Maximum fun with exercise for the "Minis" at the OÖGKK Junior Marathon powered by Radio OÖ in the Linz stadium to kick off the 2018 marathon weekend.
The way is not only the goal for the big ones. The OÖGKK Junior Marathon powered by Radio OÖ in the Linz stadium was completely booked out with 2300 children and young people eager to run in bright sunshine on Saturday, one day before the main competition of the 17th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon. The concept of a mini-arena without timing for the youngest participants, developed by sports scientists last year, ensures maximum fun without pressure for the young runners and enthusiasm not only among the parents. After years of support, the Upper Austrian Regional Health Insurance Fund was the main sponsor of the Junior Marathon for the first time in 2017. The implementation was a complete success. Therefore, OÖGKK has decided to be a partner of the "OÖGKK Junior Marathon powered by Radio OÖ" for three more years starting this year. This cooperation also stands for the many advantages of supporting children and young people in sports. "Children who exercise a lot lay the foundation for an active and healthy lifestyle later on at an early age," says Albert Maringer, chairman of the OÖGKK, who is delighted about the high level of participation in the youth competition.
Fun at the participation in the center
Accompanied by the Marathon Expo sports fair taking place at the same time in the TipsArena and bib distribution for the main event on Sunday, the OÖGKK Junior Marathon was held on Saturday afternoon in four events and 15 age groups in the Linz stadium.In the specially constructed running oval of the "Mini Arena", the "Minis" born in 2015, 2014 and 2013 first tested themselves in small groups on course lengths of 60 to 180 meters in bright sunshine starting at noon. As the concept without time measurement and award ceremony, which was developed last year according to sports medical and psychological criteria, once again proves, this takes the pressure off all participants and puts the fun of moving together in the deserved focus. Voices of parents and little winners: "For children, such a big event always means stress. Here, everything is super organized and everything runs in such a relaxed manner... We are already looking forward to next year!", "This is the first time we have taken part with the children. It's really fun. We'll be back next year, whatever the weather. There's no such thing as bad weather!", "We're not really runners ourselves, but we want to teach the little ones to enjoy exercise.", "I'll be back next year! The medal is really cool and the bouncy castle too!", "This is my 5th year. It is always so great". "It is important that the children are encouraged to move, but that there is little pressure on them. The mini-arena offers space for this and the children obviously enjoy it. In this way they are slowly introduced to competition and stay involved in the Linz Marathon or running in general. Happy and enthusiastic children's faces are the best reward for the efforts made in the run-up to the event in terms of organization," Linz Marathon coordinator Günther Weidlinger is also convinced. On a course length of 210 meters, the "Kids" of the 2012-2009 age groups followed from 13:00, ahead of the "Juniors" of the 2008-2005 age groups with 420 meters. The last event was run by the young "Teens" (born 2004-2001) at 3:30 p.m. with a 2.1-kilometer lap out of the stadium onto the Linzer Gugl and back. At the finish line, a great refreshment station, a participation medal and certificate as well as a T-shirt sponsored by the OÖGKK awaited all participants. Congratulations!
Record number of registrations for the main competition
The fact that the Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon also sees itself as a service marathon is shown by the fact that the organizers were still available on site in the TipsArena for last-minute late entries until shortly before the start of the main event on Friday and Saturday. The final tally at the official entry deadline was already more than 20,000 participants as of press time, making it the highest in the history of the Linz Marathon. "The Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon once again transforms our city into the largest running sports stage in the country. More than 20,000 runners tackle approximately 250,000 kilometers during the marathon weekend, theoretically circumnavigating the globe a full six times. I am delighted to be able to make my own small contribution to these impressive figures and to be able to experience the electrifying atmosphere along the route at first hand in the relay competition. From the junior marathon, in which the youngest runners once again distinguished themselves as true 'Gugl Heroes', to initiatives to promote exercise such as 'Frau läuft' (Women Run), with which we want to light the running fire in even more women, the marathon has developed into an important event for both popular and professional sports. And thanks to the efforts of many supporting forces, the supply and logistics marathon at the annually growing event also succeeds in an exemplary manner" (Vice Mayor Karin Hörzing, Sports Officer of the City of Linz) The challenges to the event marketing of such a large event are of course always enormous. I am therefore very proud of the ideally networked cooperation in logistics between LIVA and Design Center, which runs like clockwork. I am also very pleased that we will be able to exceed the 20,000 runners mark this year" (Thomas Ziegler, Managing Director LIVA & Managing Director Design Center).
To the press photos of the OÖGKK Junior Marathon 2018
