Service: Experienced endurance athletes like Harald Schrenk from Linz are loyal companions and pacemakers on the 42.195 kilometers
Those who complete a marathon in Linz on April 16 can once again rely on a great service. The pacemaker suitable for the target time set is ready and waiting.
Julia Kitzmüller from the Linz Marathon Office, who coordinates the pacemakers and gives the men their legs, explains the details: "We're delighted to be able to offer the marathon pacemakers as a service for our participants again in 2023. This includes nine running enthusiastic athletes who already have many years of pacemaking experience. They are available for the marathon finish times of three to five hours at quarter-hour intervals and are equipped with a yellow T-shirt and a pacemaker flag on marathon day."
By the way: an advance opportunity to get to know the pacemakers is available at the race number distribution on April 15 at 1 p.m. in the TipsArena Linz.
The advantages of a pacemaker are quickly explained. At the beginning of a marathon, inexperienced runners often tend to over-pace. The fast initial pace then ensures that they often run out of steam in the last quarter.
The work of the pacemaker therefore requires a high degree of accuracy. "I have to run an average of 4:15 minutes per kilometer, two seconds up or down are still possible, but the key to success is uniformity," says Linz-born Harald Schrenk, who completes the dozen as a pace setter in April, traditionally leading the three-hour group.
Schrenk, an absolute master of his craft, doesn't even need any modern helpers for this. "I have a feeling of how fast we are going. I've also tried the modern GPS watches that show you the pace, but the constant looking only makes you nervous. It always went best when I trusted my inner clock, which is trained from all the training," says Schrenk.
He is particularly enthusiastic about Linz every year. "The whole thing starts already in the preparation with the regular running meetings. It's like a marathon family, you stick together."
When the 21st edition of the Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon takes place on April 16, several partners will be actively helping to ensure that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. As a reliable service partner and name sponsor of the popular quarter marathon, Linz AG has been a proven pacesetter at the biggest running event in Upper Austria since the very beginning.
The motivated team is also in top form this year: Thanks to its wide-ranging expertise, it ensures the supply of energy and water, waste disposal and the best possible maintenance of public transport. In addition, the company's sports club is in charge of the Labestelle in front of the Linz AG Center. 200 of the company's employees will once again take part in the marathon's various running events.
"As a leading regional utility company, Linz AG makes a decisive contribution to the high quality of life in and around Linz 365 days a year. In addition to supplying people with water, energy, public transport and numerous services, selected sports sponsorship complements the broad range of activities. After all, sport connects people and is an important part of a healthy life," says General Director Erich Haider.
Source: nachrichten.at
Photo: Klaus Mitterhauser
