The Berlin Marathon is part of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Major series which currently has six members, including Boston, Chicago, London, New York and Tokyo. You collect stars for each of these majors and when you complete all six you get the biggest and greatest medal of all time. Taking part in Berlin would see me pick up my 4th star after what feels like the longest wait ever since number three in Chicago 2019. Especially when I should have been on five at the end of 2020 (but that is a different story). 

Anyway my road to Berlin was not straightforward at all, in 2020 I had a charity place secured with Alzheimer’s Society and this was rolled over to 2021 when the 2020 race was cancelled. Great, I can just do that no problem. Although there was Covid just didn’t seem to be slowing down with the fact that travel restrictions were not the biggest issue rather than the actual race taking place which was naturally a big worry. Do you book flights and hotels? Still obviously traumatised by the Tokyo experience. It was a tough one, anyway as it got closer the end of July I think I booked flights and a hotel. My flights got changed, mainly due to a smaller amount of flights being available, which became a blessing (maybe) because I could then get a full refund because the airline changed them! Then all UK charity places for the race were cancelled! Through a Facebook group someone posted a link to a competition to win places in the marathon through #RunForJoy so I entered it! 

Continue reading “Running: Berlin Marathon 2021” →