Finally 'Action in the City' again

Created: 04/09/2022 17:22

The winners of the fun run: (from left) Theresa Scheck, René Menthee and Brigitte Appel (Freisinger Bank).

© span wheel

After a forced two-year break, more than 400 runners wanted to take part in the 37th edition of the Freisinger Volksfestlauf.

Freising –

Theresa Scheck from Freising won the 6.5-kilometre fun run, while René Manthee from Eching won the men’s competition in 2005 and 2008.

Registrations for the traditional Freisinger Volksfestlauf were very slow this year.

Not surprising for Sepp Huber, chief organizer of LC Freising: "For a long time it was not clear whether the run could take place at all due to the pandemic.

So many hesitated, had already planned something else.

And on top of that, many had gone on vacation this year.” Only around 250 had registered an hour before the start of the run.

When the children's and youth races started at 4 p.m. on Saturday, there were well over 400 participants.

The organizers, LC Freising and the City Association for Sports, were happy to be able to hold the folk festival in the city center again this year.

"Finally some hustle and bustle in Freising's parlour," said Sebastian Wanzke happily.

The route is attractive for young and old, for example also for young people from Lohhof.

Marlene Escherle, closely associated with LC Freising and youth trainer from SV Lohhof, came with a group: “We have been coming for many years.

It is wonderful to walk through Freising's city center.

Our children are enthusiastic and have a lot of fun running.

The LC Freising with Sepp Huber always organizes the folk festival perfectly.”

Escherle took a souvenir photo with some of her protégés on the specially erected winner's wall.

As far as public interest is concerned, the children's and youth races were certainly the highlight.

Several hundred enthusiastic fans lined the main street and cheered on the young runners.

Parents and grandparents in particular were excited.

For many kids it was the first competition.

They were so excited.

Little Mara Steinberg was happy to have her first medal hung around her neck.

"She's been training at LC Freising for a short time," says Papa Moritz Steinberg.

He had to talk because little Mara wasn't used to being interviewed shortly after the competition.

All participants received a medal when crossing the finish line and were then able to pick up a T-shirt.

The winners received a small trophy at the end.

This was only possible because the previous sponsors are again giving strong support to the festival.

"It's great that our sponsors all took part again," said Sebastian Wanzke.

Slightly soaked, but happy: the winners of the children's and youth runs with the organizers Sepp Huber (LC Freising) and Sebastian Wanzke (city association for sports).

© Span wheel

It's a shame that it started to rain heavily at the beginning of the fun run over 6.5 kilometers for the Freisinger Bank trophy and the fans left the city centre.

The runners didn't seem to mind, they all worked hard and gladly accepted the drinks offered by the Freisinger Stadtwerke.

In the end, Freisinger Theresa Scheck prevailed among the women.

“I really like running in the rain.

When faster men run in front of me, that's a real motivation for me.” René Manthee also feels very comfortable in the rain and ran tactically very cleverly.

“I had a concept in mind beforehand.

That worked,” he smiled.

The next highlight for him are the German Mountain Running Championships.

"I hope to finish in the top ten."

On your marks, get set, go: the offspring set off like the fire brigade, the parents cheered on the side of the road.

© span wheel

The team of moderators Sebastian Wanzke, Alexander Nadler and Matthias Spanrad provided entertainment and information before and during the races.

And to ensure that everything ran smoothly and safely along the route, the volunteers from the Red Cross and the Freising volunteer fire brigade were on site.

"Thank you very much for that," says Wanzke.

"And of course a big thank you to the Freising police, who provide the necessary security." For Sepp Demmel, this was his last police operation at the folk festival this year.

He will soon be retiring, saying goodbye with blue lights and a siren as he drove back to the police station.

Wanzke's conclusion: "It was wonderful again.

Mainly because we are back in the city center.

Everything worked out.

And with over 400 participants, it was a perfect restart.”