38 Times in Berlin: Sabine Fimmel and Her Special Marathon Story
How did you actually get into running?
A friend of mine was studying sports and had to prepare for an exam in the 5,000 metres. So we went running together twice a week around Krumme Lanke. The initial three kilometres soon became five around Schlachtensee, and eventually we ran around both lakes. In April 1984, I took part in the “25 km de Berlin” for the first time, a city race that was organised by the French occupying forces at the time. I enjoyed the experience so much that I subsequently signed up for my first BERLIN-MARATHON.
Looking back on your first race today, what would you say has changed the most since then?
The entry fee. In 1984, registration cost between 20 and 25 Deutsche Marks, depending on when you registered. The organisation, however, was already remarkably good back then, with refreshments, road closures, music groups and hundreds of thousands of spectators. What hasn’t changed for me, on the other hand, is the excitement before the start. I’m still just as nervous as if it were my first marathon.
Do you still have a personal best in mind when running the marathon, or is it more about enjoying the race these days?
Personal bests are a thing of the past for me. For me, it’s about being there, enjoying the special atmosphere, perhaps witnessing the next world record, and being happy when I cross the finish line exhausted but happy.
