Altötting half marathon defies rain

As usual there was a specially made medal for everyone, a valuable participant gift, free travel to and from the race by train, free city tours, massages, clothes storage, childcare and much more.

But like most other runs at the moment the Altöttinger recorded a significant drop in participants such that only 1700 entries were registered. Nevertheless, history was made…

Not that it rained for the first time in 15 years but that for the first time all winners were German. Lisa Wimmer (1:23:04) and Josef Diensthuber (1:12:56), both German, topped the podium for the first time in 31 years.

Diensthuber wrote another chapter in the history of the Altötting Half Marathon because he managed to win three times in a row. Until now no man had done that (but two women had: Petra Kaminkova and Joyce Chepchumba).

World-class biathlete Johannes Kühn, who lives just a few kilometres from Altötting, won the 6km race in a great time of 18:58. His sister, Paula Kühn, won the women’s race – another new first for the race.

There were also well-known running celebrities on the part of the organization and helpers. Tamara Koba, the wife of the organiser Günther Vogl and a former European champion, was involved. Julia Shmatenko (best performance 1:11:22 and the winner of the half marathon Altötting 2017, was part of the team of volunteers and handed over the medals at the finish.

Race organiser Günther Vogl, also a World Athletics authorised athlete manager, is still motivated and will do everything to bring the run back to its former size.