Professional Peter Herzog wants to run as fast, amateur Heinrich Pilch as long as possible.
"It's become a bit of an addiction," says Heinrich Pilch about his sporting "vice. Tomorrow, when the 19th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon takes place, he will once again be taking part in the 42.195 kilometer race for the very same time. The fact that he is still running at the age of 67 commands the respect of even a professional like Austria's marathon record holder Peter Herzog.
The Salzburg native will lace up his running shoes in Linz in the relay marathon with three winners of a kilometer challenge organized by his sponsor Hyundai. For Herzog, who pushed the red-white-red best to 2:10:06 hours in October 2020, it is an important assessment of his position for the marathon in Valencia in December. "I'll really get into it," says the 34-year-old, who came to running as a late-comer via biathlon and cycling-trialsport. The fact that he has already clocked up a whopping 200 kilometers this week should not go unmentioned. However, despite the high workload, the sport does not become a torture. "I still have as much fun as on the first day."
That also seems to be the case for endurance runner Pilch, because he has never let it take away his enjoyment despite the thoroughly challenging distance. "Unlike many of my colleagues, I haven't become dogged; for me, it's primarily about getting through." He has already taken part in major city marathons in Los Angeles, London or Barcelona, but he still prefers to contest his home race in Linz. "It's just nicest at home," says Pilch, who arrives at the start early in the morning on his bike and jets home satisfied after the running work is done. And yet he's a low man. Anyone who has run 60 marathons in addition to 18 in Linz and has also finished the legendary Ironman in Hawaii leads a very eventful life.
Top runners like Herzog also like it when he can mingle with people at races like the one in Linz. "For me, that's also what makes the marathon so appealing. Whether amateur or professional, everyone has the same goal at the end of the day. It creates an insanely positive atmosphere." One that Pilch plans to enjoy for many more years. "I'd definitely like to be around for the next ten years," says the Linz native. Herzog is also not concerned with his expiration date. "2024 in Paris is once again my very big goal for the time being. I would like to experience the Olympic Games in a different form than this year in Tokyo."
Today, 9 a.m.: Marathon fair in the TipsArena Linz (late entries still possible there/valid 3-G proof required)
From 12 noon: Junior Marathon LIVA-Sportpark Linz-Lissfeld
6 p.m.: Marathon Mass in the Ursulinenkirche Linz.
Sunday, 8 a.m.: Start Handbike Half Marathon Vöest-Brücke Linz
8:02 a.m.: Start inline skating half marathon (both events finish in Wiener Straße)
8.30 a.m.: Start quarter marathon
9.30 a.m.: Start marathon, half marathon and relay competition (all with finish at Hauptplatz Linz).
Source: OÖ Nachrichten
