For this year’s Unity Day I headed to Mauerweg parkrun, Berlin Germany. Due to other commitments, and things going on, I ended up doing this as a solo trip. But really you can never be on your own when surrounded by the parkrun community!
Mauerweg, near Jenbacher Weg 4, 12209 Berlin
Mauerweg parkrun and Unity Day
Each event decides in advance whether they’d like to take part or not. Mauerweg parkrun had already made their decision before even their inaugural! You see the course is part of the path of the Berlin wall. In fact it translates in English to Wall Trail parkrun.
Finding Mauerweg parkrun
From my hotel it was just one bus and a short walk. Luckily, some other parkrunners had planned this and allowed me to join them. As a bonus, once we got on the bus, there was another parkrun couple who had done a recce of the route. Soon they were like the Piped Piper as we all followed them to our destination!
Honestly, I am not sure how easy it would be to find normally. Literally it is a table in the middle of the course. But with people already there at 7:20 when the volunteers turned up it always going to be easy to find.
Mauerweg parkrun Course
The course itself is in the shape of a coat hanger and a one lapper on paths with a very little slope, so it has the possibility for PB’s. Also it wasn’t sweltering hot! Basically there are 3 out and backs – with the finish being where the start was. As it was so busy I literally just followed everyone else!
We had been warned that the course was narrow. It certainly wasn’t used to the volume. That we needed to be mindful of other users. There were those who are visually impaired, deaf (including a group of 18 Deaf runners from UK & Ireland), on crutches, wheelchair users and people with buggies.
To stay to the right and be very careful on the turnarounds. It seemed that it could very well be a PB course in the right conditions. We all knew that today wasn’t that day though!
My Experience
Before
The core team had been very proactive on the parkrun tourism groups leading up to the event, giving us very good and comprehensive instructions.
Arrival
Once there we could see a long queue of people getting their photo done with the sign. Everyone was so friendly and it was good to chat when we waited. In fact Andrea who passed me Boomerang JB9 was behind me in the queue!
There was 99 black, yellow and red balloons, food drink, selfie boards and stickers.
With lots of people greeting each other and meeting each other for the first time. It was actually quite cold and I actually had a jumper on whilst waiting. Nick, who was doing his 700th was freezing, and wanted a warming hug!
Briefings
Susan as part of the briefing told of her own personal experience regarding the Berlin Wall, this was very touching and heartfelt.
Chris Powell perfectly summed up the speech, “It not only brought to life the significance of why we were there, but also reminded us of some lessons in history that many of us can only imagine. It also truly embodied the true essence of parkrun; of inclusivity, of camaraderie, of welcoming friendship and sharing.”
Yoni Jonker was invited up to the front and 869 participants and all the volunteers sang Happy Birthday to him and Ian Harrison (the latter of which was celebrating his 70th birthday).
Different Areas
There was a mention that they thought there may be some tourists! With Susan calling out different areas we could be from. Obviously generally like England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and so on.
Of course we weren’t all from the United Kingdom and so then we were divided into three groups, each given the course description in either English, German or Polish.
Running at Mauerweg parkrun
They had markers for those running sub 20 and sub 25 at the front. The rest of us just all lined up. Again it didn’t matter the time so neither did the position.
As I say it was cold so I did actually start by running in my vest top. Soon I got warm though and tucked it into my pocket. However, I did keep my Cow cowel on my head. Also I couldn’t run properly as I had been in a lot of pain with my arm.
Finishing
Sprint finishing was not possible. Not only were there too many people but they hadn’t been able to clear the finish funnel. We were told to make a second line, keeping in order, to allow people to keep finishing. We were told to stay in single file before they realised what was happening.
Luckily for me they still had finish tokens. As I came in at 385. However, they ran out and started writing numbers on people’s hands. But then Bartosz Makowski leapt into action and provided extra finish tokens online that could be scanned alongside the barcodes.
Also I was fortunate enough to also get some cake!
Stats Event 29 and First Unity Day
Mauerweg parkrun inaugural had 87 participants; with a surge in numbers during the Berlin Half Marathon weekend “swelling” the numbers up to 126. But regular attendance is 30-50. Last year, about 200 people attended Hasenheide and Havelkanal each, roughly 400 total across Berlin. The all-time German record for that day was just over 270 finishers. So they had an upper estimate of around 300. Secretly they made extra tokens up to 600 – just to be sure!
Parkrun turning 21 met 35 years of German unity, so how fantastic that there was a record-breaking turnout for German National attendance. Totalling 869 runners, walkers, joggers and Jeffers.
Of those 817 were tourists and there were 8 first timers (what an amazing first parkrun to run at) and an amazing 15 PB’s. Times ranged from First finisher Richard Vogelsang – 15:52- to the tail walker in 1:13:47.
- First lady was Vicky Unsworth in 20:01.
- With 404 sub 30.
- Many thanks to the 79 volunteers.
- Person completed most runs: Iain Hall – 772
Milestones
- 25 Chris Oakley and Rachel Pullett
- 50 Katinka RIEGER
- 100 Jonathan Lish
- Well done to Ann Hall on her 200th different parkrun location
- 700 Nick
Visit these other bloggers who cover parkrun: Sarah at Mum of Three World, Jackie at Never Imitate and Chrissy at It’s Me Chrissy J