Linz Marathon: “Crossing the finish line is a real goose bumps moment”

“My wife will definitely be standing at the track and yelling ‘hop, hop, hop, you have to run faster’. You will be carried straight to the goal”, says Hans-Ingolf Ullrich. The 82-year-old from Seewalchen am Attersee proudly carries his Linz Donau Marathon bag and his start number through the TipsArena in Linz. “I have already run the half marathon in Linz 15 times. For the last three years, however, I’ve preferred to do the quarter marathon”, says the sprightly pensioner. However, the passionate runner has not set himself a time limit: “I’m already looking forward to the finish at Linz’s main square”he says jokingly.

Pick up numbers and tips

Numerous runners are waiting impatiently in front of the gates of the TipsArena on Ziegeleistraße in Linz. At 12 o’clock there is already a long queue in front of the start number issue. “Let’s get the numbers first and then we’ll have a look at the fair” – an idea that many had on Friday. “We’re really happy with the crowds here in the arena. On Saturday, too, many will take the opportunity to pick up their bib numbers”says Julia Kitzmüller from the LIVA marathon organization team.

• OÖN TV: Start of a brilliant marathon weekend

Already in sportswear and running shoes or still in a warm raincoat: The participants of the marathon on Friday and Saturday flock to the TipsArena not only for their start numbers. On these days, many get valuable tips from the experts in the sportswear industry and seek advice. “I can only advise everyone to use different running shoes during training to strengthen the leg muscles. And using a well-worn shoe for the marathon – a competition is not a good time for experiments”says stand operator Arnold Völkl.

Michaela Wendtner agrees with this opinion: “The feel-good factor when running is very important. Different shoes bring more variety to your training. And with the right shoes you can get a second or two out of it.” Which trend has now prevailed in running shoes: “The runners now clearly prefer the comfortable, cushioned shoes. That’s profitable”, says Volkl. And it is precisely this energy that many are after the long preparation period.

The joy of running comes first

Due to an injury, Maria Königsgruber from Bad Hall has to forego participation in the half marathon, but she does not want to miss the quarter marathon: “Everything is perfectly organized, which makes participation all the more fun. When you then cross the finish line, it’s a real goose bumps moment.”

This is exactly the moment that around 11,000 competitive athletes and amateur runners will share on Sunday when they cross the finish line after one of the seven competitions of the 21st Oberbank Linz Donau Marathon.

The weather conditions don’t look rosy at the moment, but the joy of running continues in Linz: “We look at the weather forecast every day. But we are very confident that it will be dry on Sunday”says Julia Kitzmüller.

“It just has to be fun, then it just runs itself. I’m definitely looking forward to my very first half marathon – and at home at that”says runner Betina Frank.

Roadblocks and diversions on Sunday

The preparations begin on Sunday at 4 a.m., from this point on the Mühlkreisautobahn (A7) between Prinz-Eugen-Straße and Dornach will be closed until noon. From 5.30 a.m. traffic in the city will also be restricted. The A7 is bypassed in the direction of Freistadt via the Voest exit, in the direction of the A1 near Treffling. The diversion route leads via Aigengutstraße and Franckstraße to the Steyreggerbrücke.

The Industriezeile, Rudolfstraße and the Nibelungen Bridge, which will be opened to traffic on one side, will remain passable. The Obere Donaulände, the Römerberg tunnel and the Ebelsberg bypass are also exempt from the closures.

The best parking is at the Plasser & Theurer car park, shuttle buses take the runners to Holzstraße to get to the start at the Voestbrücke.