This morning was the first long run of the 16 week Hal Higdon novice marathon training plan, which meant heading out for a 10km (6mile run) – the weather, as has been the case for the past few days was absolutely dreadful and I had thoughts of heading back into our cozy warm apartment after the first 10 steps. Cold, windy, rainy and just all together dreadful!
If you want to follow this running route, it is especially easy for those staying in Hotel Esplanade (which you actually run by), Berlin Berlin, Hotel President, and basically anything close to the KaDeWe department store.
The first major sight along the route is Potsdamer Platz which used to be no-man’s land of West Berlin when the wall was dividing the city. 25 years later this area of the city is filled with tall buildings and modern architecture.
Following busy Leipziger Strasse from Potsdamer Platz you quickly reach Friedrichstrasse in the former East Berlin. This area is a major shopping street comparable to Ku’Damm in the West or 5th Avenue in New York. You get to run past posh stores – which means this run is best suited for early in the morning (before 9am) before the street gets filled with shoppers or on a Sunday when things tend to remain relatively quiet here.
When you reach Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse the feel of the run changes substantially. Rather than weaving through busy streets and squares you enter a more quiet part of Berlin.
Unfortunately the wind blows quite strong just around the corner from there – not so much fun when it’s raining.
The views of the Reichtstag from this area of Berlin are among my absolute favorite. If you are running early in the morning, there is hardly a soul there which makes running along the Spree river an absolute joy.
As mentioned, the character of the run changes dramatically after Friedrichstrasse Train Station, not only are the streets here closed to cars but the density of sights to see increases also. This part of the run is my absolute favorite.
This is a really cool building right next to the Reichstag – when you look carefully, those two halves of the building (Paul-Loebe Haus) across the river from each other fit together. The lack of a railing along the water is a bit unnerving once you pass the building.
During the later part of the day you can even enjoy an umbrella drink or two along the way at the beach club. Unfortunately it was both too early and too rainy when I passed by here this morning.
Just a few steps along the river one reaches the chancelor’s office. I called out for her, but Angela Merkel was apparently still in her jammies and not ready for a run yet this morning.
This is the “Haus der Kulturen” (House of Cultures) – but it is better known by it’s nickname “Pregnant Oyster”, which is probably one of the funniest nicknames for a building I have ever heard. Looking at the building you definitely get why they call it that. I have never seen a pregnant oyster, but I imagine that’s what it would look like.
Apparently Bundespräsident Gauck was partying a bit too much after the Bayern Munich game last night – he also didn’t seem to want to go for a run when I waved at Bellevue Castle. Mhhh…. maybe next time.
Close to the finish line – only a mile left to go – the famous Siegessäule Statue (Victory Column) – from here the route cuts straight through Tiergarten park and back home.
I could have done without the rain this morning, but otherwise it was a very fun run. It is exactly 10km and including stopping at traffic lights it took me 57 minutes. I love the many sights to see along the way (there are more than these pictures show, but if I had posted them all, this blog post would have become REALLY long). A great 10km running route in Berlin with not too many traffic stops along the way. Just make sure you go on a sunday/holiday or early in the morning to beat the crowds on Friedrichstrasse.
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