This group belongs to the many thousand spectators who tirelessly cheer on participants of the Deutsche Post Marathon. With cheers, posters that carry motivating slogans, noisemakers or wearing funny costumes, they inspire the runners and give them at least temporarily the feeling, that they were being carried along.

After the start at the Koblenzer Tor, the route leads over the Kennedy Bridge, along the right bank of the Rhine through Beuel and later on the left bank of the Rhine past the Post Tower and over the B9 back towards Marktplatz in the city center. The Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) is the final destination for all runners. Whether they have achieved the entire marathon distance (42.195 kilometers), half of that or one leg of a relay, everyone who finishes has the look of joy on their face, having made it.

The marathon route is mostly flat except for the bridge crossings. This makes it a good marathon for personal bests and at the same time welcoming for hobby runners. Spokesman for the organizer of the event (MMP) Kai Meesters, says the event is aimed at both amateurs and professional runners. “We want to give regional athletes an opportunity to prove themselves.” And of course a chance at the prize money.

One lap measures exactly 21.0975 kilometers. It has to be completed twice by the full marathon runners. The reason why there is no alternative route for them is primarily organizational. "The marathon numbers have been declining for years. In Bonn, of the expected nearly 13,000 participants, only about 1,000 runners will tackle the full distance,” explains Meesters. “Our goal is to keep traffic obstruction and road closures within reason on the day of the event. The increased workload and cost increase that would result from an alternative route would be disproportionate to the number of participants.” An advantage of the route is that it allows spectators to see more of the runners.

Although the Deutsche Post Marathon has been run for years by the same organizers, MMP Event GmbH and MasterLogistics, and a good deal of it is routine, the organizational work is nonstop. "After the event is before the event," says Meesters. "We always want to improve the marathon and offer both the spectators and the runners a nice rounded-out program." To that aim, the plans are constantly revised, in cooperation with the city and working closely with police. In addition to 1,500 volunteers on Sunday, there will be 160 to 180 rescue workers and numerous police officers on duty.

When it comes to catering, there is a steady increase in what is offered at the marathon. There are menus available in the snacks area behind the finish, with freshly grilled sausages included. This unusual offer has allowed Bonn to earn itself somewhat of a reputation as a pleasure marathon in recent years.

"We want to offer the participants the best possible catering," promises Meesters. If temperatures are warm, more supply stations are set up for the run. Given the anticipated maximum temperature of 19 degrees on marathon day, at least six supply stations will be available along the 21.095-kilometer circuit. In total, some 100,000 liters of drinks will be poured into 162,000 cups during the day and 25,000 bananas distributed. Since the Deutsche Post has sponsored the marathon, the sun has been out in full force, matching the sunny yellow T-shirts.

This year, around 13,000 runners from 1,545 different cities and 36 nations are expected. The poster carried by the man could not be more appropriate: "You never run alone".

Orig. text: Nathalie Dreschke

Translation: ck