Energy, some snowflakes, record-breaking race: The 2nd VCM Winter Run on Sunday 19 January brought extra running energy to the Prater Hauptallee. 1,411 registered runners started the year with a sporty spirit. Over the distances of 5 km, 10 km, 15 km and half marathon, many of them gained momentum for a competition in the Vienna City Marathon on 5 and 6 April 2025. In the year of the running boom, many participants also celebrated top performances.
Cordula Lassacher stood out with a new Austrian (ÖLV) national U23 record of 34:29 minutes in the 10 km road race. ‘That makes me really happy and motivates me for further goals. All the more so as the conditions were not easy with cold and sometimes slippery ground,’ commented the 22-year-old from ATUS Knittelfeld. She significantly improved on the previous record of 34:55, which Larissa Matz set at the VCM Winter Run in December 2023. At the Wiener Städtische Half Marathon as part of the VCM on 6 April, Lassacher wants to show off on the 21.1 km course.
The U23 participant in the 2024 European Cross Country Championships ran most of the course in the Prater Hauptallee together with Lemuela Wutz (DSG Vienna), who stayed under the 35-minute mark for the first time in 34:39 minutes. She also wants to compete in the half marathon distance at the VCM.
With zero degrees and fog, light snowfall formed in the Prater, which also made the running course slippery in some places. Caution was required, especially in the area towards the Lusthaus and at the turns. This made the results achieved by all runners all the more impressive.
The day's winners at the 2nd VCM Winter Run
5 km: Timon Theuer 15:23 & Sandra Schauer 17:13
10 km: Lukas Novak 30:46 & Cordula Lassacher 34:29
15 km: Michal Puskar 55:03 & Carola Bendl-Tschiedel 63:20
Half marathon: Balasz Marx 1:09:15 & Zuzana Polohova 1:19:39
Other top Austrian runners made for a strong VCM Team Austria. These included Mario Bauernfeind (ÖBV Pro Team), who had a good test run over 10 km in 31:02 minutes after wisdom tooth surgery in December, and 16-year-old Elena Koller (DSG Vienna) in 18:15 minutes over 5 kilometres. The 22-year-old David Vollmann (LTC Seewinkel) was also very fast in 15:43 minutes.
Cold and fog, who cares? From the set-up team to the half marathon finishers, everyone gave their best and created a perfect push for the Vienna City Marathon. There were great running vibes in the Prater Hauptallee long after the finish. RAW Energy was on site again with the food truck to provide the runners and fans with bowls and drinks in addition to the running catering. All finishers received primroses - a touch of spring at the winter run.
Congratulations to the finishers & thank you to everyone who took part!
>> All Results
>> Photos from the 2nd VCM Winter Run
On 2 March we are organising your dress rehearsal for the Vienna City Marathon:
- Vienna Calling Half Marathon - Start Reichsbrücke
- 5 km & 10 km - start & finish Prater Hauptallee
The half marathon with start on the Reichsbrücke offers a great foretaste of the Vienna City Marathon five weeks later.
>> Information & Registration
Win 1 of 100 free entries for the 3rd VCM Winter Run
Are you already on the starting list for the Vienna City Marathon or Wiener Städtische Half Marathon 2025? Then register for the 3rd VCM Winter Run by 16 February 2025. You will automatically be entered into the prize draw for 100 free starting places. We will notify the winners and refund the entry fee for the winter run before the competition.
Take part and use the opportunity to do something good for your VCM form together with friends.
All events of the VCM Winter Running Series are officially AIMS-measured and part of the World Athletics Global Calendar.
