Olympic starter wins half marathon – salzburg.ORF.at
Hollaus crossed the finish line four minutes behind Herzog. Eight weeks after his Olympic marathon performance in Sapporo (Japan), the 34-year-old Duke only recently started training again, so this half-marathon performance on Sunday was more of a training run for him than the hunt for a new personal best. Third place went to another Pinzgauer, Andreas Stöckl from Leogang. At the Vienna City Marathon on September 12th, Stöckl finished the half marathon race as the winner. Veronika Mutsch from Lower Austria won the women’s competition, followed by Verena Steger and Birgit Mittenbühler from Kuchl (Tennengau), the fastest from Salzburg.
The last marathon to date in Salzburg took place in May 2019 with 8,500 runners. This record run was suddenly stopped by the coronavirus break. More than two years later, the marathon organizers put together a smaller program at the “Lauf Sport Fest” in the Volksgarten, with a variety of sporting offers that are supported by the Salzburg clubs and associations.
“We know very well that a lot of people move, but right now it is difficult to bring them together. We also see how much they have shrunk at the international events. That will change again. It is important for our team that we get something moving again and we can do that quite well with the running festival in Salzburg, ”says organizer Johannes Langer.
“Running liberating even in lockdown”
The potential for larger events is there, as the past few months have shown that. “Running was very liberating and if you are physically fit, you got through this time better,” says runner Thomas Beran from Salzburg.
Olympic participant Peter Herzog from Saalfelden (Pinzgau), who will start in the half marathon on Sunday, confirms that the Salzburg Marathon was the door opener for his great running career: “It is extremely important that the events begin to flourish again. Even if it’s not easy, ”says Herzog.
Registrations for the next Salzburg Marathon possible
According to the organizers, it will take three years before the record numbers from the past can be reached again. The team will also use the experiences from the Vienna and Berlin marathons for Salzburg: “There are certain entry barriers to be organized. This is a significant additional effort and cost. But the rules are clear, we expect that to go in the direction of 2G. We are prepared for that, it will work, ”says Langer. Registrations for the Salzburg Marathon in mid-May 2022 are already possible.
Lauf.Sport.Fest.Salzburg
The classic Salzburg marathon weekend had to be canceled in the spring for the second time in a row due to Covid. That is why the organizers are looking forward to being able to focus on exercise for three days with the “Lauf.Sport.Fest.Salzburg” this weekend.