LondonSkaters Speed Team

Rick · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:53 pm Subject: Karstadt Marathon - 18th May 2008

Well I've registered again. Not because I particularly enjoyed it last year but because I did rather badly and I want to do it right. It wasn't a bad race just that my body was in a mess before the start and I had no energy for the whole race.

I think it could be a really nice race except for that one interesting sharper than 90 degree left hand bend Wink

You can register online with a credit card. When you put in your previous time make sure you put in a lead zero or it will be rejected. The example on the english language registration doesn't have one but the german one does.

Bit peeved I haven't had a confirmation email yet as I forgot to print off the confirmation number at the end.

Might drive again. Was quite a short trip last year with Alan and there is plenty of free parking near the end. Don't forget to book the bus from Essen to Oberhausen for the start.

merten · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:37 pm Subject:

Hi folks,

as Rick knows, last year we did some promotion during Karstadt Marathon.
Great fun actually, it involved skating the race at 2:30h pace cheering at all the spectators gathering for the runners. Yes, true, the clothing is a little bulkier than usual, but hey, the girls doing the massage afterwards make it all good again Laughing

We are currently looking at doing this again, and we'll have a few spaces open. What we can (hopefully) offer again is free 4* hotel accommodation, free entry and some downpayment on any fuel / airplane expenses you might have. Cannot promise an amount, but maybe 30 EUR or so.

Hint: For those who really want to race and can finish in less than 1:30 without being totally exhausted afterwards, there might be an option to race the marathon as well. (I'll skate slowly, much more fun!) We can also arrange to pick a few people up 10 or 15 km before the finish.

Who's up for this?

(Picture is mine, thanks to my club for hosting...)

Rick · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:10 pm Subject:

Aiming to break your slowest ever record from last year or will you take your chip off this year? Laughing

merten · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:22 pm Subject:

No chance to get a worse time methinks Smile

I might try and work on more consistent split times though, last year I apparently spent 5:20 hours on the last 2.195 km....

merten · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:43 pm Subject:

Nobody interested....?

Rick · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:41 am Subject:

Might have been if I hadn't registered already. Actually probably not this year I had such a bad race in 2007 that I want to go back and do it right. Would be up for it in 2009 though

Glenn · Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 581 Location: ST Pauls

Hint: For those who really want to race and can finish in less than 1:30 without being totally exhausted afterwards, there might be an option to race the marathon as well.

Who's up for this?

Hey Merten - I'm thinking about it - but like Rick - would probably want to race it - so if you think you can race it sub 1.30 - is there anything in it.

G?

roger · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 408

Just booked flights with AirBerlin to Dusseldorf.

They have a special 2-for-1 promotion at the moment, till 14 Feb, so it was very cheap - 102 Euro for 2.

http://backclick.airberlin.com/bc/servlet/rl?r=AQAAAAAAAAG6AABzKAAAAslxkQ

Garan · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 436

Trying to work out which marathons I can make, this is the first one, and the only one I can make in May.

Is it any good? Is anyone else planning on going?

merten · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:23 pm Subject:

No the fastest course, and not the easiest.
You could call it a typical "City Marathon" with its usual share of tram lines, potholes etc.

Did it quite slowly last year, the atmosphere was nice.

Rick · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:04 pm Subject:

I wouldn't be that negative about it. I had a rubish race last year but I really enjoyed the course. It starts in Oberhausen and finishes in Essen and although the area is quite built up it feels quite villagey most of the way. Surfaces are not the best by German standards but they are pretty good. The course last year had one interesting left hander I think between 12km and 18km in. Other than that it was not technically challenging. It's not very flat but there are no long or steep climbs. The Longest hill is a downhill where there is no need to skate for quite a while. Gav seems to think they vary the route. I'm not so sure but it will follow similar terrain.

Now I've merged the topics you can browse back and see who is going.

So far Roger which I guess also means Kay, though he didn't mention her but did mention 2 for 1 flights, and me. Alan is thinking about it again.

Probably going to get a hotel in Essen this time.

Garan · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 436

Cool. I'll look at some flights soon and see if I can get anything decent... what flights are others going on? Where are you thinking of staying?

Rick · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:52 pm Subject:

Nothing booked. I'm going on a ferry on saturday morning from Dover. It's 3½ hour drive once on the other side which is nothing. However, I am not going on Friday night any more as I am getting too old to sleep in the car. You're more than welcome to climb aboard. Then you get delivery to the finish of the marathon (bus takes us from finish to start) and a locker for your gear. Depending on how many of us there are I can organise a hotel room of a suitable size near the course finish or somewhere nicer.

Also works out very cheap in the car with more than 1 person in it. Alan and one more too and we could be looking at <£30 each for transport.

Garan · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 436

Rick, that'd be great. I've registered now. Definitely interested in sharing travel and hotel.

Alan · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 322 Location: Hackney, London

I've just registered again; so I too am up for car and hotel share.