Question:Hamburg Marathon, Germany April 16th. Anyone has done it or is doing
it this yr? Would like to hear about your experiences. W.S. in
Connecticut.
Answer:
I've done it twice. Two years ago as a skater and last year as a
runner. It is very nice. It is one of the big european city marathons.
There are always lots of spectators along the streets and the
atmosphere is great. So I can really recommend it.
The course isn't very fast because of some hills during the first 10
Km and a last hill just before the finish. But all these hills aren't
that bad (the course record is still below 2:10:00).
On the same day there is a marathon in Rotterdam (Netherlands). This
marathon is one of the biggest and fastest in the world.
And if You like a smaller marathon better, go to Leipzig (on the same
day aswell).
I will probably take participate in Hamburg too. I would like to run
but I've problems with a shin splint at the moment. So I might skate
instead or not do it at all.
I did that last year; as it was my first marathon I cannot really
compare with other races, but I thought it was pretty good. The course
is flat, certainly by American standards, one or two overpasses, and
takes you by the Elbe river and around the big lake in the center of
the city.
Great crowd. There are around 14,000 runners but certainly more than
100,000 people cheering. Food is good, too, and available almost every
mile in the last 10 miles.
Overall organization was efficient, with the usual caveats: avoid the
beer at the pasta-party on Saturday, make sure you don't need a
bathroom just before the start, reserve a hotel a few months before
(now would be a good time). You can get to the race by subway.
A few links:
site for the race:
http://www.marathon-hamburg.de/
my own experience, elaborated:
http://www.oprit.rug.nl/knaap/ehamburg.html
(Philipp is running again this year).
Of course I can also recommend Rotterdam, probably a bit faster but
certainly a bit larger--those two things might balance out in your
overall time.
