25th anniversary of a memorable celebration of the Möbel Kraft Marathon Hamburg 2010

Dear Marathon Friends,
We would like to thank all of you who made our 25th anniversary a memorable celebration.

We thank the participants of the marathon and the tenth, the countless volunteers, the 850, 000 spectators along the course and on the Heiligengeistfeld, our sponsors and partners and not least the person who has once again not forgot to order the best weather: Hamburg presented itself on the images of global broadcasts with blue skies and mild temperatures.

Since after the marathon is before the marathon, we will, once the necessary follow-ups of this race has been done in a few weeks, start working for the next 25 years. We would be pleased if you stay faithfully with the Hamburg Marathon and hope to welcome you back next year in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

You will find your result of this year's run on our website www.marathon-hamburg.de. You will also find the links to your own photos and videos from the Möbel Kraft Marathon Hamburg 2010 – please also refer to the information later in this Newsletter

Möbel Kraft Marathon Hamburg 

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1.) Wilfred Kigen (KEN) wins on 6th trial / Martin Beckmann gives up Sharon Cherop (KEN) wins with new personal best
New course record for handbikers – Victory for Vico Merklein

Right on time at 9:00 clock Dr. Nicholas Hill, privy council of the State Department for Culture, Sport and Media, sent  the 15 174 athletes from 84 nations taking part in the anniversary edition of the Möbel Kraft Marathon Hamburg on the 42.195 kilometers  through downtown Hamburg with a powerful bell. "For the 25th time we have a great event in Hamburg. If you see  how enthusiastic the runners start, you also know the advertising value of the event for the city of Hamburg ", the council said after the start. Overall, 850 000 enthusiastic spectators gathered along the marathon course. On the Heiligengeistfeld 60,000 visitors celebrated at the Runner's Party.

Already at the beginning a group of twelve elite runners set off to lead and have been even under the course record of 2:06:52 hours, set by Julio Rey (2006), until ten kilometers with 30:02 minutes. Then the group was slower and was 30 seconds over the course record at 20 km with 1:00:37 hours. Between 20 and 30 Km the chaff separated from the wheat. From 30 Km, there were only five runners. Wilfred Kigen (KEN, number 2), after three second places aiming for victory this year, took care again and again for high speed by himself.

At Eppendorfer Baum (37 km) Urige Arado Buta (NOR # 11) and Beyene Zerea Beraki (ERI, Star No. 8) forced and blew up the group. Kigen had to be torn down shortly, but fought his way back up to the top. He could not quite keep the pace, sat down at a greater distance behind Buta and always kept contact. Kigen kept the peace and relied on his strong final sprint. On the 600-meter final straight, he sprinted to a thrilling finale just before the finish line past Buta, winning in 2:09:22 hours. "Two kilometers from the finish I knew I could still win. I concentrated on my race and wanted to win. But it was hard because the leading runners repeatedly increased pace ", said Kigen. In 2007 he had to give up in a similarly tight finale to his countryman Rogers Rop. "I am a bit disappointed. But I am satisfied – it was a good race for me. At least I have improved my personal best", the second Buta said, who improved his personal best from 2:13:06 to 2:09:27 hours.

The German hopes were resting on Martin Beckmann (LG Leinfelden-Echterdingen). On the first ten km everything went according to plan. With 30:54 minutes he was on personal record time. ", his wife Stefanie Beckmann said. After crossing the 20 km mark Beckmann was even 25 seconds over his previous personal best (2:13:42 hours). Shortly after the half marathon mark then the surprise: Martin Beckmann had to give up despite excellent intermediate times. "I wanted a fast race, but not so fast. At five km we were 15 and at 10 km even 40 seconds faster than the desired time. To this came a gusty wind", said Beckmann after giving up. "The pace runners ran very unrhythmical. The kilometer times were very uncertain with up to ten seconds difference. It is a Kenyan characteristic to run intuitively   and thus can be influenced by the great atmosphere at the course. I have prepared long and am very disappointed that I could not confirm my performance", said the 32-year-old.

In the women’s race Kenyan Sharon Cherop (start number F5) set off from the five-man lead group at 20 kilometers and ran a lonely race. In the end she won with a new personal best time in 2:28:38. "It was a tough race because I'm had to run alone so long. But I wasfully concentrated on my race and I am very happy with the result", the 26-year-old said after the race.

Dariusz "Tiger" Michalczewski finished his second marathon successfully. With 3:57:15, he remained within the target four-hour mark. At kilometer eleven at the Landungsbrücken, he was pleased with the perfect mood. At the finish the former boxing champion in light heavyweight said: "Running is great. But after 25 Km, it was a torture. Mentally, I had no problems but the body makes itself felt at some point." About the atmosphere he said: " The audience was great. I felt as though I had never gone away from Hamburg. "

Johannes B. Kerner (# 64) ran 3:48:19 hours
Michél Mazingu Dinzey (# 72) ran 4:40:17 hours
Christian Clerici (# 65) ran  3:48:31 hours

Best German Runners:
Magnus Kreth (ASV Duisburg, # 4400): 2:28:27 hours
Dr. Kirsten Heckmann (SV Brackwede/Bielefeld, # F105): 2:51:42 hours

Hamburg Champion:
Jon-Paul Hendriksen (TH Eilbek, #, 2900): 2:30:30 hours, 11th best of the whole field.
Daniela Jakobler (LG Wedel-Pinneberg, # F306): 2:51:54 hours, 15th in the international runners field.

