Compete with the pros - the fastest night in Berlin at the adidas Runners City Night

Debbie & Rabea Schöneborn, Sebastian Hendel and Johannes Motschmann from the Marathon Team Berlin spoke about the adidas Runners City Night. They share their thoughts on the fastest night in Berlin, their race preparation and give participants a few valuable tips on how to prepare for this unique event.

^{The participants shortly before the start of the adidas Runners City Night 2024 @ SCC EVENTS // sportografen}

‘A combination you rarely find’

The adidas Runners City Night is a firm fixture in the running calendar for the athletes of the Marathon Team Berlin. Not only because of the breathtaking atmosphere on and off the course. "The fast course paired with the great atmosphere and running at dusk. It's a combination that you very rarely find in 10km road races," said last year's runner-up Sebastian Hendel. Johannes Motschmann is also still impressed: ‘The adidas Runners City Night is one of my absolute favourite races!’. What's more, the participants run along Ku'Damm in the centre of Berlin. “It's always a lot of fun to compete in Berlin and the adidas Runners City Night is in the heart of the German capital. Where you stand at traffic lights in everyday life, on this day everything is closed for the runners - a special feeling.”

^{Winner of the 32nd edition of the adidas Runners City Night - Johannes Motschmann  @ SCC EVENTS // sportografen}

An unusual start time for the pros

The starting signal for the 10km race is at 8pm, which is an unusual start time for most professional athletes. Their races usually take place in the morning. This is a change for one of them: "I'm usually more efficient in the morning than in the evening. It's a bit more difficult for me, sometimes I don't really know what to do with myself during the day," says Rabea Schöneborn. Not a challenge for the other: ‘The late start time doesn't bother me, I find it quite varied that we sometimes start in the evening, especially in summer,’ said the winner from 2024, Johannes Motschmann.

^{Good atmosphere on and off the track - makes the participant smile @ SCC EVENTS // Maximilian Bodenstab}

‘What you didn't do in the week before the race, you won't do again’ - the last tips from the pros

The Marathon Team Berlin athletes were keen to share a few tips for preparation. Debbie Schöneborn explains: "If you're not training for the race like we are, you should above all keep your feet still in the last few days before the race. Everyone has their own pre-competition routines, but it's usually a very good rule that what you haven't done in the week before the competition, you won't do again. So have the courage to do tapering, i.e. chilling out before the competition. Less is more." It is also important to optimise your nutritional intake the day before and on the day of the competition. Sebastian Hendel, for example, will eat a relatively late lunch after a relaxed run in the morning and bridge the long period of time until the start with a snack in the afternoon. Finally, Sebastian also gives an absolute insider tip: "Running at dusk is always a bit tricky. Due to the changing light conditions, our eyes change: Colours are perceived less and contrasts more. This changes our perception of our own speed. After a few kilometres in the dark, you slowly get used to it!”

Marathon Team Berlin