For the second time, the young athletes showed great joy and ambition at the LIVA Sportpark Lissfeld. The Junior Marathon was the prelude to an exciting marathon weekend in 2022, with the focus on the fun of movement for the „Minis“ at the ÖGK Junior Marathon powered by ORF Radio OÖ.
1,200 children and young people eager to run gave free rein to their urge to exercise at the fully booked ÖGK Junior Marathon powered by ORF Radio OÖ at the LIVA Sportpark Lissfeld on Saturday - one day before the main competition of the 20th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon despite a light drizzle. And they are all winners. The concept of the mini-arena without timing for the youngest participants, developed five years ago with sports science in mind, ensured maximum fun without judging.
Since 2017, the Austrian Health Insurance Fund has been a sponsor of the Junior Marathon powered by ORF Radio Upper Austria. "Countless experts explain how important sufficient exercise is for health. As ÖGK, we go one step further: children who exercise a lot lay the foundation for an active and healthy lifestyle later on at an early age. We want to actively support this and will continue to do so in the coming years," says Albert Maringer, Chairman of the ÖGK Regional Committee for Upper Austria, who is pleased with the high level of participation in the youth competition.
Being there is everything for the little ones
The ÖGK Junior Marathon powered by ORF Radio OÖ was held on Saturday afternoon in four competitions and 15 age groups.
The specially built running oval, the "Mini Arena", in the LIVA Sportpark Lissfeld was the venue for the second time. There, in partly rainy running weather and temperatures of around 14 degrees Celsius, the "Minis" of the years 2019, 2018 and 2017 first tested themselves in small groups over distances of 60 to 180 meters. The concept, which was developed according to sports medicine and psychological criteria without time measurement, focuses on the fun of moving together. Because being there is everything. The youngest runners don't need to be timed.
"For our youngest runners, it's not the best time that counts, but the Olympic motto: 'Faster. Higher. Stronger. Together'. Quite a few participants later find their way from the Junior Marathon to the races of the 'big ones'. The children's game on the day before the marathon Sunday is a family festival dedicated to the joy of movement. Not only taking part, but also watching is a real pleasure," says Karin Hörzing, the deputy mayor of Linz responsible for sports.
Mascot run as a perfect mood setter
Between the 2017 and 2016 cohorts, the mascot run over the distance of a full lap started in the mini-arena of the LIVA Sportpark Lissfeld. Eight mascots competed for the favor of the spectators and provided numerous laughs with funny interludes. Led by LiMa (Linz Marathon Lauffeuer), Mostdipf (ÖON), Sebastian (LINZ AG Grottenbahn), Wättchen (LINZ AG Strom), Scharli (LINZ AG Wasser), Flöwi (Generali), Tina Turtle (LINZ AG Bäder) and Hopsi Hopper (ASKÖ OÖ), the mascots created a good atmosphere for young and old.
Voices of parents and little winners: "This year everything is even better organized. Finally, we as parents are very close to the run of our children!"
"The cheering for the children is now much better due to the immediate proximity to the running track!"
"There is a relaxed and relaxed atmosphere here. Everything is really great organized."
"Albert was already the second time there. The event is wonderfully successful." "The fact that the little ones are so super cared for is really classic. It makes everyone feel like a winner."
"It was great that this year the award ceremonies took place right after the running events. Finally, no more long waits!"
"It was great how smoothly the award ceremonies worked this year. I was really flabbergasted how it was perfectly organized."
"It was really cool, mom and my big siblings kept their fingers crossed for me and cheered me on loudly." "It's really fun. Next year we'll definitely participate again."
Parents even closer to the running course than before
"It's important that the children are encouraged to exercise. At the same time, however, little pressure should be put on them. The mini-arena at LIVA Sportpark Lissfeld offers space for this and the children obviously enjoy it. The little ones are just as happy, even if the clock is not running. In this way they are slowly introduced to competition and stay involved in the Linz Marathon and running. The best example of this is Kevin Kamenschak from Linz who is aiming for victory in the quarter marathon this year and already got a taste of competition in 2009 at the children's marathon. Happy and enthusiastic children's faces are the best reward for the efforts in the run-up to the organization. This year we brought the parents even closer to the course to make it easier to cheer them on. We also held the award ceremonies in three blocks immediately after the running events to reduce waiting times for the little ones. It's also important to me that everything went off without any injuries," emphasized a happy Linz Marathon coordinator Günther Weidlinger.
On a course length of 380 meters, the "kids" born between 2016 and 2013 followed from 1 p.m., ahead of the "juniors" born between 2012 and 2009. The last competition was run from 3:50 p.m. by the youthful "teens" (born between 2008 and 2005) with a 2.1-kilometer lap around the grounds and surroundings of the Lissfeld Sports Park. At the finish line, all participants were rewarded with a great finish gift, a finisher medal immediately after crossing the finish line, and T-shirts sponsored by ÖGK.
LIVA Sportpark Lissfeld
Every year, more than 200,000 enthusiastic amateur athletes take advantage of the wide range of activities on offer at one of the three sports parks Lissfeld, Auwiesen and Pichling run by LIVA Linzer Veranstaltungsgesellschaft in the south of Linz. Together with the TipsArena on the Gugl, they form the "sporting spearhead" of LIVA, which has also been shaping the cultural life of the Upper Austrian capital for almost 50 years with the renowned Brucknerhaus concert hall on the Donaulände, the "Zeitkulturtempel" Posthof at the harbor and the Kuddelmuddel children's cultural center in the city center.
From tennis to miniature golf, the sports parks offer Linzers barrier-free access to all kinds of sporting activities all year round. Lissfeld, with its 56,000m2, is the largest of the LIVA sports facilities. Renovated and expanded in 2008/09, the facility offers space for four outdoor clay tennis courts, four indoor tennis courts, a squash box, a badminton hall, indoor and outdoor beach volleyball, soccer, baseball, fistball, indoor basketball, indoor handball, indoor soccer, miniature golf, a sauna and an indoor skate park.
Main competition promises exciting battle for new best time
The Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon also sees itself as a service marathon: this is shown by the fact that the organizers were still available on site in the TipsArena on Friday and Saturday, i.e. until shortly before the start of the main competition, for late entries at short notice. The provisional final number of participants at the official closing date was 9,930 at the time of going to press and before the end of the late registration period. Today, Saturday, late entries are still possible until 6:00 p.m.
"It turns out that, despite the autumn deadline, quite a few last-minute registrants are still registering. After the end of the registration period, we will be able to give concrete numbers of participants. What is certain is that a committed field of running enthusiasts will once again take to the starting line in Linz. The curve of participants is clearly pointing upwards after two pandemic years. Compared to last year, we can report a gratifying increase of around 20 percent in the number of participants. In addition, the recent major commitment of main sponsor Oberbank makes it possible this year to set up a dense and top-class elite field with 14 runners and four pacemakers. This means that the battle for a new best time in Linz can be taken up. The weather also promises optimal running conditions," says LIVA authorized signatory, Mag. (FH) Wolfgang Scheibner, Head of Human Resources & Organization. "The Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon is always a sporting highlight in the calendar of the many running enthusiasts. It's an event that puts Linz in the spotlight - far beyond the city's borders - and offers scope for top sporting performances. The concept for the Junior Marathon, which was newly developed five years ago, has been perfectly implemented and has proven its worth. With the venue at the LIVA Sportpark Lissfeld, relaxed participation and fun at the competitions are guaranteed for the children. This is also shown by the many positive feedbacks and the regularly fully booked event", emphasizes Mayor Klaus Luger.
