German championchip cross country running Harzquerung (51 km), Germany
Saturday morning it was already 8:30 am, but still chilly. The 4th German championchip started in time at Wernigerode. This year the course was crossing the Harz to Nordhausen. The course was up and down all the time. The two big hills, at the beginning and at 33km (20.5miles) wasn`t so bad. More difficult was the smaller hills during this two big ones. During the day the sun was shining for a short time.
About 300 runners started to run this at this hard course. People have got the chance to run only 25km (15.5miles) to Beckenstein, in case the 50km (31 miles) is to long. Already at the beginning of the race there was a small group of 10 people, which ran on the top of the field. The first place chanced all the time. After the second checkpoint the 25km (15,5miles) and the 50 (31miles) splitted. After this point although the group spitted more and more. At the third checkpoint, km 31 (19miles), there was only three runners left. At this point I took the first place and won after 3:28:55. Followed by Drößler Thomas with 3:30:56 and Grallath Ulrich with 3:31:38. The first woman was Kresse Nicole with 4:03:33, followed by Hildebrand Carmen with 4:09:09 and Wollenberg Ute with 4:38:28. Although at the age groups and at the team results the LG Würzburg was represent on the top. In the end 289 runners finished the course.
Photos and Report of Wolfgang Schmitt
Report at the homepage of the DUV
Report Marathon und Mehr journal
