Vienna (Austria), Sunday 17 April 2011
The Karlskirche in Vienna (Copyright © 2010 Karin Kacetl)
Classical music aficionados will be crazy about this event. The tunes of Beethoven and Johann Strauss will pound out of the speakers at the start, on the course and at the finish.
It may be arguable whether classical music exerts a positive influence on performance in runners but those who focus on enjoyment and a leisurely pace will certainly love it. It may also help to slow down runners who tend to start too fast.
Naturally, you'll have to pay for this service. Entry fees for the marathon range from 55 to 90 euros, not including chip rental fees (3 euros), T-Shirt (ca. 30 euros) or the carbo-loading party (8 euros).
Nevertheless, the number of participants in the event has grown considerably, mainly through the introduction of a half marathon and a 4-person marathon relay.
In 2010, approximately 24,000 runners clogged the course through Austria's capital city. Around 5,000 of them ran the full marathon (4,000 less than nine years before).
Both marathon winners came from Kenya - Henry Sugut (2:08:40) and Hellen Kimutai (2:31:08).
The course is very mildly undulating and interesting, although you run some sections two times.
Country: Austria
Venue (Map): Vienna (Wagramer Strasse → Heldenplatz)
Date: 17 April 2011 (Sunday)
Race distance: 21.1km; 42.2km; 42.2km relay (4 runners: 16.1+5.7+9.1+11.3km)
Start: 9.00 Wagramerstrasse/UNO building/Reichsbrücke
Finish: Heldenplatz
Entries: by post or fax (until 4 March) or online (until 1 April 2011), payment by credit card; late entries at the marathon expo on 15 and 16 April; no entries on the day
Entry limit: 11000 runners (21km), 9000 (42km), 2500 relay teams
Entry fees (21km): 36/39/50 euros* (until 4 March/1 April/16 April)
Entry fees (42km): 55/69/90 euros* (until 31 December 2010/1 April/16 April)
Entry fees (relay teams): 90/100/120 euros* (until 4 March/1 April/16 April)
*Handling fee: 5 euros (for entries by post or fax)
Timing: ChampionChip - use your own chip or rent a chip for 3 euros (7 euros deposit)
Race centre: Wiener Messe, Halle D, Trabrennstrasse, 1020 Wien (15 and 16 April, 10.00-18.00)
You get: finisher medal, massage, transport of personal clothing to the finish, certificate by post
Showers: in the finish area
Number of finishers 2010: 9320 (21km), 5052 (42km), 2377 relay teams
Event website (in English and German): www.vienna-marathon.com
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.
