Gosh it feels like ages ago now that I was in Berlin and running the marathon. The days after Berlin were a lot more relaxed (for me at least) than the days before, but a lot more painful as you can imagine!
After the debacle of finding Ben and my dad after the race and then trying to find our way out of the race area, we headed back to our hotel. The boys had a drink and some nibbles in the hotel bar while I went upstairs to shower. I was so thankful that this time around we didn’t have a bath-shower. After the Paris marathon I remember how painful it had been to get my legs over the bath sides to get into the shower *shudders*.
I did however have fun finding all the places I’d chaffed. Not under my arms this time but weirdly just above my bum on my lower back!
The top of my shorts must have rubbed. Fun times.
After enjoying a luxuriously warm and bubbly shower, I headed downstairs all cleaned up to see Ben had got himself possibly the most disgusting looking meal possible.
You can see a fellow marathoner’s foot in the background – there were so many in the lobby!
A curryworst. He loved it so what can I say! Looks a bit funny to me 😉 My dad ordered some chips and like a vulture I landed on those chips with a vengeance. So salty and good.
Then sadly my dad headed off to catch his flight as he was only staying to watch the marathon and had work on Monday (sucker). Ben and me had an early evening meal in the hotel restaurant. It was rather posh!
We had another one of those sharing platters with lots of antipasti style bits and pieces (I got the veg and salad, Ben got the Parma ham and bread – we work well as a team). For main I went for pork schnitzel with fried potatoes and cranberries with a side salad (well, two side salads as Ben didn’t want his). For pudding I went for a peach crumble (it was microscopic in my marathon hungry eyes…but very nice regardless).
Then we went to the hotel room. I chilled in the best way possible.
We did consider renting a film (like we did in Paris) but we were both so tired we read for a bit and fell asleep around 7.30pm. I’m not even joking. I woke up at midnight thinking it was like 3am. I had a banging headache and struggled to fall back asleep but eventually fell asleep until 7am-ish. Headache gone and we both felt so refreshed!
We decided to do some sight seeing so headed off to wander through the Tiergarten and then to the Reichstag.
We saw lots of sights, like the Brandenburg Gate, the Jewish Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie again and a huge mall. Both of us staggered along, me because I was aching everywhere from the marathon and Ben because his knee was playing up a bit after all the walking the day before 🙁
We found a crazy American-style diner (called Andy’s Diner) that took our fancy for lunch. We were both in need of a nice sit down and some food.
I chose a salad and honestly it was possibly the best salad I’ve had in a while.
Chicken, kidney beans, hard boiled egg and lots of salad in a huge crispy tortilla bowl (which is underneath all the salad in the above photo) with a creamy ranch dressing. It literally took me like 20 minutes to eat all of it.
Literally bigger than my head – my kinda salad!
Then we plodded on. In total we walked 34,000 steps (15.5 miles). We were shattered and honestly me legs felt like they would fall off. Ben found it hilarious watching me trying to get down stairs.
My dear husband finding it far too funny that I was in pain
We stopped in the afternoon for another respite. And lo and behold! I found a cafe that sold beer, coffee and cake! A winner all round 😉
I went for a delicious vanilla chocolate cake. It was all spongy and delicious. So good. Ben went for a cheesecake.
It was a huge thumbs up from us. We then chilled for a bit people watching. It was a great spot – down the road from the Brandenburg Gate and the number of people we saw hobble past was quite amusing. There were so many people who had clearly run the marathon.
Dinner that night was a quick meal in a local, but lovely, restaurant and then another early night. Honestly, sleep (and cake) was the best recovery for me!
And the next day we headed home. It was a lovely little mini-break and I loved Berlin and the marathon but, as I’ve said before, it was bittersweet. I really wish Ben could have run. But he’s deferred his place so next year I think we’ll be returning! I might run it if I get in the ballot but we’ll see.
What’s your normal ‘go-to’ meal in a restaurant? For me it’s always a salad.
Do you like to try the local food when you’re abroad? The curryworst did not appeal but the schnitzel was amazing.
Would you ever want to run the Berlin marathon?
You always consume the most delicious looking & sounding treats. I mean that cake.. YUM! Oh & that is a ginormous salad. I’m impressed you were able to finish it off. I think i’d be struggling the last couple bites. Haha!
& can I jus ttell you how lovely I found it that your dad flew in just for your marathon. what a guy!
