A running event that lasts eight days: unthinkable before the pandemic, now almost normal.
TSV Weilheim has adapted its start to the current conditions - and offered a "virtual individual run".
With success.
Weilheim
- The walker with dog was amazed and interested at the same time. “How often do you have to go back and forth?” She called to the athlete, who was now walking past her for the second time. "For the 10 kilometers a total of four times," came the answer. "Well then: 'Good run'", said the dog owner, who also waved in a friendly manner. Many participants in the 85th Weilheimer Aulauf received encouragement, even if there was no audience at all.
The pandemic had ensured that the athletics department of TSV Weilheim around its boss Michael Horstmann had to come up with a special format in order to be able to host the traditional competition.
“Corona forces new formats.
And flexibility - both with the organizers and with the participants ”, says Horstmann.
The run, usually on May 1st with spectators, moderation, hospitality and award ceremonies, took place this year as a “virtual individual run with timekeeping via smartphone app”.
On the Ammerdamm, a 2.5-kilometer route with turning points was marked out, which depending on the distance (5 / 7.5 / 10 kilometers) had to be walked or walked through accordingly often.
There was eight days for that.
The duration was an important aspect in order to avoid large accumulations.
The youngest twelve, the oldest 76 years old
207 women and men of all ages had registered. "As the organizer, we are very pleased to have addressed so many runners in such a short time," said Horstmann. The youngest were twelve years old, the oldest runner was 76 years old, the oldest man 75 years old. It was only clear in March that a run would take place; online registration started five weeks before the first day of the competition. “Normally planned sporting events are canceled with this lead time at the latest,” emphasizes Horstmann.
As far as sport is concerned, there were some top performances on the undulating track.
As expected, Markus Brennauer (TSV Penzberg) was the measure of all things over the 10 kilometers.
The 41-year-old was clearly the best with 34:32 minutes.
With time, Brennauer was "really satisfied".
According to his own admission, he started the race “much too quickly”.
Second and third places in the overall ranking went to a duo from the “Schönegger Käse Alm” team: Peter Vogt (36:44) from Rottenbuch and Stefan Fichtl (37:32) from Hohenfurch confirmed their good form, which they recently achieved with top places had shown the "Kemptener Laufwochen".
Böbingerin the fastest over 10 kilometers
As by far the fastest woman over the 10 kilometers, Maria Elisa Legelli stood out with 40:02 minutes. Like Vogt and Fichtl, the woman from Böbingen had already impressed in Kempten. At the start “I was able to pick up the pace again”, she said happily. In the overall ranking of all men and women, Legelli came in sixth. For this year the woman from Böbingen is aiming for her first marathon - a start is planned on October 3rd at the “Loch Ness Marathon” in Inverness (Scotland).
On the 5-kilometer route, the aforementioned Vogt (17:06) and Fichtl (17:26) were clearly ahead of the competition. Behind were two youngsters: Sebastian Lange (born 2006/18:18) and Moritz Hartmann (born 2007/18: 56). The top three women were Tina Rose (23:42), Heidi Höfler (Concordia Burggen / 24:36) and Anna Spiegler (TSV Weilheim / 24:42). A noticeable number of young women tackled the 5 kilometers, a total of 17 runners under the age of 23. The fastest was Spiegler. With the Nordic Walkers, Gerhard Bebst (Sport für Spenden / 38:10) and Martina Feierabend (TSV Weilheim / 40:28) were the most likely to have reached the goal.
A 7.5-kilometer distance was offered for the first time at the Aulauf.
The rather unusual route was frequented by a total of 23 runners and walkers.
The top times of the runners were ensured by “frequent starters” Fichtl (27:31) and Heidi Höfler (37:32).
The fastest Nordic Walkers were Manfred Pongratz (56:38) and Sabine Weiß (1:03:09).
Participants grateful for the offer
Various responses to the athletics department showed that the eight-day competition "was viewed positively," reported Horstmann. The individual options and the associated “also a certain independence from the weather were felt to be advantageous”. In several emails, participants also thanked them for organizing a competition during pandemic times. One of the responses said: "Even if the right, familiar Aulauf is more fun, since the community is more in the foreground there, I am pleased that the TSV made the competition possible." a picture of opinion among the participants.
The department organizes the start in order to be able to finance the sports and training operations over the year. This year it operated as a "non-profit event", according to Horstmann. In view of the limit of 300 starting places, winning was "not possible and not planned". The entry fee of seven euros should “only cover the fixed costs that we have through the use of the external timekeeping company”. Without security through donations and sponsors "even we, as a sporty and socially oriented event organizer, would not have dared to venture out". He therefore praises the commitment of the supporters (Stadtwerke Weilheim, Baustoffe “Renner”, AOK Bayern, “Xenofit”, “Biomichl”). The total of 25 non-cash prizes have already been raffled as part of a Zoom conference to which all starters were invited.