Only winners at the newly designed Junior Marathon in the Linz Stadium.
At the Tips Arena in Linz, young runners were able to compete and also have fun at the start of the marathon weekend. The day before the main competition, 2,400 children gathered to run like the big boys. The competitions had already been booked up for weeks.
Finely considered children's race has its premiere
With a retread concept and a new sponsor, the OÖGKK, the Junior Marathon 2017, powered by ORF Radio OÖ, was held. The organizers have adapted the routes 2017 according to sports medical, scientific and psychological criteria to the age groups. A new addition was that accompanying persons were no longer allowed to run with the children. "The revised concept for the junior marathon has been a complete success and has proven itself in the best possible way," says LIVA board member Mag. Thomas Ziegler about the changes to no longer allow accompanying persons to participate. Also OÖGKK chairman Albert Maringer is pleased about a successful children's competition. "Children having fun at the event and participating with joy is exactly what we expected," said Maringer. "The youngest (born in 2012, 2013, 2014) were given their own arena without timing, employees of the organization looked after the children in the arena. Each child also received a participation medal," explains LIVA Marathon coordinator Mag. Wolfgang Lehner. The distances were extended here partly clearly, since from view of the organizers and experienced child coaches less stress for the children develops, if these can run longer and no ranking takes place. The course length for the youngest: 60 - 180 meters. The birth years 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 ran 210 meters, the other four birth years 420 meters and the birth years 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 then ran 2.1 kilometers. Here the distances were significantly reduced to increase the motivation of the children to participate in healthy running.
Beautiful weather ensures numerous late entries
Further late entries for the running events of the main competition on Sunday, April 9 were possible on Friday and Saturday. The final tally at the official closing date for entries was one of the best in the history of the Linz Marathon, with 19,300 participants. "This shows us quite clearly that the Linz Marathon has always evolved over the past 16 years and is well appreciated by the runners," says LIVA VD Thomas Ziegler. "Our efforts to deliver optimal service and quality for the participants are being rewarded," emphasizes LIVA Marathon Coordinator Wolfgang Lehner.
To the pictures Pictures: Klaus Mitterhauser, free of charge, copyright requested
Caption: The newly designed children's run without accompanying persons was a complete success. Accompanying runner Günther Weidlinger spurs on the little ones.
