Vienna City Marathon

Preparation for the Marathon 2020

I was excited to be hosting the 37th Vienna City Marathon that would have taken place today. Like last year, the marathon should have started on the Reichsbrücke and taken a route that passed the most beautiful sights of Vienna. In recent years, this marathon has developed into an international running focal point. Runners from more than 126 countries and a platform for numerous social and charitable projects. The entire team as well as the more than 40,000 participants were involved, and put their hearts and souls into it each year. Due to the current, omnipresent situation, the 37th VCM was cancelled in March.

Instead of a current report on the Vienna City Marathon 2020, let’s look back together at the “theatre of emotions” that took place in April 2019.

36th Vienna City Marathon on April 19, 2019

In April last year, I was part of the entertainment team and, together with DJ Stari, hosted the build up to the 36th Vienna City Marathon. We were already on duty at the starting point on the Reichsbrücke at 7.45 a.m., and were able to get almost 40,000 spectators into the right mood by the marathon’s 9.00 a.m start time. The atmosphere was fantastic, the air vibrated with tension. Elite marathon runners made their way to Vienna. The best runners of the Vienna City Marathon – Team Austria and many other well-known top marathon runners, signed a wall of autographs prior to the start. 

As you might know, the Vienna City Marathon is not only a marathon that takes place over 26.2 miles; at the same time a half marathon and a relay marathon start in several different rounds. The whole starting phase lasted until after half past nine. After that, I drove to the 3rd relay handover point at the Ernst Happel Stadium and moderated the handover at the 19th mile. What an emotional event! After a lap through the Prater, the runners passed me again about 2.5 miles before the finish line. At this point the runners have to rise above themselves, mobilize all their reserves once again and have only one goal in mind. Since I had just run the New York City Marathon 6 months prior, I still had the feeling very good in my head… and in my legs.

Relive the Atmosphere again

All in all it was a wonderful event with the best running weather. A festival for young and old… and above all, a theatre of emotions for all participants. Feel the emotional Highlights of the start once again.

Have you ever run a marathon before? Have you ever participated in a running event? What were your experiences and what adventures did you have? Share them with me here in the comments. I am looking forward to hearing from you!