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Cottbus Tour 2007
On Friday 18 May, 2007, six members of Worksop Harriers set off on the annual trip to take part in a 10km City centre race in Cottbus, a German town 60 miles to the East of Berlin. The first trip took place back in 1997 (Simon Hopkinson, Chris Broughton and Peter Fendley making the journey in Pete’s car – 2000 miles round trip!) This time the party of Peter and Gill Fendley, Dennis and Audrey Learad, Steve Battle and Steve Rewston, flew from East Midlands to Berlin, where they were picked up by Wolfgang, in the minibus, and taken to the very luxurious Lidnar Hotel in Cottbus. It seems that this Hotel was one of the Race Sponsors, and the accommodation for overseas runners was part of that deal.
Saturday afternoon saw three of the Harriers, Peter Fendley, Dennis Learad and Steve Battle, take part in a 3 x 2.8 km team relay, against 30 other teams, in which they achieved a Trophy for 4th place. This could easily have been third, after Dennis and Peter had put in hard runs for Peter to hand over to Steve, on the shoulder of the 3rd placed Team but, despite running the fastest time of the Harriers trio, Steve remained in fourth place, finishing just five seconds away from third. Steve used some excuse about having tired legs due to competing in a 50 mile race, just seven days earlier. He needs to train harder !!!! To rub salt into the wounds it was then the other Steve (Steve Rewston) whose name appeared on the race certificate, along with Dennis and Pete.
With a break of just three hours, following the Relay Race, Pete, Dennis and the two Steve’s then lined up for the start of the 10km race. Over the four lap course, in hot conditions, two further successes were achieved, with Steve Battle (that’s the one with the now very tired legs) winning a bronze medal in the O/40’s age category and Pete winning the Bronze in the O/50’s category. Dennis, unfortunately, tweaked his hamstring towards the end of the second lap and, sensibly, pulled out of the race to save further damage, a pity because judging by the race times Dennis would likely have ended up with a medal in the O/55 age category. We are not exactly sure why Dennis’s hamstring tightened, although the site of Pete disappearing into the distance wouldn’t have helped the situation !!! Steve Rewston, coming back from injury, ran a sensible race and finished comfortably without any adverse effects to his previously injured foot.
Saturday evening saw the Harriers partying with their German and Belgium friends at the Cottbus athletics stadium, containing a magnificent 8 lane synthetic running track, with stands, and part of a very large multi-sports complex, including cycling, boxing, gymnastics and football, as well as a further indoor athletics track.
Following a fairly late night on Saturday, a hearty Sunday morning breakfast was then followed by a steady group run, with the Harriers and members of Cottbus Leichtathletik club heading off into the forest to a pleasant house for more food and drinks, hosted by Ilka, another member of the Cottbus Club. The expectation was that after the food and drink, we would go back into Cottbus on the minibus with Wolfgang, Gill and Audrey. We should have realised we were not here to enjoy ourselves, and were persuaded that running back would be the more enjoyable option. I wonder who’s bright idea that might have been, but Pete was on the trip!! Anyway, we survived, enjoyed more food in the hotel and, in the afternoon, were then taken on a very enjoyable trip through the Cottbus forest and countryside on two large covered wagons, each pulled by two Shire Horses. Again we were re-united with our Belgian friends, Danny Gabriel, Stephan and Erwin, along with our Cottbus hosts. Dennis can explain all about Horse and Cart sickness!!
 Following the usual late night, helped by Uwe having his 50th birthday party, an early Monday morning breakfast was taken by Pete and Stevie B, so that they could join Connie on a 28km training run (17.5 miles), through the scenic Cottbus countryside, with Wolfgang, the Coach, riding alongside on his bike. The girls went with Christina shopping and Stevie Rew convinced Dennis that a good walking session would do wonders for his dodgy hamstring, Dennis is still not sure that Stevie was right! Lunch, back at the Stadium, was followed by a trip to see Reinhard and Gerlinde, with more food and drink, and a few games of table tennis on a special table used for blind players, designed and built by Reinhard, himself a runner but who is blind. Playing table tennis against three blind players was an experience, with none of the Harriers winning, which is why we stick to running.
It was with a little sadness that we departed Cottbus on Monday evening, to go with Connie and Wolfgang back to Berlin, in the minibus, to catch the late fight home. The trip had once again been very successful and enjoyable, having been re-united with many friends and wonderfully hosted. We are now looking forward to a trip to Belgium later in the year and the another re-union at our Worksop Half Marathon in October.
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