The city of Mozart in running fever

The three-year break of the running festival in the city of Mozart is finally over. The comeback succeeds with an atmospheric runners' meeting of Salzburgers together with running enthusiasts from the other federal states and 60 nations. The focus is on the motivating togetherness in a peaceful setting, from a sporting point of view the ÖLV state championships in the marathon.

The desire to run was unbroken in the last two years, in some cases even increased. This is shown by various findings from surveys and analytical observations. The comeback of running together also brings the running festival in the city of Mozart back to the running stage. "For thousands of running enthusiasts, it is a great pleasure that the Salzburg Marathon is taking place with a top-class program after a three-year break," says Deputy Mayor Bernhard Auinger happily. The city of Salzburg has been a cooperation partner of the Salzburg Marathon since the very beginning of Salzburg's largest active sports event, a partnership that was also stable during the pandemic.

“Running connects!”

The comeback of running together is of particular importance for organizer Johannes Langer this year: "Finally we can garnish the desire to run again with the special experience factor - and all this at an atmospheric, international running event." The active week has already started with the first initiatives and program items and culminates in the varied competition program at the weekend. “Running connects!” emphasizes Langer, who in the past few months has increasingly felt the longing for the return of running together and the excitement and work towards competition goals from within the running scene.

Running festivals bring movement to the city

The comeback of the running festival brings running and the sporting atmosphere of the event back into Salzburg city life. "This major international event leads to the most beautiful sights in the lively city of Salzburg and motivates thousands of people to exercise even more - a very important stimulus," adds Auinger. dr Sandra Woglar-Meyer, Managing Director of the Salzburg Old Town Association, is looking forward to the fact that the old town of Salzburg will be dedicated to running for a week: “Fortunately, this top-class sporting event attracts many guests from Germany and abroad. The participants in the Salzburg Marathon and the other running competitions of the Running Festival in the City of Mozart will not only liven up the old town in a 'sporty' way in the coming days, they will also have a positive economic impact on the inner-city shops, hotels and restaurants. The good mix of goods and the wide range of culinary offerings in the unique ambience of the old town will ensure an eventful variety at the running festival.” The Salzburg Old Town Association has been a loyal partner and sponsor of the Salzburg Marathon since the beginning.

MMag. Bert Brugger, Managing Director of Tourismus Salzburg GmbH, who has also always been a loyal partner and sponsor of the Salzburg Marathon, directs the focus to the quality of experience at the running festival: “The attractiveness of cities depends to a large extent on the quality and uniqueness of their events, festivals and more specifically experiences. The Salzburg Marathon convinces participants as well as fans as a great overall experience and year after year also distinguishes Salzburg as the venue of this incomparable running festival.”

A running event of versatility

At the running weekend of the Running Festival in the City of Mozart, every need for running and every running goal finds its place in a diverse program of competitions and entertainment. “It has been important to us for many years to present the sport of running in its entirety. And that in the middle of the city with the unique connection between sport and culture as well as the guarantee of a wonderful backdrop and a great experience,” emphasizes Langer. The main competitions will take place on Sunday, May 15th - in addition to the 19th edition of the Salzburg Marathon with the ÖLV state championships and Austrian championships in the masters classes, there are the Sparkasse half marathon, the Hyundai relay marathon and the Hervis-10K Salzburg CityRun. The joint finish line for all Sunday competitions is in the Hofstallgasse in front of the Great Festival Hall, where the 10 km run, the first competition on Sunday, also starts at 8:45 a.m. The three other competitions get their starting signal at 9 a.m. (9:10 relay marathon) at Ferdinand-Hanusch-Platz with the starting line-up in Griesgasse.

On Saturday, May 14, the Volksgarten will be all about family, charity and emotions: the extensive grounds will be transformed into a large sports and exercise arena for the colorful sports palette. At 16 sports and exercise stations, supervised by sports associations and clubs, children and young people can experience various types of sports and exercise up close. The races of the junior marathon and the charity event #OneMileForASmile - Inclusion Run by Coca-Cola take place on the running track. The weekend program starts on Friday with the two-day SportMall in the Ice Arena and the Salzburg Women's Run in a sunset atmosphere in the Volksgarten. The Salzburg Women's Run is in its 14th edition and is firmly anchored as the first sporting highlight of the weekend with the 5.5 km run and the "Woman walks!" by Bio Austria over the same distance.

