Was it really worth it?

Anyone watching the athletes throw themselves down just past the finish line of the Frankfurt Marathon this Sunday, barely able to get up again;

Anyone who sees how those who can still walk tremble and limp all over their bodies and how some people have to vomit on the red carpet in the festival hall because their bodies can’t do anything else, this question arises – but it probably is I have never run a marathon myself.

There is no doubt that such a run is exhausting.

But on Sunday you can also see that: tears of happiness, athletes who sprinted in the last meters as if they had just started, cheering over the new personal best time and strangers hugging each other like best friends.

Kim Maurus

volunteer.

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The people of Frankfurt have been waiting for this day for a long time, the last time the marathon took place was in 2019, in 2020 and 2021 it had to be canceled due to the pandemic.

On Sunday even the weather cooperates, at least for those who are standing on the street, making music or handing out gels and drinks.

According to the organizers, around 300,000 racing enthusiasts came together.

For some of the more than 20,000 runners from 110 nations who took part in the various competitions of the Frankfurt Marathon, the run was arduous.

"The weather was too warm for a good performance," says Edgar Makanga, who came from Brussels and took part in the Frankfurt Marathon for the first time.

"It was much warmer than I thought, but the support was great," says British Kat Baldwyn, who has run several marathons before but never one in Frankfurt: "I wanted to see something new."

"I'm very happy"

The weather didn't bother others.

"I'm very happy.

I trained for 20 weeks to get to 3:30, and I managed 3:28,” says Ayline Heller from Frankfurt, her face streaming with tears.

The 29-year-old PhD student ran a marathon for the first time.

51-year-old Lothar Heider, who has completed more than 40 marathons in his life, is also more than satisfied.

"Finally under 3:30, it totally depends on the conditions, today it was great!"

Rita Marques, who came to Frankfurt from Lisbon, says: "I usually run mountain runs, it's much faster here." The city is wonderful, "I'm grateful to be here".

For them, too, the Frankfurt Marathon was their first ever.

The local run is considered to be the fastest German marathon in mass sports, the athletes complete it in an average of 3:57:56 hours.

In order to realize such a major event, an enormous amount of material is needed: the organizers procured 400,000 drinking cups, 120,000 liters of drinks, 150,000 safety pins, 4.5 tons of bananas and 1.3 tons of apples.

The age range of the runners who started was also large.

The youngest athlete this year is 18-year-old Chantal Hegelbach, the Swiss started two days after her birthday.

The oldest runner is 82-year-old Klaus Niepelt.

Others don't stand out because of their age, but because of their accessories.

For example, the Mexican Luis Vieyra, who ran the 42.195 kilometers with a sombrero.

"I think the finish here is the best in the world, it's spectacular," he says after the race.

He lives in Bad Soden, far away from his family.

But he didn't feel alone that Sunday: "Everyone cheered me on, many shouted 'Viva México', I felt at home."