Bonn Marathon 2012

I headed out to the start of the Bonn Marathon this morning. Having run a couple of half marathons myself, I have to be honest and say how nice it was to stand and watch today, armed only with a camera and warm coffee!

How happy do these first runners look! You can just make out the yellow start barrier in the background of the photo above. The organisation of this event seemed immaculate. I'd guess they had about 1000 runners head out in each wave, so very safe and not too many folks on the road at the very start of their event. Given that each runner has their own timing chip, the actual start time is less important as your time is measured from the start and finish to give you an accurate personal time.

The event is open to wheelchairs, some really slick, low rider bicycles and, as you can see on the right, to the in-line skating brigade as well. These in-line skaters fairly fly along the road too. Their only concern was in the downtown section where the tarmac gives way to the cobbles. The rough surface in Zenntrum comes at the end of the event, so skaters are a little tired as well and there were a few skaters who almost came to grief as they approached the finish line.
I saw the young men coming home in the half marathon finishing in less than 1 hour and ten minutes. Its only when you realise that these guys and girls have run almost 20 kilometres and you see them fairly pelting along the roadway and you think; wow! Just how fit are these young people!??!

Because the event is set in Bonn, then the course is bound to be very picturesque. Runners pass along the Rhine, run across the bridges over the river and get to wind their way through the little laneways that make up the central part of Bonn.
Watching the runners take part was marvellous. I guess we all have 12 months to get ready for the next Bonn marathon; see you there in 2013??