Memories From Berlin

We've asked several locals who competed or were in Berlin for the World Championships to share with us their memories of the trip. Starting off is writer/photographer/geography prof Sean Hartnett. You'll recognize Sean from the pictures he takes that are printed on DtB and elsewhere.

Sean Hartnett: Most memories were track related - but not all. Though having gone to Berlin for five previous Berlin Marathons, I was not as 'impressionable' as I have already developed a good appreciation of the city. Yet, as with any world class city you always see something new and fascinating, and for me what was truly fascinating was the best world championships of this century. The weekend sessions were filled to capacity and the mid-week low ebb still had 40-50,000 track & field fans - and that is sight for sore eyes for any veteran of our sport.

For the German home team it was an incredible field championships with a litany of outstanding performances and enthralling competitions, many decided on final throws or jumps. If Berlin was a throwback to some of the great championships of last century it is because Europe still produces the great majority of medalists and contenders in the field events, and in particular the German athletes rose to the occasion with unexpected placings.

I'd like to think these achievements reflected years of focused preparation and crowd inspired performances. Yes, (drug) testing is much improved and field performances were for the most part down across the board - perhaps the most obvious indictment of the sport's tainted past. Yet, I'd like to give a nod to the influence to the electric atmosphere of an historic Olympic stadium filled with knowledgeable fans and a stretched-out nine-day schedule that let the field events to take center stage rather than the fourth ring of a three-ring circus.

Almost all field events have a ballistic element to it with a prelude technique followed by a ballistic explosion as some object or human is propelled into flight, and I'd like to think that the electric atmosphere helped fuel the moments of ballistic release. I'll have a lasting memory of the whole stadium thumping in the prelude rhythm clapping, than erupting into a boisterous explosion of noise at the release or takeoff point, and soaring along with the object or human flying through the air. This roar would spontaneously spike-up another couple of decibels if the effort impacted standings, and if a German athlete was involved the roar would soar further and longer. A German or medal or win cranked up the volume to a Spinal Tap “11,” a true "futbol" goal roar culminating in the sing-song repetition of the athlete’s name. This was the signature sound of Berlin 09, and for me the big surprise given my track orientation.

Geez - I gotta dash for a 9AM department meeting - I'll get back to the track and the city later this morning.