Wachau Marathon to bring 8,000 runners to Lower Austria

More than 8,000 participants will take part in the Wachau Marathon between Emmersdorf and Krems on Sunday, according to ORF. The 26th edition of Lower Austria’s largest running event will feature a half marathon starting in Spitz as its main race.

The programme also includes a marathon, quarter marathon and relay races. Young runners will compete in the Junior Marathon on Saturday, while an inclusion run will be held for the first time in Krems Stadtpark.

Organisers have changed the final section of the course because the Mautern bridge remains closed. The traditional route through Krems’s historic centre has been dropped, with runners instead covering a roughly two-kilometre section of the B3 road.

Thirteen refreshment stations will be positioned along the route, no more than 4.5 kilometres apart. They will provide about 20,000 litres of water, more than 10,000 litres of energy drinks, cola and other isotonic beverages, as well as 1,000 kilograms of bananas, 250 kilograms of oranges and 250 kilograms of apples.

After finishing in Krems Stadtpark, runners will be offered 5,000 muesli rolls, 2,500 curd-cheese cakes and 2,500 plum cakes. Organisers will also use 30,000 reusable cups for the first time to reduce waste.

The event will again include a charity initiative. In Krems-Stein, runners will cross a special charity mat, triggering a donation of one euro in food for each participant to the Caritas social market, which supports people in need.

Forecasts indicate a mix of sunshine and cloud on Sunday, with light to moderate westerly winds. Temperatures are expected to range from eight to 13 degrees Celsius in the morning and rise to about 19 to 24 degrees during the day. Isolated rain showers are possible, but conditions are expected to remain mostly dry.

Road users should expect extensive closures. The B3 between Emmersdorf and Krems will be closed from 8am to 3.30pm, while restrictions in Krems will remain in place in some areas until the evening.