Berlin Marathon organizer Horst Milde described the annual prison running event as “the most heavily guarded run that exists,” where selected inmates from Berlin’s penal institutions briefly break out of their daily routine without ever leaving custody.
Running provides a sense of freedom for many, but for inmates incarcerated in Berlin’s penal facilities, that freedom is restricted. To counter the isolation of prison life, an initiative launched by Horst Milde gives selected prisoners across the city’s seven correctional facilities a single day each year to run a structured race. The project, known locally as the “Knästelauf,” aims to provide a psychological boost and foster rehabilitation through athletic competition.
How the Prison Running Initiative Started in Berlin
The concept originated when Milde accompanied running therapist Joanna Zybon on a visit to a correctional facility. Conversations with incarcerated individuals sparked the idea for an institutional running event. Following initial hesitation from the Berlin Senate administration, the-then Senator for Justice Thomas Heilmann granted official approval. The inaugural race took place on October 10, 2014, at JVA Plötzensee.
Security Measures and Selection Criteria at JVA Plötzensee
The event location at JVA Plötzensee is uniquely suited because the facility is separated from the Berlin Youth Detention Center only by a perimeter wall. For race day, interior gates are opened to form a one-kilometer loop stretching across the courtyards of both institutions. Participants can choose between five-kilometer and ten-kilometer distances. To ensure security, external runners and volunteers undergo thorough background checks beforehand, while family members and outside spectators are barred from attending. Every external participant must present official identification and appropriate gear, and mobile phones are left at the gate for the duration of the event. Inmates are selected by sports officers who train regularly with the prisoners, with individual facility administrations making the final choice for the ten to twelve available slots per institution. On race day, inmates are transported to JVA Plötzensee in secure vehicles.
Social Reintegration and Post-Race Exchange
Beyond the athletic challenge, the event serves as a platform for social interaction. A prison band typically performs, and communal seating areas are set up where participants share water, fruit, and snacks after crossing the finish line. Inmates converse with external runners, creating an environment that builds self-esteem and offers perspective for life after release. Milde refers to this motivational boost as a “Seelentherapeutikum.” The fastest runners tackle the ten-kilometer course, while less conditioned participants complete the five-kilometer distance. Every runner receives a certificate documenting their time, and race winners earn prizes such as Berlin Marathon jackets. An ungeschriebenes Gesetz—an unwritten rule—dictates that an inmate crosses the finish line first.
Funding Pressures Facing the Resocialization Project
The unique resocialization project continually faces uncertainty due to budget cuts implemented by the Berlin Senate. Support from experienced Berlin Marathon volunteers and course measurer John Kunkeler ensures professional standards, such that even a world record would be officially recognized.
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