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Marathon is booming virtually despite Corona in Frankfurt

AOn the day originally reserved for the 2020 Frankfurt Marathon, Katharina Steinruck also started in the morning. For the first time since her two-week vacation this month, the long-distance specialist from LG Eintracht had a slightly faster training task over ten kilometers on Sunday. The 31-year-old joined forces with the other participants in the virtual race that the organizers led by Jo Schindler had initiated as a replacement for the real marathon that fell victim to the coronavirus crisis. A total of 4674 runners took part. 1084 of them said they had enough motivation to complete the 42.195 kilometers long classic course, the others left it with a half marathon, ten or five kilometers.

Emergency solution in times of crisis

Nobody checked it, which is why there was no list of results. The athletes themselves measured time and distances with watches on their wrists and were asked to share their results as well as their experience on social media using the hashtag #runtheskylineathome. “Of course, we would have preferred not to have had to hold such a virtual marathon,” says Schindler. But he was “very satisfied” with the response. Runners from 56 different nations fulfilled the “Running world takes part” project, which the racing world takes part.

“We didn’t just want to say goodbye by canceling the marathon, but rather offer something to our fan base at the same time,” explains Schindler. For the first time since he took over responsibility for the major event in 2002, which recently moved more than 27,000 athletes, he was able to run himself and registered with five kilometers. The donation gate, which otherwise stands in favor of the wishing cart of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund at the main guard and which every runner can pass through and thus make a contribution, was opened on the Internet and booked 1,800 euros by Monday.


Every step counts: mass races are unthinkable during the pandemic and alternatives are needed.
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Bild: Picture-Alliance

The marathon organizers did not benefit financially from the commitment. Of the 7,000 or so runners who had already paid their entry fee for the real race, almost 1,000 were chosen to be “marathon rescuers” by not asking for the sum back. Others were satisfied with the voucher that was valid for three years to participate in a different edition or agreed with the agency in another way. According to Schindler, not everyone has yet indicated whether they agree with the solution offered. A balance can therefore not yet be drawn.

Planning for the next year

At motion events, they are already busy planning for the next year and the 39th edition of the traditional event on October 31, 2021, which will then be caught up. The increasing number of infections with the Covid-19 pathogen worries Schindler and his team. But a solution seems to have been found for the spectator tracking problem that “broke the neck” of the marathon this year, should the need arise. When registering, the participants indicate their companions and their data. Anyone who wants to watch beyond that can register and receive a QR code to enter the visitor zones, which are intended for the most attractive spots and spaces.

More than 850 runners have already submitted their registrations for next year’s marathon race within the first 24 hours. “There were never so many at the time,” says Schindler. “I didn’t expect that.” The promise of title sponsor Mainova, who extended his contract by four years last week, gives additional courage. Other partners would have simply hung on for a year after the end of the 2020 marathon. The loan of 400,000 euros that Schindler took out will be repaid gradually. “We are going into the next year optimistically,” says the running organizer, “and will then be able to experience the marathon again as we love it.”

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