Linz Marathon: Over 20,000 registrations - A celebration for all runners!

Linz Marathon: Over 20,000 registrations - A celebration for all runners!

The Linz Marathon 2025 is coming with an unexpected boom: According to Johanna Möslinger, managing director of the Linz event company LIVA, a record number of 11,009 registrations had already been recorded by Monday. That is over 21 percent more participants than in the previous year. Particularly noteworthy is the increase in registrations for the full distance of 42.2 kilometers, which increased by an impressive 77 percent to 1,221 participants. The junior marathon, which offers around 2,000 places, is almost fully booked. Möslinger expressed himself optimistically: “We are almost identical to the years before Corona.” The main sponsor Oberbank, represented by General Director Franz Gasselsberger, is expecting a total of 20,000 runners

The marathon begins on Saturday, April 12th, with special children's events and the Special Olympics Run. On Sunday it will be the turn of the main competitions, including the main discipline over 42.2 kilometers as well as the half, quarter and relay marathon. New this year are additional split times for quarter marathon, half marathon and full marathon participants to provide athletes with better performance analysis. Security is a top priority: Due to recent terrorist attacks, such as in Villach, extensive security precautions have been taken. The route will be monitored by around 200 police officers, 200 security personnel and other support staff, while concrete blocks and trucks will be set up as protective barriers.

A look at Günther Weidlinger's past

Another exciting aspect of the Linz Marathon is the role of Günther Weidlinger, a prominent Austrian long-distance runner who is known not only as an athlete but also as a co-organizer of this major event. Weidlinger, who, among other things, became European Junior Champion and has an impressive career in athletics, is known for his achievements in the marathon and the setting of several Austrian records. Particularly noteworthy are his successes in the steeplechase, where he reached 8th place at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and at the World Championships in Helsinki 2005, his achievements on the way to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where he qualified, put him at the top of the Austrian long-distance runners.

For Weidlinger, the Linz Marathon was always more than just a competition; it is part of his sporting identity. Last year he had to cancel his participation due to a bout of weakness after planning to break the course record. His return and involvement in the organization of the marathon show how closely the rest of his career is linked to this event. The anticipation for the upcoming competitions in Linz is unbroken, and Weidlinger is optimistic that exciting performances can be expected this year too.