Half marathon with Reichsbrücke start raises anticipation for Vienna City Marathon
Austria's top runners together with the running community on Vienna's Reichsbrücke: The ‘Vienna Calling’ half marathon on Sunday, 2 March provided a huge boost of motivation for the final phase of preparation for the Vienna City Marathon (VCM).
Five weeks before the Vienna City Marathon, a record number of participants took part in this event of the VCM winter running series. 1,815 finishers cheered at the finish line, including the 5km and 10km events. ‘We have raised the quality of the VCM Winter Runs to a new level with many happy participants. The running boom is also clearly noticeable at these events in the run-up to the Vienna City Marathon. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this,’ says VCM Managing Director Dominik Konrad.
With costumed runners, carnival doughnuts at the finish line and top running conditions, the mood was high. On a bright and partly spring-like day, Austrian and international runners also put in top-class sporting performances.
Successful comeback for Andreas Vojta
Half marathon winner Andreas Vojta (team2012.at) made a pleasing comeback to the competition in 1:05:52 hours. After a period of health uncertainty, during which he only completed basic training, he was satisfied with his test run: ‘Above all, I wanted to find my rhythm today. It was a good assessment of where I stand and a great training stimulus. Now I know that I can aim for a marathon start in the spring,’ he commented at the finish. Not far behind in second place, Johannes Pell (TriRun Kaiser) improved his personal best to 1:06:22. For him, it is already clear: ‘I want to run under 2:20 hours at the VCM.’
Swiss champion shines in Vienna
Michelle Schaub from LC Basel, the 2023 Swiss half marathon champion, put in a strong performance as the women's winner in 1:14:09 hours. Although she missed her best performance by a few seconds, she was in very good spirits after her trip to Vienna: ‘The course was beautiful, the atmosphere was great. It was brilliant how the other runners cheered you on,’ said Schaub.
Yet another record run by Cordula Lassacher
In second place, Cordula Lassacher (ATUS Knittelfeld) once again delivered a top performance. In 1:16:18 hours she improved the ÖLV U23 record by 15 seconds. This was her second U23 record this year. At the VCM Winter Run in January, she set a 10 km record of 34:29 minutes. ‘I started very well in a group and a little faster than planned. The last four kilometres were really tough. Beforehand, I couldn't really estimate what was possible over the half marathon distance. It's great that I managed a good time and that it turned out to be a record. A huge motivation for me,’ she said at the finish. Lassacher's sporting focus this year is on the 10,000 metres. On the VCM weekend, she will compete in the Vienna 5K on Saturday 5 April.
Larissa Matz knew: ‘This will be my day’
In the 10 km run with start and finish in the Prater Hauptallee, the performances of the winners stood out. Larissa Matz (ULC Riverside Mödling), the previous ÖLV U23 record holder in the half marathon and over 10 km, showed off with a great personal best of 33:54 minutes. ‘I was a bit doubtful at first today. After 2 kilometres I realised that things were going well and I felt that this was going to be my day,’ she said at the award ceremony. She beat her old best from the VCM Winter Run in December 2023 by 1:01 minutes.
Men's winner Peter Durec from Slovakia even stayed under the 30-minute mark in 29:58 minutes. Second-placed Felix Geieregger (run2gether) achieved a personal best time of 30:32 minutes. Over 5 kilometres, obstacle specialist Lena Millonig was ahead in 16:26 minutes. Markus Reißelhuber won the men's race in 15:00 minutes.
VCM partner adidas was at the finish with a mobile test station for the latest running shoes.
A food truck from RAW Energy was on site with bowls and drinks.
The opportunity to run exactly where tens of thousands of runners will experience the start passage of the marathon event at the VCM on 6 April makes the competition an ideal dress rehearsal.
Thank you to all the helpers, supporters and fans at this event!
Congratulations to all finishers!
