Leipzig. The New York Marathon has long been legendary: 26,219 miles through the streets of the “Big Apple”, tens of thousands of participants every year – except this one. The corona pandemic has also put a stop to what is probably the largest running event in the world. However, 38 Leipzig athletes did not let that stop them and started a digital replacement marathon through the trade fair city on Saturday.
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Fischer-Art: “The route was awesome”
In small groups of three to five runners, Olympiasport Leipzig GmbH sent the participants from the courtyard at the Sportforum to the 42-kilometer route around the Markkleeberger and Cospudener See. The exact route was not communicated in advance in order to avoid crowds of people that contradict the applicable regulations.
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CLICK THROUGH: Pictures of the launches
The New York Marathon fell victim to the corona pandemic. 35 Leipzig long-distance runners don’t let that stop them, take part in the digital version of the famous run and do something good “on the side”. With the organizational support of Olympiasport Leipzig GmbH (OSL), the runners will travel a good 42 kilometers through the trade fair city on October 31st – every kilometer run earns money from numerous sponsors who support the Heart Center Leipzig and Haus Leben eV.
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Already at 9 o’clock the slowest marathoni for artist Michael Fischer-Art started. As a replacement for the Leipzig Marathon, the 51-year-old set out on the long journey together with radio host Roman Knoblauch in April. Now he already fought his third finish this year and could be satisfied with less than six hours. “The route was awesome. I think the Leipzig Marathon should be postponed. Instead of walking through the streets just around the lakes, ”says the Leipzig artist.
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“That was a crazy but awesome event. Michael met me at the canoe park. I was completely confused – he went the wrong way, ”says Knoblauch with a laugh. The radio presenter had to pull the rip cord after just over 30 kilometers, and rode the rest of the way by bike. “It was still really fun!” It wasn’t just fun. Because all participants ran for a good cause. Sponsors donated for every kilometer covered. A total of 7,500 euros were raised for the Leipzig Heart Center and Haus Leben eV.
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Robert Farken as a pacemaker
Of course, Fischer-Art and garlic did not come close to the times of the best runners that day. Led by DHfK marathon rider Nic Ihlow, the ambitious athletes did not start until around 11.30 a.m., overtaking several participants in the earlier groups before the finish line. The 25-year-old crossed the finish line as the fastest in 2:46 hours. After a long break from training this year, a strong performance by the winner of the Leipzig Marathon 2019. “The 42 kilometers passed much faster this time than last time,” said Ihlow and praised the great atmosphere and the event for a good cause. Of course that’s not entirely true. Last year, the runner from SC DHfK needed almost 22 minutes less.
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Nic Ihlow after the New York Marathon in Leipzig
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Robert Farken was also on the track as a pacemaker. The German indoor champion over 800 meters helped company run organizer Conrad Kebelmann, Christian Kramer and Markus Herbst to keep their pace over the last 20 kilometers. “I tried to push her a little,” jokes Farken. Mission accomplished: The three finished in just under three hours.
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Another dynamic duo on the long circuit: the former top canoeist Jan Benzien and Ingo Hahne. The two of them spontaneously registered for the event, took turns running and so both covered a half marathon. Hahne hadn’t dared to go the full distance and was looking for a colleague shortly before. “I called Jan with my last percentage in the cell phone battery. All he could do was answer, ‘I’m there’, and then he was gone. That settled the matter, ”jokes the MDR reporter.
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These were the participants:
Group 1 (start 9 a.m.): Michael Fischer-Art; René Toussaint; Jörg Behrends.
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CLICK THROUGH: Pictures from the finish line
Jörg Behrends and René Toussaint were the first to reach the goal again. Little by little, all participants of the New York Marathon in Leipzig made it to the starting point, accomplished and proud.
© Sylvio Hoffmann
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Group 2 (start 9.30 a.m.): Artur Che Fischer; Uwe Forster; Rita Langnickel; Thorsten Knab; Kathrin Severin; Nowag
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Group 3 (start 10 a.m.): Birgit Patzer; Bianca Kretschmer; Wenke Fröhlich; Jens Koehler; Andreas Gäbler; Daniela Neumann.
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Group 4 (start 10.30 a.m.): Roman Garlic; Ina Martin-Schattner; Peter Eichler; Ingo Hahne; Jan Benzien; André Da Silva; Sven Bayer; Dirk Köstler; Johannes Thoß; Tom Lentz; Polte.
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Group 5 (start 11 a.m.): Christiane Koch; Michael Voigt; Sven Nachreiner; Jens Frauendorf; Swen Smigaj.
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Group 6 (start 11:30 a.m.): Nic Ihlow; Christian Kramer; Markus Herbst; Conrad Kebelmann.
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