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Vienna City Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Vienna City Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 67 [displaying comments 51 to 61]
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Ken Forster from Zurich, Switzerland
(5/24/2005)
 "Great route - Boston qualifier" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Vienna City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 It all came together for me in the Vienna Marathon! In spite of unexpected high temperatures (27C) and big starting crowds for the first 10K, I had the best marathon of my life. Did not hit the wall, fast recovery, no injuries, personal record time (a Boston qualifing 3:18:33). Race Overview This is the twenty-second year of the Vienna Marathon, and it generally showed in the race preparations, course layout, and finish line activities. There were over 21,000 registered for all of the day races (full, half, 10K, kids' run). Judging by the starting numbers, I would estimate about 7,000 marathoners. The course meanders through the major tourist points surrounding the main downtown area. It was almost flat except for a 50M rise between the 5K and 12K points - almost imperceptible. This was followed by an equal descent over the next 5K which was a great place to pick up speed. The final one-third of the race works through a large park with tree-lined streets, an amusement park with the famed Vienna ferris wheel, and then ends up with a grand finish at the center of town in the Haldenplatz (Vienna palace). The race started at 9:30AM which was a bit late given that the temperature had already risen to 21C (70F) with clear skies. Thankfully a haze rolled in over the next hour that blocked the direct sun until about 11AM. Coupled with the largely shaded streets and a cool wind, the temperature was not as unbearable as it could have been. Unfortunately, the heat proved to be too much for several of the lead Kenyan runners who dropped out prior to the 30K mark. While there were estimated to be 200,000 spectators, they were largely grouped around five or six key points in the race. There was only two bands that I recall being at those points with the remainder manned by radio stations blaring over the speakers. The mass of crowds were primarily at the finish line on bleachers ten rows deep covering the last 200M to the finish. The entire race was televised on Austrian stations as it is considered to be one of the largest Austrian sporting events of the year. The course amenities were adequate with water and PowerAde stands every 5K - those after the 20K mark also had bananas. The challenges were few, primarily being around the late start time, the separation of the registration fair, pre-party, start and finish lines (which were at least 5K apart), and the ?carb-loading? party. This last event was sponsored by Tchibo coffee which must have decided that coffee did not go well with pasta - so they substituted funnel cakes instead. For anyone who was on a serious training program, the combination of empty sugars and caffeine was anathema. While I would not rate this as the best marathon, it would make a seven out of 10 on my ?recommended? list. | |
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M. M. from London, England (3 yr rotation from Houston, TX)
(5/23/2005)
 "A Fantastic Experience" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Vienna City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Vienna was my second marathon and I would highly recommend it to anyone. The race goes right through the heart and soul of this beautiful city. The coures is flat and not too difficult. Temperatures were higher than average in 2005 (20 C or so at race start and 25 C or so at race end). Water stops were stationed every 5K, with PowerAde and bananas at most stops beyond 15K. Organization was good, although I forgot to pick up my t-shirt that I purchased online during the expo, and I am now unable to collect it. There is a little bit of out-and-back during last third of the course or so that some may find annoying. I was fine with it. If you are looking for a great international marathoning experience, consider this one! | |
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C. P. from Novi, Michigan
(2/19/2005)
"Beautiful run in a fabulous city" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Vienna City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The organization was great and the course exciting. It seemed a fairly flat and manageable course for just my second marathon. The weather was great. The back and forth through the large park got to be a bit long between the fun city parts. | |
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H. S. from Munich
(6/15/2004)
"Very nice sightseeing course of vienna" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Vienna City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Organization only 4 stars, due to the missing pace-makers for the different finishing times. | |
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M. B. from Sirault, Belgium
(5/19/2004)