New course record for handbikers:
With 1:06:24 Vico Merklein from Team Sopur / GC Nendorf  improved the course record by more than three minutes. At the finish line he held up a photo with three people. "I dedicate my  victory to three people died last year: my mother, a very good teammate and a friend," said Merklein obviously taken at the finish.

The German Red Cross (DRC) surprisingly had to provide assistance only a little, despite the summer temperatures. The sum is lower than the figures of last year. The event went amazingly quiet. The police had reported no unusual incidents.

All other results are on the Internet at www.marathon hamburg.de.

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2.) Christin Liedtke wins for the 4th time / Jon Mewes wins the boys race
6.045 children and young people at the tenth's start

Right on time at 11.00 clock Ulrike Maisch, the European Marathon Championships 2006, started "the tenth" – North Germany's largest children's and youth run – with a powerful bell stroke. At spring temperatures 6045 children and young people from primary schools, secondary schools and sports clubs took a tenth of the official marathon distance – 4.2195 km – under their soles. Thus “the tenth" had a record number of participants again this year.

Already at the start there was exuberant and excited mood. "The kids should not be crazy. Evenly run and overtake a few more at the finish. That’s what I always say to the marathon runners too", said Ulrike Maisch the growing-up-marathon-runners. Wolfgang Müller-Kallweit, president of the Hamburg Athletic Association (HLV), remembered his childhood: "My admiration and my respect for the young runners. All participants are winners. Sport combines and conveys a sense of community."

With La-Ola-Wave, collective countdown counting and thunderous applause, the ambitious boys and girls passed the start line on the Glacischaussee in front of the “Fliegenden Bauten”. Under the eyes of 25,000 enthusiastic spectators around the Heiligengeistfeld, along the course and on the packed grandstands Jon Mewes (starting number 3489, age-M17) from the LG Wedel-Pinneberg was the first on the 600-meter stretch and won in 14:11 minutes. In the girls race last year's winner Christian Liedtke (numbers 3484, age F17) from the LG Wedel-Pinneberg crossed the finish line first after 15:03 minutes and was celebrated by the enthusiastic spectators. Overall, it was her fourth success in the "tenth". "It was fun again. The track was really nice and the atmosphere with the whole crowd was great. You don’t have this everywhere". Ulrike Maisch was impressed by the performance of the tenth-marathoners. "At that age I was far from running so fast. I am amazed how many children are running."

The moderators Lou Richter (NDR 90,3) Jörg Lauenroth and Anke Feller supported small and large tenth-marathoners loudly with motivating and humorous sayings on the NDR moderation Tower at the start and the finish. At the award ceremony on the NDR stage patron Education Senator Christa Goetsch and Wolfgang Müller-Kallweit, Ulrike Maisch, and other partners and sponsors handed out the awards. The winnings, which are intended for the purchase of sports equipment for teams, schools or clubs are provided by the DAK and the co-partners REWE and ASICS.

OTHER WINNERS:

Team ranking schools (ten boys and girls runners):
Schule Duvenstedter Markt in 3:12:05 hours

Secondary Schools team standings (ten boys and girls runners):
Gymnasium Alstertal in 2:42:29 hours

Clubs team standings (ten boys and girls runners):
LG Wedel-Pinneberg in 2:40:03 hours

Special Olympics team competition winners:
Schule am Weiher in 3:27:11 hours (only participating school)

Wheelchair winner:
Andre Behnken (age 16) from Hamburg in 20:57 minutes

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3.) Watch your personal marathon race on DVD!

Hello runner,

Your race has been recorded by 10 cameras along the course of the Möbel Kraft Marathon Hamburg! The cameras were located at the following 4 locations: Schleidenstraße (21 km), Rathenaustraße (30 km), Alsterglacis (40 km) and of course at the unforgettable finish at Glacischaussee.  

In addition to the personal videos the DVD will contain a highlight movie of the Möbel Kraft Marathon Hamburg.

How to order this very special DVD?

Click on the link below and enter your name or race number.

https://hamburg.r.mikatiming.de/2010/

Note: via ‘Select camera location’ on the left top you can select the other 9 videos.

The on-line service is offered to you by the Möbel Kraft Marathon Hamburg 2010 and MySports.

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4.) Watch your personal marathon race on DVD!

On the day of the 2010 Hamburg Marathon,
there will be official photographers from MarathonFoto on the course to take multiple photos of event participants at several different locations. They will also take a photo of you crossing the finish line, capturing the big moment for you to keep.

The photos will be available on 
www.marathonfoto.com!