Day X, for which many have prepared meticulously, with a lot of self-discipline but also great enthusiasm, has come. Today, Upper Austria is all about the 22nd edition of the Oberbank Linz Donau Marathon, which promises a sports festival for old and young.
Whether as an active participant, a supervisor at the track or among the tens of thousands of fans who will pack the race track – it is an event that moves crowds. In the truest sense of the word. There will be more than 17,000. What awaits us today? The OÖN provides an overview.
The early bird catches the worm. From 6:30 a.m. there are shower and changing facilities in the Parkbad fitness oasis. The Brucknerhaus opens its doors at 7:30 a.m. with the opportunity to drop off clothing bags. Pleasant temperatures will still be measured there. But that is deceptive.
During the day the thermometer can climb up to 28 degrees. Therefore, once again the urgent appeal to drink plenty of fluids and not risk starvation or to pull the emergency brake and get out if your body sends signals of discomfort.
Image: Volker Weihbold
“}”> Hand bikers and inline skaters start one after the other. Image: Volker Weihbold
At 8 a.m. the handbikers have the first say in the Ascendor Half Marathon. A small but fine field of participants of twelve aces tackles the route from the Voest Bridge. And quite quickly. An average speed of around 40 km/h is achieved when driving across Linz. The closest circle of favorites includes Paralympics champion Walter Ablinger and Europe’s Paratriathlete of the Year 2022, Florian Brungraber. For co-organizer LIVA, this is “inclusion in action”.
Just two minutes after hand bikers, the inline skaters powered by Fischer Brot get started. Around 100 protagonists from seven nations have registered for this race, including 71-year-old Tyrolean Hubert Opitz as the oldest participant.
The starting signal for the Linz AG quarter marathon will be given at 8:30 a.m., for which around 4,800 athletes have registered in advance.
At 9.30 a.m. the curtain rises for around 1,250 long-distance runners who will tackle the classic 42.195 kilometers in the Oberbank Marathon.
There are three long-running runners who have never missed a running festival in Linz and have previously completed all 21 marathons: Heinz Jagemann, Ewald Eder and Wolfgang Tronegger.
The fastest men in the field aim for the magical mark of 2:06:13 hours. This corresponds to the course record that Fikre Bekele from Ethiopia set in 2022.
Can it be even faster? Definitely. Some have what it takes. Above all, Goitom Kifle “Andebrhan” from Eritrea, who has a personal best of 2:05:28 hours.