Jessie recently posted…WIAW: Throwback Style
I know, my dad is a hero bless him. He just loves supporting us during races – we have a t-shirt made for him saying “Running Coach”.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Why you shouldn’t run a marathon without training
Salad and bread!! Salads are amazing, none of them are ever alike!!! Trying local food is a must. It opens up your taste buds to new flavors and favorites!!!! I would love to run Berlin, but if I ever could it wouldn’t be anytime soon….boo!
Staci @ Hoosier Running Mom recently posted…Country running and beauty
With enough training, anyone can run a marathon I’m sure. Aim for the stars I’d say! 🙂
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Why you shouldn’t run a marathon without training
Haha, yeah, that currywurst doesn’t look the most appealing. But as long as it tastes good, that’s the main thing.
My go to meal when we go out is usually a burger. I love a really good burger. The more creative the toppings, the better. Although a local place has just started doing peanut butter and chilli jam burgers. That’s a bit too creative for me.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Giveaway: Win a High Powered Blender by Tracey Peach
Ohhhhh burgers are amazing. You can never really recreated as good a burger as a good restaurant can. They’d just piled high and so juicy. And with chips…ahhhh so good.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Why you shouldn’t run a marathon without training
That salad looks AMAZING!!! My go-to food is usually a salad or a burger. I love trying other food while abroad!
I get chaffing on my lower back too and it’s so painful… I think it’s worse than anywhere else!
Berlin is definitely on my wishlist… well going to Germany in general! 🙂
Lora @ Crazy Running Girl recently posted…Happy birthday + PRO Compression giveaway!
I definitely recommend Berlin! I haven’t been to anywhere else in Germany but Berlin is very welcoming and an easy city to get around and get by without the language. But I’d like to visit some of the more Bavarian cities in Germany where it’s a bit more rural and traditional Germany.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Why you shouldn’t run a marathon without training
That salad looks amazing! I remember when I last went to Germany, one of the things that I loved was giant apple pretzels. They were fantastic (and very memorable, as I haven’t been to Germany for about 10 years!). We try to sample the local food when we go abroad, but it doesn’t always work out.
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I’ve had a giant pretzel before but not an APPLE one OMG. I have clearly been missing out!!
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Why you shouldn’t run a marathon without training
I like trying the local food, but sometimes get a bit paranoid about meat being accidentally in things (especially in France)- I like to sample local baked goods!
I would love to run Berlin (that and New York are the only big city ones that appeal to me), but at the moment I am not applying for the ballot as I can’t imagine having to go back to work the next day – they need to move it so it’s in the summer holidays!
Maria @ runningcupcake recently posted…Ware 10 recap, including tea and cake marshals!
Ah yes I can totally understand your worries. A lot of foreign countries are a bit relaxed on the whole vegetarian thing. Must be a bit of a nightmare 🙁
Yes I would love to run New York as well. It’s supposed to be quite tough but definitely iconic!
Oh of course you must find it so tricky with school dates 🙁
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Why you shouldn’t run a marathon without training
When I used to run I’d also get a chafe right on my lower back as well. Something I’m going to have to get used to again soon as I’ll be doing the Great North Run next year! I was the same as you with the curry wurst, there was another kind of sausage I preferred that I got from a stand at Check Point Charlie but I can’t remember what it was!
Ooooh can’t wait to hear about you starting running again 🙂
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Why you shouldn’t run a marathon without training
Dan is obsessed with curryworsts. Doesn’t appeal to me either. That salad looks AMAZING though. Definitely my kind of meal! I’m a fan of your dessert choices too. Good eats! 🙂
I can’t believe you guys walked more than a half marathon distance the following day! It must have stopped your legs from seizing up too badly though. It’s always best to keep moving.
Mary recently posted…New job, ultra briefing, speedy reps and #catownerproblems
Honestly, we were shattered by the end of the day! But yeah it did help keep the muscles moving and not get too stiff. I think I need to be in a spa though next time haha.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Why you shouldn’t run a marathon without training
Ha, I think Berlin has the most stairs of any city I’ve been in, walking up and down the u-bahn stations post marathon was brutal!
Lauren (@poweredbypb) recently posted…What’s next?
Haha luckily we didn’t do too many stairs as we didn’t use the public transport. But there was one restaurant that had TWO flights of stairs to go to the loo. I mean SERIOUSLY.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Why you shouldn’t run a marathon without training
You eat the most delicious looking food! That cake, ohhhhh my goodness! Yum!
lucie recently posted…Vegan Chai Pancakes & Vanilla Raspberry Compote
It was SO good.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Why you shouldn’t run a marathon without training