RUNNING GERMANY: MUENSTER – 12. VOLKSBANK MUENSTER MARATHON – Look forward to an extraordinary marathon on september 8, 2013

The year 2013 started sensationally for the Volksbank-Muenster-Marathon. For the first time ever the readers of an online portal  voted the Volksbank-Muenster-Marathon as the most popular marathon in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Within Germany the Volksbank-Muenster-Marathon was ranked as the sixth most liked marathon and it is also amongst the Top Ten of the most favoured marathons in Germany, Austria and Swizerland.

In 2012 the Volksbank-Muenster Marathon continued its success story. For the first time ever this race of emotions broke attendance records with 100.000 spectators lining the course on September 9th. The passionate appreciation of the spectators for the more than 7,000 runners as well as the overall festive atmosphere made this race unique. It was a party marathon that each runner will remember for a long time.

The 240 performers put together a programme of energy with highlights along the marathon route, at the Power Point stages and in the finish area. For the first time in the history of the marathon the winner, Nasef Ahmed, came from Marocco. Two Japanese elite runners from Tokyo also premiered. They ran their first marathon in Germany and placed 5th and 6th in the overall results. "We will be back. That was a wonderful run with lots of enthusiasm," commented the Japanese runners.

Since July 2012 the Volksbank-Muenster Marathon has been an official member of AIMS (the Association of International Marathons and Distant Races) joining in the over 300 worldwide events.

The Volksbank-Muenster Marathon is a perfect mix between an urban and scenic marathon. The start is located on a four-lane street directly in front of the Castle of Muenster. The first 10 km carry the runners through the beautiful historic city centre and the green belt (called Promenande) that surrounds it. Next comes the pedestrian zone, where the runners can already feel the excitement of the finish area, before the route leaves the city behind and leads towards the Aasee. From here the runners hit the city's clinical centre and university facilities. Next the runners reach the half marathon mark in the urban district of Nienberge. The party in Nienberge is unmatched.

From kilometre 24 onwards the route goes through Muenster's green lung. The runners are now on their own for a short while – giving them peace and quiet time that is needed to listen to their bodies and check their "systems" in order to be able to reach the 30 km mark in good condition. Just after passing the manor "Haus Vögeding", which first appears in records in 1353, and in the middle of a wonderful quietness, the runners are brought back down to earth by an Afro-Cuban band with its 40 musicians. Welcome to the Volksbank-Muenster Marathon.

And now the party really gets started. The next highlight awaiting the marathon runners is in the urban district of Roxel with a Power Point stage, many spectators and performers. After just 2 km more there is yet another feature located directly on the Roxeler Straße. From here the runners begin a slightly downhill course to Gievenbeck where the runners get one more cheer of appreciation for their hard work. And the place is rocking. The last 4 km to the finish line are a party mile – both runners and spectators are still creating the atmosphere of a folk festival. Everyone is getting goose bumps as runners approach the last stretch to the finish line from the Rothenburg to the Prinzipalmarkt, completely decorated with flags. Here, everyone feels like a winner.

Feelings of happiness, the festive atmosphere and the experience of a marathon are not the only unique features of this noteworthy race. For only a 45-Euro organizational fee (registration until 15th of May), every finisher receives a technical T-shirt, a specially designed medal as well as a DVD that includes a movie and pictures of the event, the results and a printable certificate of completion. The organising committee takes great care to ensure that the runners get medical attention during the marathon. Emergency physicians accompany the runners on bicycle throughout the course, medical points are set up at specific locations and diabetics get specific medical attention.

Runners are also supplied with nutrition on the course. Most of the members of the organising committee are marathon runners themselves and thus know what the runners need throughout the marathon. There are fruit, electrolyte drinks, and water as well as coke supplied on the last kilometres. In the finish area the runners find nonalcoholic beer.

With 3,000 marathon runners and 4,400 relay runners, 250 children and 100 charity runners from a total of 30 nations, the Volksbank-Muenster Marathon is the seventh biggest marathon in Germany. "Mass sports meets professional sports" but this race is especially suitable for first-time marathoners. Beginning in February the first time marathoners are trained by coaches who have been appointed by the Muenster-Marathon e.V.. The marathon also attracts regular marathon runners. If they improve their marathon finishing time from Muenster they will pay a significantly lower entrance fee the following year.

Elite runners set the current course records of 2:10:25 hours for men and 2:34:58 for women. For ambitious runners a pacer is hired who assures a finishing time of 2:30:00 hours ? a novelty that is unique in Germany. There is prize money between 500 Euro and 2,000 Euro for the top three men and women with German citizenship.

The marathon in Muenster also draws many students. The student sponsor gives students a 10-Euro discount on the entrance fee when they present their student ID to organisers. They are also listed in their own student championchip. It is the biggest national student-starter group at a marathon.

 

Michael Brinkmann
Race director
Volksbank Münster Marathon

 

Volksbank Muenster Marathon

 

 

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