Sylvesterlauf Aachen, 2018

A runner year of the extra class comes to an end. But not without topping all again!

On 31.12.2018, the last day of the year and thus the last chance to change the annual statistics, six top athletes which Aachen has rarely seen met at the DLC New Year’s Eve 2018. Fortunately for the other participants, some top runners and members of the “Lustlauf - Mein Verein e.V.” fell injury unfortunately out.

We met at the headquarter of the “Lustlauf - Mein Verein e.V.” where we prepared for the race together. After a short refreshment with home-baked carbohydrate-dripping cakes and a personal purchase consultation first our sprinters started: Ralf and Gabriele started in the 4.8km challenge. Of course, thanks to perfect training in the club’s weekly sessions, this was hardly a challenge for both. Of course, top times and placements were achieved here: Ralf ran faster than ever, leaving far more than 75% of the total field behind. With a time of 24:17 min (5:03min/km) he reached the place 248 in the overall standings and even the 21st place of his age group M50. Gabriele was no less successful and finished with a time of 28:54min (6:01min/km) the place 576 and the 3rd place of her age group W60.

The main race of the event and thus the long distance was now close to the starting shot by the independent judge.

For outsiders, I maybe took an incalculable risk. However, thanks to the excellent quality of advice and the many years of experience of the “Haus und Hof Schuster” of the “Lustlauf - Mein Verein e.V.”, it was clear to me that I could take that risk with a clear conscience. So I entered the race with shoes I bought not a half hour before in the “runner shop” and don’t felt a minute uncomfortable!

Stephan, Sascha, Jörg and I (Oliver) started at 15:45 on the Aachen marketplace in the 6 rounds of the New Year’s Eve race. Unfortunately precious seconds were lost in the starting phase, because the hustle around the pole position was very large and unfortunately many hobby athletes overestimated their own performance. So athletes of the top class were pushed aside and could show their potential only moderately in the so important starting phase. However, this was regulated thanks to Nike, goddess of victory and sportiness and daughter of Zeus and Aphrodite, after a few hundred meters.

The round course consisted of 3 short and 3 longer rounds, which each ran over the Aachener marketplace. Here too, as with the 4.8km distance, was certainly the highlight that the course passed the “runner shop”, the headquarter of the “Lustlauf - Mein verein e.V.” and we could “push” each other. Ralf, the club president, was visibly proud of “his” troupe.

Top places course also at the 10.3km distance: Oliver left almost 500 of the meager 600 starters behind and reached with a time of 45:03min (4:22min/km) the 105 place in the overall standings and the 13th place in his age group M40. Directly followed, Stephan crossed the finish line with a 1:38 min gap. He finished with 46:41Min (4:31Min/km) the 145th place in the overall standings and 16th place in his age group M50. Still in the first winner wave of the New Year’s Eve run, Sascha reached the red carpet on Aachner marketplace after 53:47min (5:13min/km) and after 6 laps. He took the 329th place in the overall standings and the very respectable 33rd place in his age group M45. After relaxed 59:10min (5:44min/km), Jörg finished the 469th place in the overall standings and 49th in his age group M45.

“Lustlauf - Mein Verein e.V.” has once again demonstrated to Aachen that not only performance, drill and tight training plans lead to success. Also, the fun of running is important to goal.

In this sense: On a successful year 2019 …. Aachen, dress warmly, we will be back next year!

By the way: This posting is of course not meant to be quite serious ;-)