Earlier in the year I had travelled to Finland for their special event, Ascension Day. This was on a Thursday enabling me to do two parkruns in Finland in one week #incredible. It was a memorable week with parkruners from all around the world travelling to participate in the Ascension Day Events, doing the parkrun and then engaging with the celebrations taking place in the country, which were actually quite muted however we had a brilliant time.
Last month on 3rd October it was the turn of Germany to host its special parkrun event. In Germany the 3rd of October is Unity Day, it commemorates the reunification of East and West Germany which happened on the same date in 1990. This came after the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989.
Established in the Konigstein Agreement the celebrations for Unity Day are hosted by one of the major cities, usually the state’s capital with a festival and fireworks show. This year it was Schwerin the state capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. There are celebrations in the Federal capital Berlin mainly based on the StraBe des 17. Juni and around the Brandenburg Gate. Additionally, Unity Day coincides with the Oktoberfest Beer Festival in Munich which attracts over 7 million international and domestic tourists. Unity Day in Germany is not a muted affair!
Sadly I couldn't make it however two of our good friends Andrew and Aislin were able to partake in this double delight. After completing the Burgess parkrun in all its autumnal glory we went to Sour Leaf Cafe to hear about their Germany double parkrun week.
Firstly they went to Alstevorland parkrun #226 in Hamburg for Unity Day. It had 127 participants including lots of Tourists 🙂 They recommended visiting the miniature wonderland in Hamburg. They then travelled to Breman to complete Unisee parkrun #203 where they both became Alphabeteers!
Another friend combined Germany Unity Day with an incredible string of travel. Starting in Pokkinen parkrun #140 which is in Oulu Finland. It is the most northern parkrun in the world with at least one run in winter completely in darkness! They then traveled to Germany for Unity Day completing the Speyerleinpfad parkrun #176. Remaining in Germany for a couple weeks before popping over to Salzburg Austria to complete the Hellbrunn parkrun #159 before coming back to England. Now that’s Touring!
Next week I’ll be staying at Burgess parkrun for probably the last autumn run. All the leaves will soon be gone and winter will be upon us.
Stay well and happy running
Interesting as ever
I learn something new every time I read about a park run. Thank you for these fascinating reads.