"Romantic city on the Danube" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a truly memorable experience and a great run through Vienna. The start was incredibly well organized. Their (stated) policy of adding 10 minutes to the time of anyone who didn't start in the right corral made a big difference. I don't know if they actually did this or not (as I certainly started in the right corral!) Congestion was light until km 7, and then non-existent. What little congestion there was seemed to come from runners doing shorter distances (15km and a 6.8km fun run) that started with the marathoners. The marathon course is memorable, taking you past all the great sights of a great city. I especially enjoyed the excursion through the 'Pratter' amusement park somewhere around km 28. From km 30 to 40, the course goes through a park with three short 'out and backs'. I'm never fond of doubling back, but the park roads were broad, well-maintained, and shaded. Crowds were significantly less in the park, too, but most were supportive. The finish was incredible at the aptly named 'Heldenplatz' ('Hero's Plaza'). Crowds were strong and loud for every runner. The finisher's medal is very cool, too. Run this marathon. The Austrians will make you feel immediately at home and you'll want to come back again. Ah... to be in Vienna in the Spring...!!! General Euro Marathon tip: Ditch the car at the hotel or city outskirts when going to the expo or start. All the major european cities have excellent tram/subway/bus systems that will get you where you need to go with no muss or fuss. I tried driving to the expo and almost overheated my engine with the endless starts and stops of city traffic. These cities were not designed with cars in mind. | |
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Tommaso Gazzoni from Bologna, Italy
(5/19/2004)
"A great race." (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I am a 4-hour marathoner and Vienna has been the fourth 42.2k of my life (London, Stockholm and Florence previously); it is the cleanest and tidiest city I have ever visited and its marathon reflects that. The course is almost perfect: wide roads, great tarmac (not 1 pot hole in 42kms), very few turns and terribly flat. The refreshment stations are very well organized: loads of glasses filled with nice cool water and tons of chopped bananas, no pushing around (only the first one at 5k was a bit too crowded). The weather in 2004 was good for running a pleasant race but for a big runner like me (6'3", 14 stones) it got a bit too warm in the last 75-90 minutess (from noon onwards) and I paid the consequences (felt very sick in the last km and lost the chance of beating the 4-hour wall). I call this a tourist marathon more than a PB marathon, go with your wife (as I did) and enjoy the holiday in a beautiful city which also has great tradition for food and beer! The only drawback of the race is the relay marathon, I hate that: you get these fresh runners sprinting and overtaking you in the last 10k of the race; organizers should look for a different way to raise more cash out of the event! | |
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A. G. from The Hague, Netherlands
(5/17/2004)
"A marathon designed for runners" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Vienna City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Ran this in 2004. Very impressed by the organization - which is functional rather than fantastic - as well as the route. Really is a city marathon, unlike many capital city events that basically have you run 13 miles away from, and then 13 miles back to, the real focus of the original attraction. Starts on a dual carriageway, with about 6,000 marathoners and 15,000 halvers. Head off on a great cross-loop of the city. Flat, well-paved roads in the first half, and wooded parkland in the second half. Water, isotonic and bananas every 5k or so. Well marshalled. Finish is impressive as you enter the Hofburg Palace courtyard. No fancy goody-back, or multitude of drinks, etc. at the end. Effectively reflects my impression of the race; addresses all the things that matter to real runners, such as flat, wide and uncongested roads, reasonable cost and no-frills mentality. Functional rather than faddy. So, if you want a good PB course in event designed for (and by?) real runners, rather than tourist officials, give this one a try. | |
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N. R. from Zurich, Switzerland
(12/1/2003)
 "Perfect" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Vienna is a beautiful city and I enjoyed every single one of the 42.195 kilometers. | |
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M. N. from Málaga, España
(7/21/2003)
 "Historic City, Hot Trot!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Not the most imaginative course. It is traffic-free, and partly runs though the historic center, but much of the course consists of out-and-back loops in the woods, which are a slog. Sparse crowds did their best. I liked the bananas, and the friendly people. | |
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Y. T. from close to Aachen, Germany
(6/19/2003)
"A great first marathon in a beautiful city" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 A very scenic and diverse course, running by many of the major touristy sites in the heart of city, as well as in parks. The course is flat, so it is easy to run when temperatures are normal. Very easy to get to the resgistration site and starting area. The end at the Hofburg Palace - through a monumental door - was great. The only flaw was the lack of water at the first stop (KM 5), probably due to the extreme heat (between 23 and 32 degrees centigrade). Organizers allowed runners to go over the time limit. This was a nice touch, in light of the tough temperatures. Not many spectators, but the advantage was that it was easy to spot family and friends! |
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