Berlin Marathon

Infobox Athleticrace
bgcolour = lightblue


imagesize = 150px
caption = Berlin Marathon Logo
date = 27/28 September 2008
location = Berlin, Germany
type = Road
distance = Marathon
est = 1974
record =
homepage = [http://www.real-berlin-marathon.com/events/berlin_marathon/2008/ real-berlin-marathon]

The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is set up as a city-wide road race where professional athletes and amateur sportsmen jointly participate. First initiated in 1974 the event traditionally takes place on the last weekend in September. In 2000 more than 30 competitors were disqualified for using the Berlin U-Bahn to complete the course. ["Trivial Pursuit 20th Aniversary Edition" Card 46]

With 40,827 enrolled starters from 107 countries, 35,913 official finishers and more than one million spectators in 2008 the Berlin marathon is one of the largest and most popular road races in the world. [citeweb|url=http://www.scc-events.com/news/news005411.htmlref=slogin|title=real,- BERLIN-MARATHON Fünftgrößter aller Zeiten|publisher=SCC Berlin|accessdate=2008-09-30] Along with four other venues it forms the World Marathon Majors, a series offering a $1 million prize purse to be split equally between the top male and female marathoners.

The most marathon world records for men and women have been set at the Berlin course, which is known for its flat profile, even surface, a cheering spectator crowd, and its frequently mild autumn temperatures. In 2008 a new record was set by Haile Gebrselassie while the fourth best time in a women marathon was set by Irina Mikitenko. [citeweb|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/sports/othersports/29marathon.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin|title=Rested Gebrselassie Tops His World Record |publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-09-29]

The event is split in 2 days. Around 8,000 additional inline skaters competing at the marathon course one day before the running event, usually at a Saturday. Power walkers, handbikers, wheelchair riders, and a children's marathon (4.2195 km) are also part of the marathon weekend which is organised by SCC Running and currently sponsored by real-hypermarkets. The course within the metropolis starts and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate.

Competition Men

[
Brandenburg Gate] World Records
* 2008 — Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) → 2:03:59
* 2007 — Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) → 2:04:26
* 2003 — Paul Tergat (KEN) → 2:04:55
* 1998 — Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) → 2:06:05

Skater-Marathon

The 2008 skater marathon had numbered 7,685 participants and counted around 200,000spectators along the course. It is considered the largest inline skater marathon in the world and is the final venue of the World Inline Cup.

Records
* Men: 1:00:33, Joey Mantia (USA), 2008
* Women: 1:08:29, Angèle Vaudan (FRA), 2000

Wheelchair/Handbiker-Marathon

In 2008, 166 handbiker and 34 wheelchair athletes participated at the Berlin marathon.The athletes start at the same day, usually at Sunday, like the runners and power walkers.

Records

;Wheelchair race:Men: 1:21:39, Heinz Frei (SUI), 1997:Women: 1:42:07, Janette Jansen (NED), 1992;Handbiker race:Men: 1:05:46, Bernd Jeffré (GER), 2008:Women: 1:13:55, Dorothee Vieth (GER), 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.real-berlin-marathon.com/events/berlin_marathon/2008/index.en.php www.berlin-marathon.com] - Homepage
* [http://www.universalsports.com/BerlinMarathon www.universalsports.com] - Live and On-Demand Coverage
* [http://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/US/about/ World Marathon Majors] - Berlin Marathon at the World Marathon Majors
* [http://Berlin-Motive.com/ www.Berlin-Motive.com]
* [http://www.getkidsgoing.com/belin.htm Run the Berlin Marathon for charity] - UK children's charity initiative.