Posted: August 4, 2005

Athletics: Uta Pippig will run Bewag Berlin City Night Race

This Saturday evening Germany’s biggest 10 k road race will be started in the centre of Berlin: The Bewag City Night will feature a record number of more than 8,000 entries. That includes 5 k runners and 10 k skaters as well. German runners Carsten Schütz and Stefan Koch could be in with a winning chance while German marathon runner Claudia Dreher looks like the favourite of the women’s race. Uta Pippig will be among the competitors as well. The 39 year old triple winner of the Berlin and Boston Marathons, who mainly lives in Boulder (Colorado), gave the following interview.

Why did you decide to run the Bewag City Night?

Uta Pippig: “It was October 2004 when I was in Berlin last. Now I wanted to come back to visit my family and friends again. It worked out easily to combine it with the Bewag City Night Race on Berlin’s boulevard Kurfürstendamm.”

You did participate in this race two years ago.

Uta Pippig: "Yeah, that’s right. The run is fantastic – in the middle of Berlin, great atmosphere in the evening and relaxed Berlin runners and spectators. It felt like an exciting event already two years ago, and of course Berlin is still my second home. I am really looking forward to that evening.”

And what are your ambitions for Saturday evening?

Uta Pippig: "I hope to have great fun. It is not going to be a real hard race, rather a fun run for me; but 40 minutes will not be a hurdle – let’s see what the result will be. Mainly, I hope to be together with all the runners that I knew from my Berlin times.”

What do you do besides running?

Uta Pippig: "Well, meanwhile running is not priority anymore, instead I am creating a fitness and health program: Take the Magic StepTM, which I hope to present in the fall.“

Will you be back in Berlin then?

Uta Pippig: "It looks as though I will be back in Berlin during late October to attend a few scheduled events, which will introduce the fitness program.”