BIG 25 Berlin celebrates jubilee edition - Printable Version +- Running Information Forums (https://www.time-to-run.com/forums) +-- Forum: Events Worldwide (https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Forum-Events-Worldwide) +--- Forum: Pre & Post Event News (https://www.time-to-run.com/forums/Forum-Pre-Post-Event-News) +--- Thread: BIG 25 Berlin celebrates jubilee edition (/Thread-BIG-25-Berlin-celebrates-jubilee-edition)

BIG 25 Berlin celebrates jubilee edition - TheEd - 07-01-2010 BIG 25 Berlin celebrates jubilee edition of Germany’s oldest city road race, new BIG 25 k race in Herne Germany’s oldest city road race will see a jubilee edition in 2010: The BIG 25 Berlin, which were first staged in spring 1981, will take place for the 30th time on 9th May. As in the past the course of the high-class 25 k race will lead from the ,Olympischer Platz’ in front of the Olympic Stadium into the city centre and then back with a spectacular finish inside the arena, which saw the IAAF World Championships in 2009. Brandenburg Gate, the famous boulevards Unter den Linden and Kurfürstendamm as well as Potsdamer Platz are among the tourist attractions passed by the runners. A number of initiatives regarding the elite field as well as the fun runners are planned by organiser BERLIN RUNS for the jubilee edition of the race. Race Director Gerhard Janetzky intends to further develop the 25 k race, which had produced outstanding results in its 2009 edition. While Kenya’s Peninah Arusei had established a course record of 1:22:31 her fellow-countryman Matthew Koech won with 1:13:24. The present world record was also run at this race: Paul Kosgei (Kenya) had clocked 1:12:45 in 2004. While last year’s event had a total of 9,871 runners including shorter races organisers expect to register more than 10,000 athletes for the 30th edition. Online entry is available at: berlin-runs.com Back in 1981 the race had been initiated by the French forces in West Berlin and was called ,25 km de Berlin’. It was the first major city road race in Germany and paved the way for others to follow. Because of the allied status the French forces were able to succeed in getting the roads blocked for the runners. No other organiser had managed to do this before. In the same year the city marathons in Frankfurt and Berlin followed the example and saw their first editions. “By organising the BIG 25 Berlin we continue with a very special and traditional brand. 25 k are still an accepted and unmistakeable distance,” said Gerhard Janetzky, who for the first time will start a second BIG 25 race. This one will take place in Herne (western Germany) on 18th April. “If possible I would like to establish a third 25 k race in southern Germany,” Janetzky said. BERLIN RUNS also organise a second event in the capital: The 10 k race ASICS Grand 10 Berlin will take place on 10th October 2010.