Was the Linz Marathon course short?

Looks like the finish line was moved up a few blocks

2021

2022

Hardloper wrote:

Looks like the finish line was moved up a few blocks

I can't see the 2021 map? What does it show the total distance as? You could move the finish line and still have 42.2. Are you saying it's short or just that it had a different finish line?

You can look at Strava for several runners who ran this marathon. The shortest registered distance I can see is 42.36km, most persons have it at 42.5 - 42.6. Does not look to be a short course. Even 200m short should result in several persons having it at 42.1 - 42.2 km.

rojo wrote:

Hardloper wrote:

Looks like the finish line was moved up a few blocks

I can't see the 2021 map? What does it show the total distance as? You could move the finish line and still have 42.2. Are you saying it's short or just that it had a different finish line?

The reported distance doesn't matter... what you can see is while the start point and route is the same, it ends a few blocks earlier in 2022, maybe 250-300 meters short. You have to be logged in to see it.

Hardloper wrote:

rojo wrote:

I can't see the 2021 map? What does it show the total distance as? You could move the finish line and still have 42.2. Are you saying it's short or just that it had a different finish line?

The reported distance doesn't matter... what you can see is while the start point and route is the same, it ends a few blocks earlier in 2022, maybe 250-300 meters short. You have to be logged in to see it.

To be clear, yes the finish line looks like it's in a different location.

Hardloper wrote:

Hardloper wrote:

The reported distance doesn't matter... what you can see is while the start point and route is the same, it ends a few blocks earlier in 2022, maybe 250-300 meters short. You have to be logged in to see it.

To be clear, yes the finish line looks like it's in a different location.

And nothing else changed??? Wow. Of course that would make the course short if so.

Although it wouldn’t explain the fast 5k splits late in the race.

UNLESS the last two timing mats were placed measuring BACK from the new early finish. ie If the finish were placed at 42.0km, and a timing mat placed 2.2k back from that, the split would stop early, 35k-39.8k.

Map from 2019: https://www.facebook.com/linzmarathon/photos/10157021414427230

If people can find strava data from people who ran it multiple years that would probably help.

In other Strava posts from 2022 (such as this one: https://www.strava.com/activities/8006444357/overview) the finish line seems to be in the same place as in the 2021 race. Strava now has the hide start and/or finish feature as an option for runs. The hide finish shows the activity ending a few tenths of a mile before the place where the watch was actually stopped. I wouldn't put too much stock in the starts and ends on strava maps because of this, but the map I posted suggests that it may be the same finish line with some people using the "hide finish" setting.

Strava User wrote:

In other Strava posts from 2022 (such as this one: https://www.strava.com/activities/8006444357/overview) the finish line seems to be in the same place as in the 2021 race. Strava now has the hide start and/or finish feature as an option for runs. The hide finish shows the activity ending a few tenths of a mile before the place where the watch was actually stopped. I wouldn't put too much stock in the starts and ends on strava maps because of this, but the map I posted suggests that it may be the same finish line with some people using the "hide finish" setting.

Good point, yeah

Not sure about the 2022 edition. What I'm pretty sure though Is the 2007 edition (previous CR) was short. No way that time was legit. Look up Kuzin's stats. A 2:10 guy if everything alligned and suddenly he dropped a 2:07. In addition I think he was not even challenged that day. All by himself. I remember at the the time I was just laughing about it. So obviously short. But It was never invalidated.

Perhaps the course is right but the split markers were put at the wrong spot? When courses get paved over or painted often it is hard to figure out where splits should be. Regardless, should be easy to verify the course.

We received two emails from people who were watching the race broadcast and saw a man jump out of the lead truck and tell the runners to turn around. It turns out the the person doing it was the race director. One of our sources explained what they saw.

It happened at 25km which is a turn around

point https://www.linzmarathon.at/en/interactive-map.html.

The TV showed the race director Günther Weidlinger removing a section of barrier tape as the athletes approached it and indicating for the athletes to run through.

The incident is from 1:28:50 in this race video:

There is an interview with Günther Weidlinger at 3:03:47. He explains that the turning point had been put in the wrong place.

"The turning point on our course on Unionstrasse is directly under the Westbrücke (a bridge). That is where it is marked, that's where it was measured with the EMS. Unfortunately when the course was set up today the turning point was pulled too far down to the point where the cars are meant to turn. The athletes would have run 40m too far in one direction and 40m too far back in the other direction. Therefore I jumped out of the lead car and tore the plastic tape and indicated for the athletes to run through so that we didn't run too far and endanger the course record. But the tape was definitely broken at the right place, exactly where the turning point is. It wasn't about the record, we can prove with the EMS measurement photos where the turning point is and from the TV pictures. The turning point is where the timing mat is".

The race organisers specifically targeted a course record and recruited athletes capable of this. I was watching the race to see **** and was expecting him to get a PB as he has been training well since moving to a new training camp. He and his coach were expecting *** and he got it.

The pacemaker stayed in until 35km and even finished the race in position 7. I tend towards the course record and PBs being a result of good pacing, the right athletes working together and favourable weather conditions.

I think it's worth noting that they seem to have sacrificed the women's elite race to get course record. There were no elite women invited.

After getting two emails, I emailed the race organizers and asked them, "With a few days to think about it, are you confident the course was the right distance?" The race director Günther Weidlinger wrote back the following:

YES, I am very confident that the turning point was on the right place.

As proof I send you some pictures from the TV live coverage and the measurement and statement (facebook) of the AIMS measurer Rainer Soos (sorry, it is in german). He commented already Sunday evening that the turning point was completely on the rights spot.

If you check the picture “Wendepunkt 1” on the very left you can see the yellow mark below the case of mikatiming. You can also compare the facebook pictures of the exact AIMS measurement from 2020 (certificate enclosed) with the pictures “Wendepunkt”. Just keep an eye on the road marks (arrows) and you can see the right turning point.

Hope you are also confident the we turned at the right spot :)

For any further question please do not hesitate to contact me.

He included a ton of attachments, the course certificate, text messages, etc. which I have added to the original article.

I applaud him for getting back to me and tend to think now it was accurate. They had amazing weather and purposely brought in a ton of men to break teh CR. They also had pacing for 35k which I didn't know.

A possible explanation is that the course is correct but the dividing markers were placed in the wrong places. It can be confusing to determine where the splits should be on a course that is frequently paved over or repainted. It should be straightforward to validate the training nonetheless.

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