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Disqualifications during real,- BERLIN-MARATHON
Electronic foot tags and the related time-clocking at all 5-kilometre points along the whole distance make life difficult for cheaters:
2001-10-26
Not all runners who started at the Charlottenburger Tor on Strasse des 17. Juni and finished in Tauentzienstrasse ran the full distance. Some decided to take a shortcut along the way by taking the Underground, riding a bike, etc. 74 runners had to be disqualified and their names deleted from the list of results during the 28th real,- BERLIN MARATHON on 30 September 2001.Some did not even make it to the first 5-km point only to appear at the finish soon after. For many the marathon seemed more or less over after the first half (i.e. a half marathon), whilst they covered the second half in less time than the current world record for half marathons. Most, at least, made it to the 25-km point, after which their trail seems to disappear. Some reappeared at kilometre 40 and, like magic, everybody arrived at the finish to collect their medals. Taking their wedding vows somewhat too literally, one couple even shared the real,- BERLIN MARATHON: He ran the first half, then handed his starting number and tag over to his wife who finished the marathon for him. All participants had been warned by the SCC organisers in no uncertain terms that violations of the rules like the above would result in the culprit‘s disqualification.
The 28th real,- BERLIN MARATHON saw a new record number of 31,113 participants finish the marathon (25,794 runners, 5,101 skaters, 124 power walkers, 94 wheelchair users).
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