Salzburg organic village at the Salzburg Marathon

“More than 7,000 runners from 80 nations are ambassadors who spread the advantages of Salzburg and the region all over the world. 54% of the entire cultivation area in the state of Salzburg is used for organic cultivation. This puts the state of Salzburg in the top position within the European Union,” emphasizes Salzburg Marathon organizer Johannes Langer. The largest active sports event in the federal state, which has been pursuing a committed concept of sustainability for years, thus meets an optimal interface. "It is very important to me that the Salzburg Marathon is deeply rooted in the region." Therefore, the setting of a new organic focus as part of the "Get active days" 2017, which Langer sees as the "next milestone for high-quality nutrition, is ours Athletes” is an obvious step.



Goal: Eighth organic certification in a row

In 2010, the Salzburg Marathon was the first sporting event in Austria and the only marathon event in the world to be officially certified as organic. This award has been repeated in each of the past six years. It is also an important goal of the event this year. “Only organically certified raw materials and products may be used in the preparation of meals. This applies without exception to all the ingredients,” explains Ing. Hubert Schilchegger, head of organic certification at the SLK, which will carry out the inspection on the marathon weekend. "I think it's an exciting challenge that the Salzburg Marathon is taking on with the new Salzburg organic village," says Schilchegger.

"Bold Challenge"

As loyal partners, the Salzburg Marathon, Salzburger Agrar Marketing and Bio Austria have been going together for years. In the course of the new gastro concept, the cooperation was intensified. “I am really looking forward to the innovative implementation. The Salzburg organic village reflects exactly what the state of Salzburg is all about: regionality and organic. This is exactly what the guests who come to Salzburg expect. We know exactly how much more trouble-free a conventional tasting is. It is all the more courageous that the Salzburg Marathon accepts this fantastic challenge given the size of the event,” praises DI Andreas Schwaighofer, Managing Director of Bio Austria in Salzburg. Recognition also comes from Mag. Gerald Reisecker, Head of Salzburg Agricultural Marketing, and his predecessor Herwig Mikutta. "It is important to bring the message of this idea, the effort and the goodwill behind it, to the participants of the Salzburg Marathon, so that they fully appreciate this unique offer," says Mikutta.

Organic village in the spa garden

From May 5th to 7th, seven huts form the new Salzburg organic village in the spa garden. Clearly marked with "place-name signs", the participants in the sporting competitions as well as all spectators are directed to the tasting, which is unique in the context of a running event. In the Salzburg organic village, only dishes that meet the criteria of organic and regional cultivation as well as seasonal availability to 100% are offered. The five districts of Salzburg each represent a local specialty, the city of Salzburg represents the Stiegl-Alm, where participants and spectators can enjoy the organic Paracelsus beer. In the Salzburg organic village, only organic and regionally grown, seasonally available products are offered. All food that is handed out as part of the Salzburg Marathon and naturally cannot meet these criteria is either high-quality organic fair trade products (e.g. bananas and oranges) or is specially labeled as conventional food (e.g. drinks).

For the standard price of only 7.50 euros, participants and spectators can enjoy this unique culinary offer from May 5th to 7th. The starters at the Salzburg Marathon, at the Sparkasse Half Marathon and at the Hervis-10K Salzburg City-Run will find a voucher worth 5 euros in their starter packages. "I am convinced that the participants of the Salzburg Marathon will be really looking forward to this voucher in the starter bag. Running in front of a wonderful backdrop and then being able to enjoy a good meal as part of the event is a great combination,” Schwaighofer says happily.

Dynamic team of excellent chefs

Thomas Verwanger and a competent team of young and excellent chefs take care of the implementation. Fabio Winkelhofer, operator of the "Purebox" in the Panzerhalle in Salzburg, prepares the Lungau spring salad. He specializes in vegan and vegetarian nutrition. “The vegan Lungau spring salad is the ideal meal after physical activity. Thanks to the Lungauer Eachtlinge and the legumes, the dish provides important nutrients for regeneration. A smoked meadow mushroom foam, which takes its bacon aroma from beech wood, provides a grandiose taste.

Gerhard Schachner, head of Schachner&Pasta in the Panzerhalle in Salzburg, represents the Pongau with his special dish "Colourful, homemade pasta with meadow herb pesto". "Regionality and organic cultivation are the most important things for me, because that guarantees high-quality products. The pasta with meadow herb pesto not only offers the runners a light and nutritious meal, but pure spring!” he promises.

The highly talented pastry chef Martin Studeny, who recently qualified for the finals of the Chocolate World Championships in Paris, rewards the runners and spectators of the Salzburg Marathon with a caramelized curd cheese pancake with apple roaster (Pinzgau): "My philosophy is to use seasonal desserts, too and regionally available products. In addition, organic sugar is an elementary ingredient in my desserts.”

Thomas Verwanger, who came up with the idea for the new gastronomic concept at the Salzburg Marathon and hosted the press event last night in his creative workshop in the Colloredo brewhouse in Hallein, would like to use his food to appeal to those amateur runners who are preparing for the victims right after the want to reward them for achieving their goals with hearty Salzburg cuisine: "Wholemeal noodles and organic Gselches form a harmonious combination that optimally represents the Tennengau. And in order to cover the entire culinary spectrum in the Salzburg organic village, there is a high-quality organic meat loaf with organic potato salad from the Flachgau.” These two offers are aimed more at the spectators than at the athletes.