autumn run through the

autumn run through the east of Berlin the biggest running event in the GDR, aside from the famous Rennsteiglauf. The number of participants increased continuously, even though the official figures seemed to be embellished. In 1983, there was already talk of 35,000 “peace runners”. The organisers also had a great supporting programme, including East German entertainers and rock groups in the start-finish area. In 1985, there were allegedly 70,000 at the start Something very special was announced after the event in 1984. The utilization of the event for propaganda purposes reached its peak in 1985. On the occasion of the 90th IOC session, the race was moved from autumn to a Thursday in early summer (June 6). With no regard to costs and effort, for this great event companies even gave their In 1985, the Peace Run took place under the eyes of the then IOC President Juan-Antonio Samaranch (middle). The 90th session of the International Olympic Committee took place in East Berlin, and the highest Olympians watched the race together with the top East German politicians like Egon Krenz (far left) and the highest GDR sports official, Manfred Ewald (2nd from right) - 33 -

employees the day off. 70,000 runners—what likely would make it the biggest race in the world at that time—are said to have started in the marathon, the 20 km and in the shorter courses for the general public. IOC President Juan-Antonio Samaranch was impressed and gave the starting signal by flag from a grandstand, which normally would only be set up on the grand boulevard Karl- Marx-Allee for the political celebrations on May 1 and on the GDR national holiday. Eyewitnesses could not confirm 100,000 in 1987 Next to him stood Egon Krenz, GDR sports director Manfred Ewald and other East German political celebrities. Numerous national long-distance runners joined the starters. Among them in the 20-km race were Michael Heilmann (Berlin, fourth at the 1985 Marathon World Cup) and the marathon double Olympic champion of 1996 and 1980, Waldemar Cierpinski (Halle). The 33-year-old Klaus Goldammer from Berlin (a world-class senior athlete to this day) became the winner of the marathon in 2:24:52 hours for the third (and last) time. The 1985 edition is considered the highlight of GDR times. Until then, the route was a rather monotonous one, leading down Landsberger Allee and back. From 1986 onwards, not least because of criticism from the active participants, it was moved further into the city centre to the boulevard Unter den Linden. The celebrations for the 750th city anniversary in 1987 also gave the Friedenslauf a boost. Both parts of the city were ardently celebrating the anniversary. The number of participants in the 1987 race, officially described as “under the patronage of the IOC“, was put at 100,000—a figure that eyewitnesses could not confirm. - 34 -