Marathon as big as 2019

From the very beginning of the history of the Salzburg Marathon, the Salzburger Sparkasse was on board as a loyal partner. Laura Zehetner, who is responsible for press work and market research at Salzburger Sparkasse, is looking forward to the motivating atmosphere radiated by the field of runners: "It's always a special highlight when our city turns into a stage for amateur runners up to and including performance-oriented and professional runners. Numerous participants will definitely experience their very personal #believeinyourself moment and prove what is possible when someone believes in themselves.”

The Sparkasse half marathon is the competition with the most participants of the weekend. The registrations for the marathon went particularly well, the dimensions of which even slightly exceed the registration result from 2019 and form an international field of participants with a strong focus on marathon guests from European countries. Langer looks back: “The start on Sunday marks the end of a long preparatory tour that we have been taking through many European countries since last summer and in recent weeks through the 'Salzburg is running!' campaign. connected with the runners at many running clubs in the city and state of Salzburg. With the nomination result, our concept is confirmed and the effort we put in is rewarded - an important motivational boost for us as the organizer to continue on this path in the coming years."

Wutti favorite for state championship title

The sporting highlight of the weekend is the Salzburg Marathon, during which the ÖLV state championships and Austrian masters class championships are held. The favorite for the women's title is Eva Wutti (SU TRI STYRIA), who, after a late start to training, has gotten into good shape through systematic training work in recent weeks and is aiming for the European Championship qualification for Munich at the Salzburg Marathon. A direct qualification is possible with a performance under 2:32:00 hours, with a good performance in Salzburg the Carinthian could also improve her world ranking position for the international championships in summer.

In the men's race, there could be an exciting three-way battle for the title of state champion. Mario Bauernfeind (KUS ÖBV Pro Team), who twice increased his half-marathon record this spring (most recently to 1:05:35 in Vienna), is entering his third marathon and is optimistic about his record of 2:29:23 hours to improve significantly. Isaac Toroitich Kosgei (TGW Zehnkampf Union) has already been national marathon champion twice, including in 2018, when the title was last awarded at the Salzburg Marathon. At that time he ran a time of 2:20:59 hours and crossed the finish line as second overall. In autumn 2021, the 41-year-old won the Three Countries Marathon with a personal best of 2:19:41 hours. The third medal candidate is Georg Wardrobe (runninGraz), fifth in the Graz Marathon in autumn in a time of 2:24:50 hours. A good two weeks ago he completed the half marathon at the Vienna City Marathon in 1:08:08 hours when Bauernfeind won.

A special team experience

The Hyundai relay marathon offers a special team experience and thus a powerful symbol for togetherness. Four runners split the marathon distance into two 15.2 kilometer stages and two 5.9 kilometer stages. Peter Herzog starts together with ski jumping team Olympic champion Jan Hörl and two amateur runners, who are drawn by Hervis in a competition, in a sports aid relay. “The running community is a big family and actually every running event is a team experience. But this one will be special,” says the Olympic participant and ÖLV marathon record holder. The premium mobility partner of the Salzburg Marathon, which has been on the domestic market for three decades, not only shares the passion for the community, but also for stamina and stamina with the participants of the running festival: "Further and faster - and the whole thing is climate-friendly. These are the parallels that describe the motto with which we support the running festival in the city of Mozart," explains Rasin Kamali, spokesman for Hyundai. “Sustainability is a top priority at the running festival – that suits Hyundai perfectly. All escort vehicles are emission-free on the road.”

Herzog, who is aiming for the European Cup over 10,000m at the end of May, did not want to miss his appearance at his home race. “This special competitive feeling together with thousands of runners is incredibly motivating and enriching. Running events stand for running together and mutual exchange among like-minded people,” said the Pinzgauer about important training kilometers with a start number. Kamali adds: “At the Hyundai relay marathon, the following applies: motivation, team spirit, cohesion, cheering, give everything for the team!