Cologne 2025

If you’re going to miss the bus, then at least miss it running!

I’m on the train and it’s cold, 8 degrees and I’m feeling it! Cologne, my city! I think now though Cologne definitely makes me think of Shane McGowan and the Pogues , growling out the lyrics to Dirty Old Town . I’m not sure how many Cologne marathons I’ve run to date but it’s definitely over 10. Colleen was born in Cologne, Heike grew up here, Ruth too and her dad was a local, Sean ran his first marathon here. This is definitely our city!

Somehow the vibe and the spirit here is not what you’d probably expect in Germany and the people are not your typical Germans either. They’re definitely different and definitely more relaxed (no offence to the rest of Germany, you’re great too!). Built by the Romans, outpost of the Franks, occupied by the French in the 18th century and home of Kölsch and Kölsch and don’t forget EffZeh

History lesson over.

What was I looking for today?

I think I’ve prepared pretty well but realistically I’d be over the moon with 3:45. Although I’d love to break 3:30.

Well my train has arrived in Köln-Deutz so i’d better stop tapping on my phone and get to the starting line.

It’s Sunday evening and the marathon is completed.

Here’s how it panned out.

Getting out of the train station proved to be the first obstacle, it was raining and everyone was inside staying dry. Sounds ok until you’re trying to battle through a mass of people and bicycles blocking the doors.

I needed the toilet!

Please let the old man out, he needs the toilet!

Getting out I joined the queue and within minutes all was good again. I ate a banana and made my way to the blue starting block, I was half an hour early so I was practically at the front. The DJ was pumping us up. The great city of Cologne, the public who cheered us on and the runners who stood waiting to trot through the streets. He talked about the Kenyans and the Ethiopians in the race, the top runners. In front of us stood the red block, the fastest block. I looked around me, everyone looked fit and ready. It’s then that the imposter syndrome kicks in, am I really good enough to be standing at the front of the block?

Oh well, we will see! At 10;30 the red block race off, followed by the relay runners and the inclusive group. People who for a long time had no opportunity to take part because they were not considered ‘able’ to compete. I looked around at them go off and the enormity of what they’re doing overwhelms me. I see the relay teams, kids from all over the city. All in all I slowly realise why I’m running, standing here along with the thousands of people from all over.

Then the 10 second countdown for us starts and we ready ourselves, there’s a good 30m before the start line, where everyone will be pressing the start button on their watches.

We cross the line and I’m pulled along by the front row. It brings back days of the 1500m at school. I glance down at my watch and realise a 4:20 pace is great but too fast for my 63 year old bones. Just like the week before in Paris though, there are no traffic jams and I quickly settle into a nice pace. I’m looking to finish between 3:30 and 3:45 so a pace around 5min/km is ideal.

For the next 25km, that’s what I’m doing. Driven on by the samba bands and cries of go Gary go! Or come on Gary you’ve got this! I love the fact that my name automatically causes people to switch to English.

I always like to aim for 30km and if at that stage I’m still mentally and physically intact then it’s basically a 10km to the finish because the last 2km are not even worth thinking about.

I get to 30km and the wheels begin to wobble, only slightly but enough for my pace to drop. It’s worth mentioning that I’ve invested in collapsible bottles, maltodextrin, grape juice and honey. Instead of the little plastic gels I normally take along. I’ve already taken sips at every 10km. I’m impressed that the effects are rapid.

At 35km I take a bigger sip of my homemade power gel and hope that I can pick up the pace and achieve my goal.

Mentally I am also struggling, luckily my hand picked playlist delivers exactly the kind of music I need. Most people go for pumping tunes that are meant to power you on. I have those too but mostly they’re songs that I’ve listened to for most of my life. They’re harbours in a stormy sea.

The last couple of kilometres are slower and although I’m not crawling, the spring in my step has disappeared. It’s fine though because my early pace pulled me through. I cross the line in 3:42, I’m very happy!

After 20 meters I flop to the ground and stare out at the other runners. Two blokes in Union Jack running vests are a few meters away, I’m smiling inside hoping that they’re nice blokes. I see the name ‘Gary’ on the chest of one of them. I stand up and shout ‘Gary’ a few times. He turns around with a look that says ‘who are you and why are you screaming my name, I don’t even know you’ then he sees my name and grins. In a broad cockney accent he reaches out and we shake hands. Gary and his mate are doing a marathon a week all over Europe it seems. Last week he ran 3:15 and today he ran 3:25. He told me that he was knackered and doesn’t think he’ll make next week. He looks the kind of character that is going to be on the starting line next week anyway . It was Gary who supplied the bus quote at the start. You know that you’ll never make it but you better try anyway. Great attitude!

We wished each other all the best.

I had an alcohol free Kölsch, made my way out of the runners compound and headed to the train station. As if the day couldn’t get any better, right there on the platform were two friends, in fact the bloke who sold us his house. What a coincidence. Exchanging stories on the way back was an appropriate conclusion.

Except that it wasn’t over yet.

Normally I’m supported by a world class team who cheer me on at regular intervals and look after me at the finish. This year though was different. The support team had other plans! Actually that was ok and I respected the situation. Part of the support team duty was a celebration after the event and there were no other plans to get in the way of that one.

We met in a Vietnamese restaurant in Euskirchen and the support team did not fail. Great food, great company and the end of another mini adventure.

This is why we do stuff like this. Whether you’re walking, cycling or banging out strength sessions in your garage or cellar.

We do it because it makes us feel good and

if you’re going to miss the bus, then at least miss it running!

Next up

Rest up!