German Champion Ship 50km in Grünheide/Störitz, Germany

On Friday noon Florian Reus, Marcus Wieser, Walter Zimmerman, my wife and I met up to travel to Grünheide/Störitz together. It was a 500km far trip towards Berlin. There was the first German Champion ship on 50km of the DLV. After almost five hours we arrived at the holiday camp in Störitz at 8pm. We signed in and then went for dinner. Dinner and breakfast was included with the accommodation, but dinner ended at 8pm. After dinner we went to the rooms and laid down.

On Saturday Morning at 4:30am there was breakfast. Since the start was at 6:30am we had decided to met up for breakfast at 5am. When we arrived many people already where there, but there was still enough. After strengthen ourself we went back to the rooms to do the last preparations. The ways are short so there was no stress.

Just before 6:30am everyone met up at the start line. After the start the leading group went away. As assumed it was going to be a fast race between the favorites. I had planed to run sub four hours and hence started slowly. For the first two loops Florian and I was running together, but then I let him go since his speed was to fast for me. The course was shaped like an eight with a big loop, a small loop, and a long back and forward part. So it was easy to watch the field of runners. Just behind the start and finish area was a huge aid station set up. Besides another water station was set up at half way. After it was a wooden path. Otherwise it was a fast course on flat asphalt. Marcel Bräutigam used that and speed away after the fourth loop. This leading position he kept till the end. While he finished a few minutes before the second, it was more tight for the women. In the beginning Nele Dr. Alder-Baerens was still a few seconds in front. But she was passed by Almut Dreßler after halt time which won in the end with about 25 seconds in advance. I had a pretty good time. On the one hand I had a very constant run, on the other I was 20 minutes faster than I had planed. Also Florian and Marcus were faster than they had planed. So finally we made third place with the team, even we had only a few minutes in front of the fourth.

After the race we quickly had a shower. Then we used the time to strengthen ourself and talk a bit. There was enough time. On the one hand, because we had to wait for Walter. On the other hand, the award ceremony was at 2pm. But after we it was finished we immediately went home.