byLarry Eder
Sabrina Mockenhaupt, real, Berlin 2010 press conference, 23.09.10, PhotoRun.net.
Sabrina Mockenhaupt is the top German woman at the real, Berlin marathon this year. As her father has run a 2:24 marathon, her mother a 2;40 marathon, Miki, as she is called, has the world records for father-daughter and mother-daughter, with her 2:25.
Pat Butcher, our globalrunner, and official marathon apologist, will be sending us his thoughts on the real, Berlin marathon, which happens September 26. Yours truly was unable to go this year, but you should see me at Chicago and NYC this fall. (Watch for our twitter Live coverage as I stay up til 3 am and cover the event live on Sunday from the warmth of my sofa in Fort Atkinson, thanks to the wonders of wifi).
Tomo Morimoto, Bezunesh Bekele, Sabrina Mockenhaupt, real, Berlin 2010, photorun.net.
berlin, september 23, 1230gmt
A FAMILY AFFAIR
As a nine year old, Sabrina Mockenhaupt recalls watching the first Berlin
Marathon to be run though the reunified city, shortly after the Wall came down,
in 1990. But, like with her parents going out running in all weathers, she
didn’t quite get it.
Marathon to be run though the reunified city, shortly after the Wall came down,
in 1990. But, like with her parents going out running in all weathers, she
didn’t quite get it.
“I watched Uta Pippig win that first race through the former East and West
of Berlin, but really it was boring watching. I admired the people running, but
I didn’t understand my parents going out in bad weather”.
of Berlin, but really it was boring watching. I admired the people running, but
I didn’t understand my parents going out in bad weather”.
She finally go the message aged 16, and started running in secondary
school, and 20 years after that first visit to what is now the German capital,
Mocki, as she’s known to the national media sets out to emulate Pippig in the
real_Berlin Marathon on Sunday morning, and maybe even better dad’s best of
2.24.59, set in Hamburg(she thinks), back when she was the uncomprehending
daughter.
school, and 20 years after that first visit to what is now the German capital,
Mocki, as she’s known to the national media sets out to emulate Pippig in the
real_Berlin Marathon on Sunday morning, and maybe even better dad’s best of
2.24.59, set in Hamburg(she thinks), back when she was the uncomprehending
daughter.
Fred Mockenhaupt will be following on his bike on Sunday – “I doubt he
could do four hours for the marathon now,” she says – while mother, Hildegard,
“Will probably do about 20k herself, running point to point on the course. She
could probably still do 3.30”.
could do four hours for the marathon now,” she says – while mother, Hildegard,
“Will probably do about 20k herself, running point to point on the course. She
could probably still do 3.30”.
With her own best of 2.26.22, she and Fred hold the father-daughter world
record, and not to be outdone, Hildegard’s 2.40.41, also in Hamburg (she thinks)
two decades ago, gives them the mother-daughter world record.
record, and not to be outdone, Hildegard’s 2.40.41, also in Hamburg (she thinks)
two decades ago, gives them the mother-daughter world record.
To complete the family affair, her twin Markus got serious about running
even later than she did. “He can run about 33 minutes for 10k, and I’m coaching
him, so that he can pace me in future”. She’ll soon get an angle on that, since
Markus is running his debut marathon in Frankfurt in a month’s time.
even later than she did. “He can run about 33 minutes for 10k, and I’m coaching
him, so that he can pace me in future”. She’ll soon get an angle on that, since
Markus is running his debut marathon in Frankfurt in a month’s time.
Mocki’s best came in winning Frankfurt two years ago, and she’s twice won
on the difficult course in Koln (Cologne), where she is a member of the local
club, although she still lives and trains in her birthplace of Siegen, some 100k
south-east.
on the difficult course in Koln (Cologne), where she is a member of the local
club, although she still lives and trains in her birthplace of Siegen, some 100k
south-east.
Up to now, she’s combined track with marathons, with a best 10,000 metres
of 31.14.21 for 13th at the Beijing Olympics, “but I think I’ll be concentrating
on the road from now on”.
of 31.14.21 for 13th at the Beijing Olympics, “but I think I’ll be concentrating
on the road from now on”.
An argument over failure to share the pace in a track race with naturalised
German Irina Mikitenko a couple of years ago got inflated by the media into a
Miki/Mocki mutual hate campaign, but with Miki’s sub-2.20 and winning the
Marathon Majors’ jackpot last year, Mocki has conceded that at the moment she
isn’t really a contender. The pair have duly made up, with Mocki saying, “To
achieve what Irina has done is really great, and she has given me some good
advice”. Miki duly reciprocated with, “I think Sabrina has got a great talent,
but you need more to succeed at the marathon. If she can apply herself, she can
run much faster”.
German Irina Mikitenko a couple of years ago got inflated by the media into a
Miki/Mocki mutual hate campaign, but with Miki’s sub-2.20 and winning the
Marathon Majors’ jackpot last year, Mocki has conceded that at the moment she
isn’t really a contender. The pair have duly made up, with Mocki saying, “To
achieve what Irina has done is really great, and she has given me some good
advice”. Miki duly reciprocated with, “I think Sabrina has got a great talent,
but you need more to succeed at the marathon. If she can apply herself, she can
run much faster”.
With six world records here in the last dozen years, the most recent being
Haile Geb’s 2.03.59 two years ago, Mocki acknowledges that, if she’s going to
make a great leap forward, it’s going to be here.
Haile Geb’s 2.03.59 two years ago, Mocki acknowledges that, if she’s going to
make a great leap forward, it’s going to be here.
And coming back here involves some unfinished business. She’s loath to
spell it out, but she obviously feels she was press-ganged by the national
federation into running the world champs (on a different course) here in Berlin
last year – she finished 17th in 2.30.07.
spell it out, but she obviously feels she was press-ganged by the national
federation into running the world champs (on a different course) here in Berlin
last year – she finished 17th in 2.30.07.
“Everyone says the Berlin course is fast, and I’ve been reluctant to come
in the past, because of all the pressure if you don’t do well. But I think I’m
ready now, I’ll like to go under 2.25”.
in the past, because of all the pressure if you don’t do well. But I think I’m
ready now, I’ll like to go under 2.25”.
She may need to go substantially under that time in order to win, given
that principal opponents, Bezunesh Bekele and Aberu Kebede of Ethiopia and Tomo
Morimoto of Japan have run 2.23.09, 2.24.26 and 2.24.33 respectively.
that principal opponents, Bezunesh Bekele and Aberu Kebede of Ethiopia and Tomo
Morimoto of Japan have run 2.23.09, 2.24.26 and 2.24.33 respectively.
Bezunesh and Morimoto both joined Mocki at this morning press conference in
Berlin, duly repeating the mantra, “I want to run a personal best”.
Berlin, duly repeating the mantra, “I want to run a personal best”.
They’d be well-advised to get away from Mocki, and out of sight as soon as
possible. As a member of the German Army sports team, she attended her final
duties six months ago. After two months fatigues in the forests around Hannover,
she was awarded the gold star – for sharp-shooting!
possible. As a member of the German Army sports team, she attended her final
duties six months ago. After two months fatigues in the forests around Hannover,
she was awarded the gold star – for sharp-shooting!
To read more by Pat Butcher, or to hire him for your event, please check out www.globerunner.org.
