Wörthersee Halbmarathon - Kärnten läuft 2009

Velden-Klagenfurt (AUT), Sunday 23 August 2009

Finish of the Worthersee Half Marathon in Klagenfurt (Copyright 2009 runinternational.eu)

 

The half marathon along the Wörthersee, the largest lake in the Austrian province of Carinthia, has become one of the largest running events in the region. "Kärnten läuft" (Carinthia runs) is the motto of this event, and more than 3000 followed that call last year and took part in the half or the quarter marathon.

The Wörthersee is widely known as a high-society playground and a popular summer holiday destination for a fashionable and affluent society, and runners from many countries will come again to this year's event to see and be seen. Last year, Paula-Radcliffe-stockings were very much in vogue. What will be the trend this summer?

The 21km catwalk starts on the promenade in Velden, a flashy resort with a casino and a castle at the western end of the lake. The race then follows the northern shore to the finish in the Europapark at the lake's eastern end, 4km from the centre of Klagenfurt.

The quarter marathon of 10.55km starts a bit earlier in Pörtschach, another posh and expensive lakeside resort.

The route is undulating on roads and cycle paths. As a large part of the shore is in private hands only some sections of the course are along the lakefront.

After the race, runners get free entry to the bathing beach to cool off with a swim in the wonderful blue-green waters of the lake.

The half marathon course records are held by Francis Kiprop of Kenya (1:00:59) and Hungary's Anikó Kálovics (1:10:39).

 

The start of the half marathon is in Velden am Wörthersee

The start is in Velden am Wörthersee

 

Country: Austria

Venue (Map): Velden - Klagenfurt

Date: 23 August 2009 (Sunday)

Race distance: 10.55km (quarter marathon), 21.1km (half marathon)

Start (quarter marathon): 8.35 in Pörtschach at the Gemeindeamt (municipal offices)

Start (half marathon): 9.00 in Velden, Seepromenade

Finish: Klagenfurt, in the Europapark (at the Wörthersee)

Entries: online (www.sportpayment.com) or by post and bank transfer; advance entries close 10 August; late entries on 21 August (Friday) and on 22 August (Saturday); no entries on the day!

Entry fees (quarter marathon): 12 EUR (until 31 May), 18 EUR (until 10 August), 25 EUR (late entries)

Entry fees (half marathon): 23 EUR (until 31 May), 28 EUR (until 12 July), 32 EUR (until 10 August), 38 EUR (late entries)

Timing: Champion Chip (bring your own chip, or rent a chip for 3 EUR (7 EUR deposit) or buy a chip for 28 EUR)

Race centre: in the finish area at the lake (open on Friday, 21 August from 14.00 to 20.00 and on Saturday, 22 August from 9.00 to 20.00)

You get: pasta party on Saturday at 19.00; bus and train services from Klagenfurt to the start areas; transport of clothing from the start to the finish

Prizes: first 3 in the categories (half marathon), category winners (quarter marathon)

Showers: in the Strandbad (bathing beach) close to the finish (free entry with your race number)

Presentation: 13.00

Number of finishers 2008: 2765 (half marathon), 446 (quarter marathon)

Event website: www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/kaerntenlaeuft/index.do

 

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.