In retrospect, Jo Schindler and his team did everything right when they canceled the Frankfurt Marathon for the second time in a row this summer.

At the time, nobody could have known exactly how the coronavirus pandemic would develop by the date on October 31.

Three days in a row with a seven-day incidence over 100 in the city area “the permit would have expired,” says the race director.

Costs of around 2.5 million euros would have been incurred without taking anything.

“The top athletes would have received a part”, security and the festival hall would have been booked, the damage in the small company would have been difficult to compensate.

In this way, however, the runners were able to reorient themselves at an early stage, choose other starting options or adjust their training to not tackle the classic 42.195 kilometers until next year.

A look at the status shows that the fears that led to the decision at the time have come true.

The number of infections has been above the red line again for a week.

The event, which was registered for 10,000 participants, would have fallen by the wayside.

But Schindler said they didn't want to say goodbye to the year “without a sound”.

Change your mind spontaneously

“We wanted to show the flag again” and get the community moving together despite Corona.

As in 2020, the marathon will therefore be held virtually.

The starting signal will be given on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Then all over the world who want to run can go on the route of their choice.

Five or ten kilometers, a half marathon or a whole - everyone chooses the distance according to their own taste and can change their minds even during the race.

By Thursday, more than 7,000 athletes had already registered for it.

You can download your start number from the Internet and can thus be recognized as a participant.

There is no rating in the usual sense.

Anyone who enters their result up to and including Monday will receive the link for a certificate.

Schindler himself and his colleagues will start running from the marathon headquarters on Sonnemannstrasse and have ten kilometers on the plan.

At a normal event, the maker would not have time for it;

He and his wife want to enjoy as much as possible the rare pleasure of putting on their jogging shoes while running their own.

Olympian Katharina Steinruck has also imposed 10,000 meters on the street and will run along the banks of the Main.

The Eintracht athlete is one of the regulars of the race on her own doorstep and doesn't want to let the virus stop her this year either.