# Wachau Marathon

The Wachau Marathon (stylized as WACHAUmarathon) is a 26.2-mile foot race on paved roads along the Danube River from Emmersdorf to Krems an der Donau in Wachau, Austria, usually held in September. The race was founded in 1998, and its course is certified by World Athletics. It has hosted the Austrian National Championships thrice before.
The event also includes a half marathon, a race of length 11 km (6.8 mi), and races for children. There were more than 7,000 participants in total for 2019.

## History

The marathon was first held in 1998.
After Helmut Paul led the event for ten years, another company under the leadership of Michael Buchleitner took over the responsibility for the run in 2008.
The Austrian National Championships have been held three times as part of the Wachau Marathon. In 2002, the Austrian marathon champions were Max Wenisch (2:27:48, 7th overall male) and Veronika Kienbichl (2:53:09, 8th overall female). In 2007, the Austrian half marathon champions were Eva-Maria Gradwohl (1st overall female) and Martin Pröll (1:05:31). In 2010, the Austrian half marathon champions were Andrea Mayr (1:14:21, 3rd overall) and Günther Weidlinger (1:04:59, 7th overall).
The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with registrants receiving a refund via a voucher.

## Course

The course is described as fast and flat with beautiful scenery. The route first leads 3 km (1.9 mi) upstream on the left bank of the Danube, turns and then runs downstream to the center of Krems for the finish. The half marathon starts in Spitz, and the "quarter marathon" in Dürnstein.

## Other races

During the race weekend, there is also a half marathon favored by competitive runners that often has a deep international field. The shortest race is 11 km (6.8 mi) long, marketed as a "quarter marathon". On the preceding day, children's runs are held over different distances.
From 2004 to 2007, an ultramarathon of length 53 km (33 mi) was offered, which was part of the European Ultramarathon Cup.

## Winners
### Course records

Marathon
    Men: 2:12:32, John Kipngeno Rotich (KEN), 2003
    Women: 2:33:32, Karina Szymańska [pl] (POL), 2002
Half Marathon
    Men: 59:53, Peter Cheruiyot Kirui (KEN), 2016
    Women: 1:09:21, Perendis Lekapana (KEN), 2018

### Marathon

| Date | Men | Time | Women | Time |
| 2020 | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 29 September 2019 | Markus Marouschek (AUT) | 2:38:48 | Zuzana Korotviková (SVK) | 3:12:14 |
| 23 September 2018 | Wolfgang Wallner -6- | 2:30:52 | Elisabeth Smolle (AUT) | 2:56:40 |
| 17 September 2017 | Wolfgang Wallner -5- | 2:32:23 | Cornelia Krapfenbauer -2- | 3:01:18 |
| 18 September 2016 | Ben Gamble (GBR) | 2:32:59 | Christina Oberndorfer (AUT) | 3:08:22 |
| 13 September 2015 | Wolfgang Wallner -4- | 2:38:06 | Manuela Antosch (AUT) | 3:11:10 |
| 14 September 2014 | Wolfgang Wallner -3- | 2:34:19 | Cornelia Krapfenbauer (AUT) | 3:04:03 |
| 15 September 2013 | Wolfgang Wallner -2- | 2:32:02 | Veronika Limberger (AUT) | 3:12:20 |
| 16 September 2012 | Tobias Sauter (GER) | 2:28:44 | Gertraud Schneitl (AUT) | 3:14:58 |
| 18 September 2011 | Wolfgang Wallner (AUT) | 2:36:20 | Meta Steinbach-Olsson (SWE) | 3:12:08 |
| 19 September 2010 | Thomas Augustin (AUT) | 2:35:39 | Karin Freitag (AUT) | 2:56:10 |
| 20 September 2009 | Alexander Frühwirth -2- | 2:44:16 | Ingrid Eichberger -3- | 2:59:34 |
| 14 September 2008 | Alexander Frühwirth (AUT) | 2:44:14 | Réka Kovács (HUN) | 3:14:04 |
| 16 September 2007 | Béla Horváth (HUN) | 2:37:06 | Marija Vrajić (CRO) | 3:03:53 |
| 17 September 2006 | Erich Kokaly (AUT) | 2:28:18 | Ivana Martincová (CZE) | 2:54:00 |
| 18 September 2005 | Kidus Gebremeskel (ETH) | 2:26:22 | Ingrid Eichberger -2- | 2:52:13 |
| 19 September 2004 | Julius Randich (KEN) | 2:23:11 | Ingrid Eichberger (AUT) | 2:54:16 |
| 14 September 2003 | John Kipngeno Rotich (KEN) | 2:12:32 | Olena Roschko (UKR) | 2:52:48 |
| 15 September 2002 | Mykola Rudyk (UKR) | 2:18:31 | Karina Szymańska -3- | 2:33:32 |
| 16 September 2001 | Joseph Kanda (KEN) | 2:15:35 | Karina Szymańska -2- | 2:42:33 |
| 17 September 2000 | James Tanui (KEN) | 2:14:32 | Karina Szymańska [pl] (POL) | 2:38:47 |
| 19 September 1999 | János Zabari (HUN) | 2:29:55 | Ida Šurbek (SLO) | 2:49:53 |
| 20 September 1998 | Antal Szűcs (HUN) | 2:21:35 | Dana Hajná (CZE) | 2:47:21 |

