Hamburg ‘Mission’ moves to Vienna on 18 April

With the Hamburg city authorities withdrawing consent for hosting the elite-only 'NN Mission Marathon' in the city on 11 April a search for alternatives was launched.

Vienna City Marathon organisers were quick to come forward with the suggestion of using a circuit in Vienna’s Prater based on that previously used by the NN team in the “1:59 Challenge” of October 2019 in which Eliud Kipchoge ran an “assisted” 1:59:40.2 for the marathon distance.

A half marathon with 200 starters was already planned for 18 April and this will still take place, after the elite race,, from 12 noon. Vienna City Marathon race director Wolfgang Konrad said: “It is a great honour for us to welcome Eliud back to Vienna. We are also pleased that in these difficult times of the Covid19 pandemic we can assist the Hamburg Marathon and Global Sports in the organisation of a top-level event with this first-class location."