Given the current situation, the organizer is satisfied with more than 7,800 entries.
The organizers of the Linz Danube Marathon next Sunday are focusing on a women's record this time. The best times of the committed elite runners are below the Linz record of Lisa-Christina Stublic from 2011 of 2:30:45. Given the current situation, the organizers are satisfied with the total number of reports – 7,810 by Wednesday. But it will take some time to follow the old numbers – around 20,000 on average.
comeback
At the comeback after a two and a half year break and the first autumn date, the elite field of women is led by the Ethiopian Urge Diro Soboka, who has a personal best of 2:28:10 hours, and her compatriot Tigist Teshome Ayanu (2:29:17). In the men’s contest, Mathew Sang Kibiwott from Kenya and Kibrom Weldemicael from Eritrea with top marks below 2:10 are only just above the Linz course record set by Alexander Kusin from Ukraine of 2:07:33 since 2007.
At a press conference on Wednesday, organizer Ewald Tröbinger emphasized the challenge posed by the corona development and the uncertainty as to whether the event could take place at all. Normally you had six months to prepare, this year it was only a little more than a month for the 19th edition. Tröbinger will step down after this competition, his successor is Günther Weidlinger. Regarding the number of registrations, he said that it was more constant in the marathon or half marathon, because these are runners who are always training and looking for events. In the quarter or relay marathon, the decline is greater, because it is often about amateur and recreational athletes who do not train as regularly and therefore tend to forego a competition.
A comprehensive protection concept against Covid was submitted and approved for the event. 3G proof, collection of personal data in terms of contact tracing and, in particularly sensitive areas, wearing an FFP2 mask apply. Due to the time required to carry out the measures, an early arrival is recommended in order to avoid congestion and stress.
The marathon weekend begins on Friday with the handing out of the starting documents and late entries and a two-day expo where companies present their products. There will also be a junior marathon on Saturday for the youngest born in 2018 and earlier, as well as a marathon church service. On Sunday the marathon starts at 9.30 a.m. on the Voest motorway bridge. The men's elite is expected at 11:37 a.m., the women's at 12 noon at the finish on the main square. Music miles, tempo zones, hit DJs as well as eight music groups and two district festivals are posted along the route. The ORF broadcasts live from 9.15 a.m. on ORF Sport + and as a live stream in the TV counter . Co-commentator is political scientist Peter Filzmaier, who himself was active as a running athlete.
