RUNNING GERMANY: MUENSTER: 14. VOLKSBANK MUENSTER MARATHON – Look forward to an extraordinary marathon on September 6, 2015

The urban municipality of Muenster is located in the northern part of North Rhine Westphalia on the river Aa between the cities of Dortmund and Osnabrueck. Muenster is known as the cultural centre of Westphalia.

Amongst the nearly 300,000 inhabitants of Muenster there are 45,000 students. The city of Muenster has been founded in 793 and gets a charming young touch through its students.

Muenster has a catholic bishop and is very well known as a bicycle-city. The reconstructed historic city centre impresses with its imposant gable houses. The city is surrounded by a five kilometer long green belt – also known as Promenade – where you can always find runners.

Muenster‘s Aasea is located closely to the city centre and invites you to go for a walk, a run or a sailing tour. The Aasea as well has the harbor area with its bars, nightclubs and leisure activities are famous meeting places for every generation. The city centre with the Prinzipalmarkt, Lambertikirche (church) and historic town hall invites you to go for a stroll.

The variety of close by stores leaves no wish unfulfilled. Performances at the theatre, artistic shows, live concerts, museums, cinemas, readings – Muenster has something to offer for all ages and tastes.

RUNNING GERMANY – VOLKSBANK MUENSTER MARATHON

In 2014 the most popular marathon in North-Rhine-Westfalia (as voted by the readers of the online-portal "marathon4you" in 2012 – 2014) lived up again to its name. This time around it was not the fact that the course record was broken but the over 300 artists along the race course and the sunshine that created a cheerful atmosphere.

Over 100.000 spectators were in a festive mood – the whole of Muenster was topsy turvey. People were clapping, rattling, singing and celebrating;  the welcoming of the runners at the Prinzipalmarkt lead to unlimited jubilation. The slogan: "Volksbank-Muenster-Marathon – like carnival in Rio" was lived to its fullest.

The Damhus-Fan-Projekt was also a big success. Neighbourhoods, clubs, families and cheered on the athletes with extraordinary and unique ideas. The top three Damhus-Fan-Projekt participants won great prices.

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 350 worldwide events in 101 countries.

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 center 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 citys clinical center 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.

The city of Muenster is known for its famous thrillers "Tatort" and "Wilsberg" which are broadcasted on TV. Part of the race course is directly bypassing these scenic film locations.

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 50-Euro organizational fee (registration until 15th of May), every finisher receives a technical T-shirt, a specially designed medal as well as a certification of completion. A movie with highlights of the race will be published on the website after the event. Pictures taken by a professional photographer can be purshased as well.

The organizing 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 organizing 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 almost 3,000 marathon runners and 5,600 relay runners, 300 children and 100 charity runners from a total of 30 nations, the Volksbank-Muenster-Marathon is still the seventh biggest marathon in Germany. "Mass sports meet 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 2:29:12 hours 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 motto of the Volks- und Raifeisenbanken is also the motto of the title sponsor, the Vereinigte Volksbank Muenster: "Everybody has something that drives him." The motto is an ideal fit for the Volksbank-Muenster-Marathon.

The WL BANK-Student-Cup set a new record in 2014 with 205 registered students. The sponsor WL BANK gives students a 10-Euro discount on the entrance fee when they present their student ID to organizers. They are also listed in their own WL BANK student championship with money prizes for the places 1 till 3. The WL BANK-Student-Cup is the biggest student marathon within Germany.

Besides the student cup the craftsmen-marathon championship was also a huge success. It was initiated for the first time in 2014 and attracted 69 participants of which the top three men and women won money prices. Apprentices, assistants, master craftsmen as well as owner of crafts enterprises and staff from craftsmen organisations can participate in this championship with proof of certification. Apprentices get a 10-EUR discount on the entrance fee when they present their valid article of apprenticeship within one week of registration

The upcoming event in 2015 has now our full attention: The date of the marathon had to be brought forward a week due to municipal reasons and is now taking place on September 6th, 2015. The top athletes will try once again to break the course record. Our biggest goal and focus is to get 3,000 registered marathon runners again. We will be in close contact with the recreational running community.

We have 50 national and international trainers working for us who are supporting marathon runners with their training. And once more we will do our best to make the event unforgettable for every one who is participating – just like our slogan for 2015 "We live running".

Michael Brinkmann
Race Director

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