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Bryan Haynes Runs the Stuttgart Zeitung-Lauf Half-Marathon to Represent St. Louis - Stuttgart Sister Cities - June 22, 2008
Bryan Haynes and daughter, Demi |
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By Byran Haynes
Friendly Schwabians arch cooling veils of cold water over the streets of Stuttgart, Germany from their own garden hoses for the relief of ten thousand runners in the annual Stuttgarter Zeitung-Lauf half marathon run this past weekend in the capital city of Baden-Wurttemberg. Promptly at 9:00 am on June 22nd, the temperature rising to 32 degrees C (89 degrees F), the starting gun released a river of athletes to course through a travel agent's list of sites to see beginning from the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium, past the breathtaking new Mercedes-Benz Museum and headquarters buildings, over the Neckar River itself to the gates of the one hundred and fifty year old Wilhelma Zoological-Botanical Garden and the home of the world famous polar bear cub "Wilbar". Cruising along under the shade of the old Schlossgarten oaks that grace pathways now lined with throngs of supporters, the park cuts a green swath across the city center leading us to the Neues Schloss (New Castle, 1744), Schlossplatz, and the Alte Schloss and Landesmuseum (Old Castle, 12th century).
Now in the echo chamber of a Sunday morning city center there are bands that encourage us on every corner by rhythms as diverse as a calypso beat, to a steady and hearty German brass oompah. What strikes every American that travels to Germany is the amazing contrast of the very old standing next to the very new. So, still having the energy to lift my eyes, we run past the black medieval spike that is the Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church, 1434) and Schillerplatz set right next to the ultra-modern Kunstmuseum. Up ahead, runners snake back across the Neckar within site of the Staatsgalerie beginning the circle back to the Neckar Park, Porsche Arena, and Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium.
My travel companion and twelve year old daughter Demi, is visiting Germany, her Mother's homeland, for the first time. She is patiently waiting for my arrival at the finish line under the care of our gracious host Nadine Philipp, the liaison of our St Louis/Stuttgart City Sister organization that gave me this wonderful opportunity to come in somewhere in "die mitte" of this friendly half marathon.
Like all visitors, we are amazed at the beauty of this old city, ringed by green hills like a bowl holding the treasures of Baden-Württemberg history. Founded by Liudolf, Duke of Swabia in the 13th century as a stud farm, Stuttgart has evolved to the capital of Württemberg in the 14th century and has been the capital of the area ever since. Over this ring of green rises the symbol of the city, the television tower, the Fernsehturm (1956). From no other point in Stuttgart is the view of the city, of the vineyard landscape of the Neckar Valley, of the Swabian land up to the Alb, to the Black Forest and to the Odenwald so comprehensive as from the television tower. Many days a year, the panorama also includes the mountain summits of the German, Austrian and Swiss Alps. Crossing the finish line, happy to be done, I am welcomed by more splashes of cool Schwabian water, my Stuttgart-Lauf medal, and my daughter eager to have her Dad take a shower and be off to see more.
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