BERLIN Marathon 2012

With only 201 days to go until the Berlin Marathon gets under way, I thought it was about time I got this thread kicked off. I'm sure all of you like me, will start their 28 week training programme next weekend.

Flights booked, hotels sorted out and already thinking about what kit you can wear to impress the locals right? Well hop on board the thread and introduce yourself.

Cheers, Tricky Dicky.

I'm doing Berlin this year, like you hotel and flights booked.

Have you had any correspondences from the organisers yet?

I've had comfirmation but nothing else.

Looking forward to it as part of doing all the majors.

Hi Jonah, no can't think of any correspondence apart from the usual confirmation of payment. I ran Berlin last year and all the orgnisation was very straight forward, so nothing to worry about yet. I've also run London and New York as 3 of the 5 'Majors' but to be honest, these are self-appointed titles and I don't see much value in them.

I thought New York was a horrible course, very boring and hugely over hyped. Berlin was fabulous and frankly, London was even better. Maybe I am being setimental as a Brit living abroad (been in Belgium for nearly 12 years) but to be honest, I don't think so.

I got invited back to run NY this year but I didn't even bother to respond. Loved the city, really didn't enjoy anything about the race.

I've ran London numerous times and it's still my favourite marathon.

Ran New York in 2010 and couldn't believe how hilly it was, like you said great city but the marathon was a bit of a let down.

Doing Berlin this year as well as London and Manchester, then next year I'm doing Boston hopefully.

Hi, I'm running Berlin this year - first marathon for me too, so I'm excited and a little scared. Only 200 days of training to go eh?

I'm pleased to hear good things about the course! I also have some way to go in terms of organisation...

Second year in a row for me. The course is incredibly flat and therefore likely to offer quick times.

Training? Well, I'll think about assembling a programme once London is safely out of the way!

I can't remember when the entrant pack came through last year, but it definitely wasn't this early. If you have received the confirmation of entry electronically, there is no need to panic ...

I was very surprised to find a few weeks ago that for the chain of hotels i would choose to use in Berlin, already 2 out of 6 were sold out that weekend. I definitely didn't have that experience last year. No idea if this is a general trend or if this one company has dramatically improved its marketing?

I'm running Rome mara this weekend and will be pace-making some friends for Paris on 15th April.  So hopefully will get to take a good long rest before starting Berlin training. Welcome to Dachs and Hellsbells. Marathon newbies. What is your motivation for doing this mad thing then?

It seemed the logical next step after returning to running.  I wanted to see what the fuss was all about, I guess.  I also kind of always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to run a marathon before I was 35.  Unfortunately, I turn 35 a month before Berlin, but that's a minor detail...

I did my first mara in Cologne Dachs, 2 months before I was 40 Dachs. Berlin will be my 11th.  I am older now but much fitter.

TD- Is that your 11th marathon, showing my age did my 1st marathon in 1981 Manchester.

Your'e right about getting fitter or maybe wiser in old age, I'm still getting PB's now.

I'm booked in the Best Western, do you know how far that is from the start?

No idea Jonah, try Google maps or something. Probably also more than one BW in Berlin.

Yes, 11th marathon.

TD- Checked earlier and it's the same hotel they suggest off the offical website so I presume it might be close to the start.

Easy 20miles at the weekend for me, ran the the Grindleford Gallop last Saturday 21mile trail race so legs still a tad stiff.

I ran the Berlin Marathon last year in 2011. Awesome race, excellent course and unbelievable atmosphere. I fully recommend it. I have ran marathons in Berlin and Prague now and I can't choose between them in terms of which is the better race.

I am running the Stockholm Marathon in June and I can only hope for something as special as the Berlin or Prague races.

KW- Sunderland sounds different, maybe one for the future for me.

After Berlin I'm doing a 50 mile night race in the Peak District called "Dawn til Dusk" which sounds fun.

After Berlin, I will mostly be sleeping ...

... and then have the difficult job of deciding what I want my goals to be. I'll be approaching 45 yo and am wondering to myself how will I continue to find the performance improvements which have thus far motivated me and driven me on to train hard. I have a mental goal (which i won't share yet) for Berlin, but if I achieve it, well, not sure where to go from there.

There comes a point in time where no matter how much energy you expend, you can't get much quicker. Now I might be deceiving myself and that could be some years away but i will want to reflect on this and learn from those around. But for now, I have to get down to Rome. A small matter of 42kms to be run.

Ciao!