The Linz Danube Marathon counts more and more female participants who are enthusiastic about running, also thanks to the campaign initiated for the first time in 2018.
What is obvious at the regular running meetings is also noticeable in the registrations for the big running festival on October 24 in Linz: women are on the advance in the starting fields of the various running events of the Linz Marathon Weekend.
This is no coincidence, but the result of the "Frau läuft" (Women Run) initiative launched by Oberbank and the Women's Department of the Province of Upper Austria. The joint campaign was initiated in 2018 and has already been able to motivate many additional female runners to participate. "We are pleased that more and more ladies are also caught up in the running fire," Oberbank General Manager Franz Gasselsberger is enthusiastic. Gasselsberger justifies the high social significance with two essential aspects: "Firstly, there is no sport in which you burn more calories in the same amount of time, and secondly, running is a very good way to do something for your health together."
In 2019, 173 ladies successfully finished the entire marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers at the last edition, an all-time high. This year, under the motto "Do something good for yourself," 50 Eurothermen wellness boxes worth a total of 2,500 euros will be raffled off among all female runners, and specially created running shirts will be distributed at the Marathon Expo in the TipsArena Linz (October 22-23). "Regular exercise is an essential part of a health-conscious life and an effective preventive measure.
A man or woman can run anytime, anywhere, without much preparation. But running in a group at a major event like the Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon is a completely different, a very special experience. We hope that the 'Frau läuft' campaign will inspire even more women to take part in this experience," says Deputy Governor Christine Haberlander (VP), emphasizing the importance of the initiative.
Incidentally, a recent study by "RunRepeat" analyzed more than 2.3 million international marathon results from 2009 to 2019 and took a close look at the pacing of women and men. Among other things, it showed that men's average running speed was reduced by 14.07 percent in the second half of the marathon, compared to just 11.49 percent for women. And while the men had the faster finishing times, the women ran their pace more consistently.
Source: Upper Austrian News
Photo: Klaus Mitterhauser
