The Volksbank-Muenster Marathon is a perfect mix between an urban and scenic marathon. The start is located on a four-lane street directly in front of the Castle of Muenster. The first 10 km carry the runners through the beautiful historic city center and the green belt (called Promenande) that surrounds it. Next comes the pedestrian zone, where the runners can already feel the excitement of the finish area, before the route leaves the city behind and leads towards the Aasee. From here the runners hit the city’s clinical center and university facilities. Next the runners reach the half marathon mark in the urban district of Nienberge. The party in Nienberge is unmatched. From kilometre 24 onwards the route goes through Muenster’s green lung. The runners are now on their own for a short while – giving them peace and quiet time that is needed to listen to their bodies and check their “systems” in order to be able to reach the 30 km mark in good condition. Just after passing the manor “Haus Vögeding” which first appears in records in 1353, and in the middle of a wonderful quietness, the runners are brought back down to earth by an Afro-Cuban band with its 40 musicians. Welcome to the Volksbank-Muenster Marathon.
And now the party really gets started. The next highlight awaiting the marathon runners is in the urban district of Roxel with a Power Point stage, many spectators and performers. After just 2 km more there is yet another feature located directly on the Roxeler Straße. From here the runners begin a slightly downhill course to Gievenbeck where the runners get one more cheer of appreciation for their hard work. And the place is rocking. The last 4 km to the finish line are a party mile – both runners and spectators are still creating the atmosphere of a folk festival. Everyone is getting goose bumps as runners approach the last stretch to the finish line from the Rothenburg to the Prinzipalmarkt, completely decorated with flags. Here, everyone feels like a winner.
The city of Muenster is known for its famous thrillers “Tatort” and “Wilsberg” which are broadcasted on TV. Part of the race course is directly bypassing these scenic film locations.
Feelings of happiness, the festive atmosphere and the experience of a marathon are not the only unique features of this noteworthy race. Every finisher receives a technical T-shirt, a specially designed medal as well as a certification of completion. A movie with highlights of the race will be published on the website after the event. Pictures taken by a professional photographer can be purchased as well. The organizing committee takes great care to ensure that the runners get medical attention during the marathon. Emergency physicians accompany the runners on bicycle throughout the course, medical points are set up at specific locations and diabetics get specific medical attention. Runners are also supplied with nutrition on the course. Most of the members of the organizing committee are marathon runners themselves and thus know what the runners need throughout the marathon. There are fruit, electrolyte drinks, and water as well as coke supplied on the last kilometres. In the finish area the runners find nonalcoholic beer.
With up to 2,500 marathon runners and 5,600 relay runners, 300 children and 100 charity runners from a total of 30 nations, the Volksbank-Muenster Marathon is still the seventh biggest marathon in Germany. “Mass sports meet professional sports” but this race is especially suitable for first-time marathoners. Beginning in February the first-time marathoners are trained by coaches who have been appointed by the Muenster Marathon e.V. The marathon also attracts regular marathon runners. If they improve their marathon finishing time from Muenster they will pay a significantly lower entrance fee the following year. Elite runners set the current course records of 2:10:25 hours for men and 2:29:12 hours for women. For ambitious runners a pacer is hired who assures a finishing time of 2:30:00 hours – a novelty that is unique in Germany. There is prize money between 500 Euro and 2,000 Euro for the top three men and women with German citizenship.
The motto of the Volks- und Raifeisenbanken is also the motto of the title sponsor, the Vereinigte Volksbank Muenster: “Everybody has something that drives him.” The motto is an ideal fit for the Volksbank-Muenster Marathon.
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