[Speedskating] BMW Berlin Marathon 2025 (Group B)

When: 20.09.2025
Where: Berlin
Why: Berlin
Distance: 42 km

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The race was in near perfect conditions, sunny, dry, warm (but not hot). For the first time, I started in Group B and my aim was to stay with the top as long as possible. Unfortunately, that wasn't very long, but hey, I improved.
My time was 1:19:19, not my fastest time I've made in Berlin, but then again, I get the feeling that the new course is a bit slower than the old one.
All in all I had a great time, I met old friends and made new friends. Also, thanks to Aura, Ana, Alejandra, Adrián, Carlos, Daniel, Elton and Sabrina for the amazing time I spent with you!

Photo @Daniel Uribe

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00:42 Start Elite Men
00:55 Start Elite Women
2:00 Start Group B

15:29 Lap 2
21:31 100 skaters around a corner can be a bit tight
22:13 Suddenly, a gap opens
24:36 I'm less than 15 meters away from getting back to the top, but my right leg doesn't work anymore
25:15 I give up the pursuit
27:15 Emmanuel and I pick up Harald Bieber and form a new group
27:56 Lap 3
24:32 Murphy's law says "if there is a corner, that's where they will overtake you": The Elite Men fly by, always amazing
41:37 Lap 4
44:40 Horant, David, Emmanuel and the guy from Gatineau (whose name I didn't catch) do an impressive work on leading the pack, thanks a lot! There were others, too, no doubt about that, but these four did SO much work!
55:35 Lap 5
56:24 I can barely skate anymore and fall back to the end of the pack. I'm about drop, but unbeknown to me, a quite big group had formed and I'm able to rejoin them (barely).
59:11 And there is Dan from Shea/Stokes in his nice skinsuit
1:09:18 We finish our last lap and leave for the road that will lead us to the finish line (approx 7 km to go)
1:18:23 I know we're getting closer to the finish line and try to position myself a bit better. Unusually clever for me.
1:20:02 And there it is, the Brandenburger Tor, just in sight! The pack splinters, it's everyone is going for it
1:20:46 The heart beats like crazy, the legs hurt, the feet hurt, but the spectators push you to and beyond your limits
1:21:04 David, who has done so much work, is leading the sprint, and it is an intense fight. My brain turns off and I do everything to get past