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MARATHON

Runners ready for Berlin Wall ultra-marathon

A marathon? Just a warm-up. This weekend a group of hardy runners will take on the whole 160-km Berlin Wall, tracing remains of the Iron Curtain where it surrounded West Berlin.

Runners ready for Berlin Wall ultra-marathon
A runner in the 2011 inaugural Berlin ultra-marathon. Photo: DPA

It is the equivalent of running four marathons in succession. Although the winner is expected to finish in around 16 hours, most entrants will run through the night. If they have not finished by 12pm on Sunday, 30 hours after the start, they just have to stop.

Berlin’s ultra-marathon is held on the weekend nearest August 13th, the date in 1961 when the Berlin Wall was raised by the former East German government eager to stop their citizens fleeing to the west.

Until restrictions on border crossings were lifted by the communist regime on November 9th, 1989, it was a symbol of oppression for the city’s citizens on either side and the race is closely linked to the wall’s history.

Finishers of the inaugural race in 2011 were given a medal engraved with the face of Chris Gueffroy, the last person shot dead by East German border guards trying to cross the wall on February 5th, 1989. His mother Karin was a guest of honour at the race.

This year, the medals will honour the first victim: Günter Litfin, who was shot trying to swim across Berlin’s Spree river over to west Berlin on August 24th, 1961.

“We wanted to organise a 100-mile race partly to commemorate those who lost their lives on the wall and every year we remember a specific victim who was killed trying to cross,” organiser Dr Ronald Musil told AFP.

For the first race two years ago, 93 runners started and 78 finished with winner Michael Vanicek from north Berlin covering the 160.90 kms in 16 hours 22.17, while the last finisher came in just seconds before the 30 hours cut-off point.

Compared to your typical Sunday jogger, Vanicek’s average speed of 6:06 minutes for each kilometre is as impressive as the idea of running four marathons back-to-back.

This year there are 245 competitors, the youngest being 25 while the oldest is 72 and entrants will either tackle the entire distance solo or as part of a relay.

However, most have either some experience of long-distance running or at least a realistic idea of what to expect.

“It’s not unusual for people to underestimate a marathon, but that’s not something we tend to find,” said Dr Musil.

“People tend to know what they are letting themselves in for in an ultra-marathon.

“The only thing we ask is that participants have a medical check with a doctor, carry a mobile phone plus water and wear a reflective vest when running at night, with a head-torch to see the way.”

This year’s field includes past winners of both the Spartathlon, the 246-kilometre Greek race held annually between Athens and Sparta, and the notorious Badwater Ultra-marathon, the self-styled “world’s toughest foot race” over 217 kilometres through California’s Death Valley in the USA.

The logistics of the Berlin race include 300 volunteer helpers staffing 27 first-aid stations along the route, each kitted out with 470kgs of food and drink to restore weary legs.

“It’s a logistical challenge to supply each station, many of which stay open through the night,” said Dr Musil.

“It is actually harder in the city centre than in the remote areas, as there is more traffic to contend with and more regulations.”

On race day, breakfast is offered at the start from 4am and the route is marked by fluorescent blue arrows to help runners, especially through the night.

Runners are registered from all over the world including Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

At €189 euros, entry is not cheap, but the event is run by a group of dedicated volunteers as a non-profit making venture.

Entry for the 2014 race has already opened and the limit has been raised from 250 to 500.

AFP/hc

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BERLIN

EXPLAINED: Berlin’s latest Covid rules

In response to rapidly rising Covid-19 infection rates, the Berlin Senate has introduced stricter rules, which came into force on Saturday, November 27th. Here's what you need to know.

A sign in front of a waxing studio in Berlin indicates the rule of the 2G system
A sign in front of a waxing studio indicates the rule of the 2G system with access only for fully vaccinated people and those who can show proof of recovery from Covid-19 as restrictions tighten in Berlin. STEFANIE LOOS / AFP

The Senate agreed on the tougher restrictions on Tuesday, November 23rd with the goal of reducing contacts and mobility, according to State Secretary of Health Martin Matz (SPD).

He explained after the meeting that these measures should slow the increase in Covid-19 infection rates, which was important as “the situation had, unfortunately, deteriorated over the past weeks”, according to media reports.

READ ALSO: Tougher Covid measures needed to stop 100,000 more deaths, warns top German virologist

Essentially, the new rules exclude from much of public life anyone who cannot show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19. You’ll find more details of how different sectors are affected below.

Shops
If you haven’t been vaccinated or recovered (2G – geimpft (vaccinated) or genesen (recovered)) from Covid-19, then you can only go into shops for essential supplies, i.e. food shopping in supermarkets or to drugstores and pharmacies.

Many – but not all – of the rules for shopping are the same as those passed in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg in order to avoid promoting ‘shopping tourism’ with different restrictions in different states.

Leisure
2G applies here, too, as well as the requirement to wear a mask with most places now no longer accepting a negative test for entry. Only minors are exempt from this requirement.

Sport, culture, clubs
Indoor sports halls will off-limits to anyone who hasn’t  been vaccinated or can’t show proof of recovery from Covid-19. 2G is also in force for cultural events, such as plays and concerts, where there’s also a requirement to wear a mask. 

In places where mask-wearing isn’t possible, such as dance clubs, then a negative test and social distancing are required (capacity is capped at 50 percent of the maximum).

Restaurants, bars, pubs (indoors)
You have to wear a mask in all of these places when you come in, leave or move around. You can only take your mask off while you’re sat down. 2G rules also apply here.

Hotels and other types of accommodation 
Restrictions are tougher here, too, with 2G now in force. This means that unvaccinated people can no longer get a room, even if they have a negative test.

Hairdressers
For close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, it’s up to the service providers themselves to decide whether they require customers to wear masks or a negative test.

Football matches and other large-scale events
Rules have changed here, too. From December 1st, capacity will be limited to 5,000 people plus 50 percent of the total potential stadium or arena capacity. And only those who’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed in. Masks are also compulsory.

For the Olympic Stadium, this means capacity will be capped at 42,000 spectators and 16,000 for the Alte Försterei stadium. 

Transport
3G rules – ie vaccinated, recovered or a negative test – still apply on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses in Berlin. It was not possible to tighten restrictions, Matz said, as the regulations were issued at national level.

According to the German Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, people have to wear a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask  on public transport.

Christmas markets
The Senate currently has no plans to cancel the capital’s Christmas markets, some of which have been open since Monday. 

According to Matz, 2G rules apply and wearing a mask is compulsory.

Schools and day-care
Pupils will still have to take Covid tests three times a week and, in classes where there are at least two children who test positive in the rapid antigen tests, then tests should be carried out daily for a week.  

Unlike in Brandenburg, there are currently no plans to move away from face-to-face teaching. The child-friendly ‘lollipop’ Covid tests will be made compulsory in day-care centres and parents will be required to confirm that the tests have been carried out. Day-care staff have to document the results.

What about vaccination centres?
Berlin wants to expand these and set up new ones, according to Matz. A new vaccination centre should open in the Ring centre at the end of the week and 50 soldiers from the German army have been helping at the vaccination centre at the Exhibition Centre each day since last week.

The capacity in the new vaccination centre in the Lindencenter in Lichtenberg is expected to be doubled. There are also additional vaccination appointments so that people can get their jabs more quickly. Currently, all appointments are fully booked well into the new year.

 

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