A mountain marathon from a single source

2023-07-01 19:06:00

Gmunden, 4.45 a.m.: No view on the viewing terrace. In the dense fog in front of the Traunsteinhaus, you can’t even guess that dawn has set in. But at least nothing can be heard yet. The thick raindrops that were pattering on the already smooth rocks didn’t materialize. Still.

At four o’clock in the morning the volunteers gathered at the highest refreshment point of the Traunsee mountain marathon. Music blares from the speakers, and those who have stayed here can dream of an AC/DC concert. The guests who will stop by today will not stay long. Water, cola, salt, maybe a warm soup. Then it goes on. Once around the Traunsee.

Raphael Miks is the first to bring light into the darkness. The Vorchdorfer arrives at the Traunstein following one hour, 56 minutes and 38 seconds. It’s 4:56. Just two minutes later, Schörflinger Markus Lemp reaches the hut at 1575 meters above sea level. Cheers, applause and rain. The locks open shortly following five in the morning. In the hours that follow, participants in the Traunsee mountain marathon will feel as if they are running in the lake and not around its shore.

The tide at the Spitzelstein

But that doesn’t seem to stop anyone from the “mountain marathon” adventure. “Sauwedda, deppades,” says one. “Hiep jo nix”, another. And the eventual winner Stefanie Gaul simply put on a rain poncho with a smile. It’s 63 kilometers and 4,500 meters in altitude before you can call yourself “King of the Lake”. And they should all be crowned today. Markus Lemp, who runs from Ebensse to the Feuerkogel in just one hour and two minutes and takes the lead there. But also those who take much more time – and at least from the early followingnoon are rewarded with the end of the deluge.

Only in Karbach nothing works anymore. The streams around the Spitzelstein have developed into flash floods on the lake shore, and the forest road is also affected. Too dangerous for organizers and participants. Anyone who has not passed the control point in time must give up. Anyone who has already reached the southern shore of Lake Traunsee can celebrate: folk festival atmosphere in the Kreh in Ebensee.

Bad weather, high spirits: that’s what’s going on at the 34th edition of the traditional marathon. And Markus Lemp pulls through: After 2022, the Schörflinger wins the total distance once more this year in 7:34:48. Stefanie Gaul is the first woman to reach the safe bank following 10:24:10.

At the finish at Rathausplatz, a wide variety of characters have gathered. They’re all just dirty. Full of mud, but also full of joy regarding what has been achieved. And a spectator probably hits the right note there: “They must all have a serious bird. But somehow casual.”

The results

Total distance Traunsee mountain marathon (Gmunden- Gmunden, 63km, 4500hm)

Men:

Markus Lemp, 7:34:48 Raphael Miks, 7:56:03 Lukas Vasold, 8:02:51

Women:

Stefanie Gaul, 10:24:10
Anita Mersnik, 10:54:28
Julia Evangelist, 11:08:08

Half-distance Traunsee mountain marathon (Gmunden-Ebensee, 33km, 2500m elevation gain)

Men:

Tomas Macecek, 3:52:33 Lukas Hufnagl, 4:25:01 Andreas Meingast, 4:37:59

Women:

Michaela Mandlbauer, 5:02:46
Andrea Zogsberger, 5:15:05
Maria Meingast, 5:22:14

Half distance Traunsee mountain marathon (Ebensee- Gmunden, 30km, 2000hm)

Men:

Lorenzo Beltrami, 2:50:52 Robert Jäger, 3:19:48 Gregor Hain and Andreas Lahninger, 3:21:12

Women:

Anja Neumann, 3:47:01 Sabine Schnölzer, 3:51:12 Sabine Stüger, 3:58:51

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Author

Gabriel Egger

Editor Upper Austria

Gabriel Egger

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#mountain #marathon #single #source