropriate in times when war is being waged in Ukraine,” said Wegner.
In the men’s category, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge (38) won with a world-class time of 2:02.41 hours. However, there was a sensation among women. The Ethiopian Tigist Assefa (26) ran the route in two hours, eleven minutes and 53 seconds – a world record!
At the start with swimming tires: The fun Beach Boys spread a good mood Photo: Sven Meissner
And the amateur runners? They made fun of the mega event. Among the disguised people are a gorilla, an angel with huge wings and a Bavarian in lederhosen. Claire Franklin (50), a nurse from Perth (Australia), ran as a fairy with a tulle skirt and wings. “This is in honor of my late father. He loved butterflies,” she says. It was her sixth marathon in nine years. “My knee has already been operated on twice.” It only took her 3 hours and 57 minutes.
Joyce is also happy about the medal in the 121st marathon Photo: Ralf Günther
Jasmin Pirau (24) from Hesse brought a whole fan club with her. “It’s her third marathon,” says one supporter. “We are family and friends and we are too sick to walk ourselves.”
Extreme athlete Joyce Hübner (35), who ran 120 marathons in 140 days and thus became an inspiring social media star, took a little longer. She ran her 121st marathon in 4:05 hours. “It was fantastic. So many people recognized me and cheered me on.”
To celebrate the day, she wanted to treat herself to a glass of alcohol for the first time this year. “I’m looking forward to an Aperol.” And next week it’s running in Cologne.