Race preview
Sunday 18 April 2010
The Karlskirche in Vienna (Photo: Karin Kacetl)
This is your marathon if you love classical music. 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. The entry fees for the full marathon range from 54 to 95 Euros, half marathoners pay 34 to 55 Euros, not including chip rental, T-Shirt or the carbo-loading party.
Nevertheless, the number of participants in the event has grown considerably, mainly due to the introduction of a half marathon and a marathon relay for teams of four runners.
In 2009, more than 13,000 runners clogged the course through Austria's capital city. Around 5,000 of them ran the full marathon (4,000 less than eight years before).
The course is very mildly undulating and interesting although you do some sections two or three times.
Country: Austria
Venue (Map): Vienna (Wagramer Strasse - Heldenplatz)
Date: 18 April 2010 (Sunday)
Race distance: 21km; 42km; 42km relay (4 runners)
Start: 9.00 Wagramerstrasse/UNO building/Reichsbrücke
Finish: Heldenplatz
Entries: online; by post or fax (only until 5 March), payment by credit card only; late entries at the marathon expo on 16 and 17 April; no entries on the day
Entry fees (21km): 34/39/50 EUR* (until 5 March/9 April/17 April)
Entry fees (42km): 54/69/90 EUR*
Entry fees (relay teams): 90/100/120 EUR*
*Handling fee: 5 EUR (for entries by post, fax or in person)
Timing: ChampionChip - use your own chip or rent a chip for 3 EUR (7 EUR deposit)
Race centre: Wiener Messe, Halle D, Trabrennstrasse, 1020 Wien (16 and 17 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 2009: 8086 (21km), 5021 (42km), 2107 marathon 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.
