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With a little bit of a delay, the Berlin Sports Museum - AIMS Marathon Museum of Running – has received two new artefacts from the world-class American runner Deena Kastor and from the Chicago Marathon on October 11, 2009. For many years, Deena Kastor has belonged to the ranks of
Deena Kastor is in the museum – The Berlin Sports Museum – AIMS Marathon Museum of Running receives two artefacts from the Chicago Marathon 2009 – Helmut Winter reports
With a little bit of a delay, the Berlin Sports Museum – AIMS Marathon Museum of Running – has received two new artefacts from the world-class American runner Deena Kastor and from the Chicago Marathon on October 11, 2009.
For many years, Deena Kastor has belonged to the ranks of the top women’s marathon runners in the world. The 37-year-old reached the peak of her career a few years ago. After her marathon debut in New York City in 2001 in a time of 2:26:58, she followed with a third-place finish in 2003 at the London Marathon with a world-class time of 2:21:16. In 2004 she won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Athens, and in 2005 she won the Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:21:25.
Her personal best, which remains a US record, was achieved one year later in London with a victory there in 2:19:36. After that, her performance declined, with weaker times in New York City and Boston followed by an unfinished race at the Olympic Marathon in Beijing. Last year Deena was considered a favourite at the Chicago Marathon on October 11, 2009, but she was not able to fulfil the high expectations of her compatriots on the fast course at Lake Michigan was finished in 6th place in 2:28:50.
As she did again this year, the Russian top athlete Liliya Shokubhova won the Chicago Marathon, finishing the final stretch after the 40 km-mark in an unbelievable 6:36 (an average of 3 minutes per kilometre)! Even the men’s champion was slower on this segment! On the day before the race, Deena was still confident about her race and was signing posters for her sponsor at the marathon expo in the McCormick Center. This very friendly athlete from Mammoth Lakes, California, eagerly signed a poster for the AIMS Marathon Museum of Running in Berlin (see photo).
The conveyed wishes for success at the race unfortunately did not do too much good. The women started out reservedly in the early temperatures that were just above freezing, and they only picked up the pace in the final phase, which explains the relatively weak winning time 2:25:56. Deena was well equipped for the cold and held down her running cap with a headband, which she cut out of a hat from her outfitter. This somewhat curious construction filled its purpose for a while. After a good 30 km, Deena fell back from the leading group, not because the pace was too fast, but she had to stop at the loo.
It is tough to rejoin the lead, especially since Shobukhova and Irina Mikitenko were picking up the pace. When Deena passed the 40 km-mark – directly before the legendary Chess Studios, where Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones were produced – her head covering apparently got too warm. She loosed the band and tossed it onto the street at 2120 South Michigan Avenue, where it was picked up and secured for the Berlin Sports Museum.
When Deena was asked about this after a press conference, she appeared amused and wished the AIMS Museum of Running much success in this important work documenting the sport of running. We also wish Deena great success in all of her future plans. These are currently taking her off the running course as she is expecting, and she now can be seen in Chicago and New York City as a reporter for television rather than out running.
Good luck, Deena!
Helmut Winter
Sportmuseum Berlin, AlMS Marathon-Museum of Running,
Olympiaparc Berlin,
Hanns-Braun-Straße, 14053 Berlin.
Germany
Telefon: (030) 3 05 83 00
(030) 3 05 83 90 (Bibliothek/Archiv);
(030) 3 05 83 50 (Fotosammlung).
E-Mail: sportmuseum.berlin@t-online.de
www.sportmuseum-berlin.de
More information about "The Artefact of the Month":
“The Artefact of the Month” No 1 – Rare museum artefacts from the Berlin Sports Museum – AIMS Marathon Museum of Running – The Starting Pistol – Horst Milde reports
“Artefact of the Month” No. 2 – Museum Rarities from the Berlin Sports Museum – AIMS Museum of Running – The New York City Marathon – Current Gifts – Horst Milde Reports
“The Artefact of the Month” III – Rare museum artefacts from the Berlin Sports Museum – AIMS Marathon Museum of Running – Dr. David Martin (Atlanta, GA) and his donations to the Berlin Sports Museum – AIMS Marathon Museum of Running – Current Donations – Horst Milde reports
2500 Years of the Marathon – The current Newsletter
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General Information on the Berlin Sports Museum – AIMS Marathon Museum of Running
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