Posted: October 8, 2007

Athletics: New organiser BERLIN RUNS takes over 25 k race

25 km von Berlin’ on May 4th, 2008: A traditional race on its way back to success The new organisers of Berlin’s traditional 25 k race ,25 km von Berlin’ intend to bring back former glory to the race. The new organisation BERLIN RUNS, which was formed recently and took over from the regional athletics federation, is guided by two well-known figures in international athletics: Gerhard Janetzky, Meeting Director of Berlin’s IAAF Golden League Meeting ISTAF, and Christoph Kopp. Kopp is the former Elite Race Director of the Berlin Marathon. He works for a number of international road races like the Frankfurt- and Düsseldorf-Marathon. And he has already been in charge of the 25 k race in recent years. Berlin’s 25 k race has a unique background. It had been founded by the French forces in West-Berlin back in 1981. At that time it was Germany’s first major city race. And it used to be the biggest German road race again and again until 1990. The 25 k race had well over 10,000 runners at that time. “In a city like Berlin such a race has to have more than 10,000 runners – alos because the course is such an attractive one”, said Gerhard Janetzky. The start of the race is in front of the Olympic Stadium. The route then leads runners past a number of Berlin’s most famous landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, Friedrichstraße, Potsdamer Square and Kurfürstendamm. The finish will remain on the famous blue track of Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. The course is a fast one as well. Kenyan Paul Kosgei ran the current world record of 1:12:45 in Berlin in 2004. Besides the 25 k race organisers plan to include a 5 k walking and Nordic-Walking event on 4th May. Additionally a race for children and juniors will be included – all finishing inside Olympic Stadium. Organisers of BERLIN RUNS plan to start more initiatives in 2008. Janetzky and Kopp are thinking of a series of four races in the capital. More information will be given later this year. Online entry for the BERLIN RUNS … 25 km and further information is available at: www.berlin-runs.com. The photo below shows runners streaming into the arena through the marathon gate and then leaving Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. Photo: www.photorun.net / Victah Sailer Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest