From the dance floor it’s now onto the running track

LINZ. “If you dance with me, I’ll start at the Linz marathon.” The deal between moderator Silvia Schneider and Oberbank general director Franz Gasselsberger at the Gala Night of Sports at the end of January will be completed on Sunday. The manager has done his part on the dance floor in the Brucknerhaus with confidence, now the Dancing Stars finalist will keep her promise on the running track. Schneider is a relay runner, Gasselsberger will complete the half marathon on Sunday. For the OÖ Nachrichten there was a question and answer pair run beforehand.

Sports gala night in the Brucknerhaus or walking through Linz – what is your first choice?

Sylvia Schneider: I’d rather be at the gala night of sports. I like to dance, I enjoy a successful ball night and I like the glamor and the big show, but I also like to keep my word. That’s why it’s time to lace up your running shoes and off you go. I also like to run regularly. Franz Gasselsberger: I do both with great pleasure. I’ve been trying to improve my skills on the dance floor for two years, and I’ve been running for more than 45 years.

At the Linz marathon there will be several small concerts along the route. What music gets you going?

S. Schneider: Boogie and Rock’n’Roll make me particularly fast. The fastest I run to is “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. F Gasselsberger: Good rock and pop music from the Rolling Stones or Status Quo is helpful.

Do you also need a good sense of rhythm as a runner?

S. Schneider: Naturally! When running, you have to find the perfect rhythm between breathing, running step and thoughts. It is a triad that only works in perfect harmony. Once you have reached it, you can walk forever. I had a runner’s high once. It was great. F Gasselsberger: Not necessarily, but especially over long distances it is important to get into a flow where running then works as if by itself. However, I always need a warm-up time of four to five kilometers.

Are there other parallels between dancing and running?

S. Schneider: The discipline, the stamina, the elegance. I’m not a particularly fast runner, but I enjoy the challenge. I also like the challenge of competitive dancing. But what impresses me most is the discipline that you need in all sports. I also box, and here the effort to get into a ring is more than great. F Gasselsberger: Both can help clear your mind. Running and dancing work quite well as a distraction, so you can concentrate on a sequence of steps or the pace and forget the worries of everyday life.

Will you have a partner at your side at the Linz Marathon or are you traveling as a “soloist”?

S. Schneider: I run in a relay. It’s my first sporting event of this kind and I’m really looking forward to this task. F Gasselsberger: For many years I have been traveling with my trainer and friend Gerhard Hartmann, the former marathon record holder. We will run together again on Sunday.

“Being there is everything” or “no pain, no gain” (“no pain, no gain”) – which motto suits your Linz running project better?

S. Schneider: Both in combination. For me, one doesn’t work without the other. I like to push myself. However, running is really not the supreme discipline in my vita. F Gasselsberger: Even as I get older and am already running my 20th half marathon in Linz, I always have a target time in mind. The last three or four kilometers can be painful, so I definitely leave my comfort zone.

Do you have any other sporting goals this year?

S. Schneider: I compete in some international dance tournaments with my dance partner Danilo Campisi, and I give my all in boxing training with professional boxer Michaela Kotaskova. She gives me the stamina I need to dance. Danilo makes me strong in terms of coordination for the ring. The perfect combo. F Gasselsberger: In summer I have planned a few mountain tours again, for example a circular hiking trail in the Dolomites or a tour in East Tyrol with the beautiful name “Hoch und Heilig”, which covers around 11,000 meters in altitude in nine days.

Please complete this sentence: I am looking forward to the Linz marathon, because …

S. Schneider: …I would like to surprise myself. F Gasselsberger: …there is always a unique atmosphere at the start and finish on the main square.

A tip from top runner Franz Gasselsberger for amateur runner Silvia Schneider?

F Gasselsberger: Before the run in Linz, she shouldn’t forget to do some stretching and strengthening exercises.

And what tip does top dancer Silvia Schneider have for hobby dancer Franz Gasselsberger?

Loosen up your hips, keep eye contact and invite you to the bar after the dance (laughs).