For quite a while, I hadn’t taken part in any official race. It was only thanks to Manfred from our running group that I finally joined in again. He encouraged me to sign up for the Kassel Marathon relay.
Running for about an hour seemed manageable, so together with Anna, Christian, and Manfred, we formed a mixed team.
First Impressions
Right from the start, things didn’t look promising. Picking up the race numbers was already a struggle. Everything was squeezed into the small area in front of the Auestadion, where crowds of people stood tightly packed. Moving through the masses felt chaotic and poorly organized.
The Course
I already knew my section of the course on paper, but running it in reality turned out to be a disappointment. More than ten kilometers on closed roads through rather unattractive residential areas – it’s hard to imagine a less inspiring marathon route. The atmosphere along the way was equally disheartening: almost no spectators, no real support, no excitement.
Confusion at the Relay Point
The relay handover point was no better. Nobody seemed to know exactly where the shuttle bus would depart. After asking around, we eventually found the stop a few hundred meters away. Then came the worst part: we had to wait endlessly for a bus. As a result, we missed the chance to enter the stadium and finish together with the rest of our relay team.
The Finish
When we finally made it back to the stadium, we weren’t even allowed inside. The official finish was out of reach. So, together with another frustrated runner from a different team, I simply stepped onto the course away from the main area. We crossed the finish line on our own terms – unnoticed, but at least symbolic.
Disappointment and One Bright Spot
I’ve run in many races, both big and small, but it’s disappointing to see my hometown put on such a lackluster event. Poor organization, a dull route, and no atmosphere – that’s what remains in memory. Yet there was one positive aspect: my teammates Anna, Christian, and Manfred. Without them, I might well have called my wife mid-race to pick me up. In the end, it was the team spirit that saved the day.
