Running has been an important topic in the past two years as an alternative exercise during the CoV restrictions. However, the popularity of large running events suffered greatly and sports organizers came under increasing pressure or are still feeling the aftermath.
Wachau marathon organizer Michael Buchleitner can also welcome only 5,000 participants to the 23rd edition this year instead of the usual 8,000 to 10,000. “Corona is still an issue and there are many people who avoid big events and also many who should not run on medical advice,” Buchleitner explained the decline in participants and also pointed out that the current economic situation is also having negative effects.
Half marathon remains a magnet for participants
The traditionally strongest distance is the half marathon again this year, which again starts in Spitz (Krems district) and attracts more than half of the participants. On the one hand in mass sports, where the Wachau can continue to score as a backdrop for one of the most beautiful landscape runs in Austria. On the other hand, the fast route along the Danube has also made a name for itself in the international running scene over the years. The current course record set by Kenyan Peter Kirui in 2016 is 59.53 minutes.
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“It remains to be seen whether it will happen so quickly this year. There are few times that were run in Austria that were so fast. But in the elite area we have athletes at the start who can aim for the 60 minutes and on good days it might be faster,” says Buchleitner.
The elite field is small this year, but fine. The two Kenyans Simon Dudi Ekidor and Simon Mwangi Waithira set the pace for the men. Teresiah Kwamboka Omosa and Morine Gesare Michira, both also from Kenya, should set the best times for the women.
B3 closed until 4 p.m. on Sunday
Since the Wachau marathon will be run on public roads as usual, there will also be traffic delays on Sunday. The marathon in Emmersdorf (Melk district) and the half marathon in Spitz do not start until 10:00 a.m., but the B3 is closed from this section from 8:00 a.m. and will not be released again until around 4:00 p.m.
The city center of Krems in the area of the ring road is then also reserved for runners. The finish area for all competitions is in the Stadtpark. The secondary roads around the park will reopen to traffic from 5 p.m. The other bank of the Danube between Mautern (Krems district) and Melk can be reached via the B33.