### Half marathon

| Year | Men | Time | Women | Time |
| 2020 | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 2019 | Charles Karanja Kamau (KEN) | 1:01:01 | Joyline Chemutai (KEN) | 1:11:20 |
| 2018 | Geoffrey Ronoh (KEN) | 1:00:21 | Perendis Lekapana -2- | 1:09:21 |
| 2017 | Peter Cheruiyot Kirui -2- | 1:00:45 | Polline Njeru (KEN) | 1:10:38 |
| 2016 | Peter Cheruiyot Kirui (KEN) | 0:59:53 | Perendis Lekapana (KEN) | 1:09:49 |
| 2015 | Benard Bett (KEN) | 1:01:34 | Viola Jelagat (KEN) | 1:09:57 |
| 2014 | Daniel Kinyua Wanjiru (KEN) | 1:00:38 | Joan Chelimo (KEN) | 1:11:52 |
| 2013 | Luka Rotich (KEN) | 1:01:15 | Polline Wanjiku (KEN) | 1:10:48 |
| 2012 | Robert Langat (KEN) | 1:01:05 | Magdalene Mukunzi (KEN) | 1:10:26 |
| 2011 | Geoffrey Ngugi Kanyanjua (KEN) | 1:01:18 | Alice Mogire (KEN) | 1:12:28 |
| 2010 | Weldon Kirui (KEN) | 1:01:10 | Mary Naali (TAN) | 1:12:16 |
| 2009 | Simon Kasmili (KEN) | 1:05:03 | Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) | 1:12:49 |
| 2008 | Wilson Kipkosgei Chemweno (KEN) | 1:05:31 | Eva-Maria Gradwohl -2- | 1:14:33 |
| 2007 | Jonathan Koilege (KEN) | 1:04:17 | Eva-Maria Gradwohl (AUT) | 1:14:33 |
| 2006 | Serhij Satschepa (UKR) | 1:05:55 | Dana Janečková (SVK) | 1:18:02 |
| 2005 | Stanley Kipkosgei Salil (KEN) | 1:03:47 | Tatjana Wilissowa (RUS) | 1:13:44 |
| 2004 | Eliud Tanui (KEN) | 1:04:42 | Simona Staicu -4- | 1:14:30 |
| 2003 | Michael Buchleitner -2- | 1:04:10 | Beáta Rakonczai (HUN) | 1:09:45 |
| 2002 | Augustin Togom (KEN) | 1:03:33 | Anikó Kálovics (HUN) | 1:10:26 |
| 2001 | Mykola Antonenko (UKR) | 1:04:20 | Simona Staicu -3- | 1:14:22 |
| 2000 | Zsolt Benedek (HUN) | 1:05:18 | Dagmar Rabensteiner (AUT) | 1:15:29 |
| 1999 | Francis Mbiu (KEN) | 1:03:25 | Simona Staicu -2- | 1:13:33 |
| 1998 | Michael Buchleitner (AUT) | 1:02:58 | Simona Staicu (ROM) | 1:12:59 |

### "Quarter marathon"

| Year | Men | Time | Women | Time |
| 2020 | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 2019 | Martin Hofbauer (AUT) | 0:37:32 | Marie Glaser (AUT) | 0:45:39 |
| 2018 | Philipp Gintenstorfer -2- | 0:38:08 | Michaela Zwerger -2- | 0:44:10 |
| 2017 | Wolfgang Hiller -3- | 0:36:28 | Julia Mayer (AUT) | 0:40:23 |
| 2016 | Philipp Gintenstorfer (AUT) | 0:36:34 | Anita Baierl (AUT) | 0:39:24 |
| 2015 | Andreas Vojta (AUT) | 0:34:08 | Anna Glack (AUT) | 0:44:29 |
| 2014 | Wolfgang Hiller -2- | 0:35:22 | Annabelle-Mary Konczer (AUT) | 0:38:39 |
| 2013 | Wolfgang Hiller (AUT) | 0:35:42 | Michaela Zwerger (AUT) | 0:41:10 |
| 2012 | Manuel Wyss (SUI) | 0:34:49 | Kis Zsanett (HUN) | 0:38:52 |
| 2011 | Gerhard Gutmann (AUT) | 0:37:32 | Anna Hajdú (HUN) | 0:42:03 |
| 2010 | Christian Steinhammer (AUT) | 0:33:06 | Franziska Gruber (AUT) | 0:41:29 |

### Ultra marathon

    Held from 2004 to 2007
| Date | Men | Time | Women | Time |
| 2007 | Rene Fanninger (AUT) | 3:40:08 | Bärbel Lemme (GER) | 4:14:12 |
| 2006 | Alexander Frühwirth (AUT) | 3:26:01 | Henriette Holzknecht (AUT) | 4:08:27 |
| 2005 | Stefan Bosch (GER) | 3:43:04 | Heike Grob (GER) | 4:18:20 |
| 2004 | Günter Marhold (GER) | 4:01:35 | Manuela Skobek (AUT) | 4:36:53 |