Berlin run

[Yesletsgo]

Took an overnight ferry from Harwich on Thursday night and drove from Hook of Holland to Berlin on 5 hours sleep. Not recommended.

I'd chosen our 'hotel' on the basis it was next to Volkspark Hasenheide where they have a Parkrun. It was dirt cheap and very basic, two sets of bunk beds in a cabin, but I was so tired I didn't care. After a lovely meal I went straight to bed and slept like a baby.

I was woken at 8 by the sound of heavy rain. Decided to go back to sleep. Told husband and sons I'd decided not to run. Chorus of 'but the only reason we're staying in this rubbish hotel is because of Parkrun!!'

Oh, I didn't mention there were no facilities in the cabin did I? Had to get up and walk about 100 yards to the main building with showers and toilets. Realised it had stopped raining. Maybe I'd run after all. It was a bit late for the Parkrun so I just decided to explore the park. My legs ffelt very heavy, a combination of 9-10 hours in the car and not enough water, but I managed NRC's 'Today's 40 minute run', 4.5 km in 40 minutes. Quite pleased with that.

While I was out I saw the Parkrunners. They all looked fit and fast. I'm very shy so I ran the other way.

The park was beautiful, lots of trees, very clean and tidy, a pond with swans, very uplifting in the sunshine.

Well worth the effort even if my woollen running socks are soaked through and smell like a dead animal. When husband saw the route I ran he asked if I'd got lost, he'd have followed a much more logical one 😁

[Hidden]

Oh well done! I have to admit I nearly joined in with your sons’ disappoint when you suggested you might not run! Tourist running at its best. Enjoy 😊

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Superb Oldbadknees! Same as Delly-dot, I thought, but she has to run! And you did, so well done especially after a very long day getting there. Your route looks completely logical to me 😁.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

All that way and you still ran? well done you, I’m with the others, when you said you wouldn’t bother running my heart sank

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

I don't think I'd have forgiven myself if I'd just stayed in bed...unless it carried on raining One plus of staying somewhere so basic, there's minimal incentive to hang around your hotel when you're on the lower bunk 😂

[Hidden]

I just could not believe what I was reading when you said you had decided not to run after all you had been through.

Well done for getting out there.

You have started putting an idea in my head now for tourist running.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

A few at parkrun yesterday had tee shirts with all the different parkrun venues they'd visited.

[RunBrianRun Graduate10]

What a great idea for a short stay break! Not sure I could cope with that accommodation mind. 😅 Well done for getting out there in the rain. 👍

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

I've stayed in worse places, it was clean and the bed was comfortable. The rest is icing 😁

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

It was more the getting up in the middle of the night for a wee that I was referring to. 😅

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

Oh yes, why do you think I was dehydrated next morning? No way was I going to drink 2 litres before bedtime 😱

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Well done to you on running in that park in Berlin, certainly worth a visit, I looked at that Berlin parkrun, yes indeed there were many fit and fast runners, many had sub 25 minute times, the fastest around 16.30.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Having only done one Parkrun I felt a bit of an imposter, plus I didn't want to get all over competitive again and rupture something 😂

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Just had a look at their results, I'd have been number 66 (of 71 including theoretical me). So I wouldn't quite have been last 😁

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

I was looking at parkruns in Poland and Germany, through the years German people have been keen walkers rather than runners, there are far more parkruns in Poland than Germany, far more runners take part in the Polish runs, usually more than a 100, whereas the German parkruns are on average about half that number, anywhere between 50 and 70 running.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

I'm in Poland now but probably won't be here on a Saturday, another time maybe

[CBDB Graduate10]

Oh well done! And first outings in a completely new location! And yey for booking that hotel and affording yourself to run! I think that’s brilliant, even if the facilities were not en-suite! But location sounds great!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Thanks, a youth misspent wild camping gives a sense of perspective. Overall it was a really good experience (and all of us agreed we wouldn't mind staying there again). The run was a definite bonus 😁