The Klagenfurt marathon: three laps, big crowds, one rule only

The course

Three nearly flat laps taking in Universitätsstraße, Europapark, the Lendkanal and the stretch towards Krumpendorf, with repeated passes through the city centre. The finish is in the heart of Klagenfurt, with a grandstand and red carpet: according to local sources, the finish area has been renovated in recent editions, with new spectator spots along the course. It's one of the most beautiful finishes on the circuit, and you feel it from the very first lap.

That's the problem. A three-lap course with big crowds makes you run faster than you should, exactly when you shouldn't.

Pacing: the race starts at kilometre 28

There's one rule: the first 10 km should feel slow. On a flat course there's no climb to hold you back, so you have to hold yourself back.

Three-lap plan:

• Lap 1: target pace + 5-10 seconds per km. Drink at every aid station. Ignore anyone passing you.
• Lap 2: target pace. This is where the real work starts. If it's hot, this is the lap where the race gets hard.
• Lap 3: whatever's left. If you managed the first two, this is where you reap the rewards and pass dozens of people. If not, this is where you walk.

Use the course landmarks: the passes along the Lendkanal and through the centre are fixed points to check your pace and your headspace. Three laps also means your family sees you at least three times: agree on the spots beforehand.

Heat: the likely enemy

In mid-June the air can hit 28 °C and the marathon is run during the hottest hours. The course has some shaded sections, but don't count on them too much.

Heat protocol, to be tested in training:

• Ice at every aid station: in your cap, down your trisuit on your chest and back.
• Sponges on your neck and nape; squeeze them out, don't carry them for kilometres.
• Water on your body as well as what you drink: cooling your skin matters as much as hydrating.
• If the second lap gets tough, mentally shorten the race: aid station to aid station, never further.

Aid stations come frequently: use them all, even walking 10-15 seconds if that's what it takes to actually drink instead of pouring the cup all over yourself.

How to prepare

Three things to put in your plan between now and June:

1. Long runs at controlled pace off the bike: at least 3-4 bricks with 60-90 minutes of running at lap 1 pace. The goal is learning what "too easy" feels like. 2. Running in the heat: if spring allows it, run during the hot hours in the final 4-6 weeks. Heat adaptation is trainable. 3. Aid station protocol rehearsal: on a long run, stop every 2 km to drink while walking. It sounds trivial; on race day it isn't.

The finish

The red carpet with the grandstand is why many choose this race as their first full. Getting there running instead of walking depends almost entirely on what you do between km 0 and km 15. The test to do now: on your next long run, run the first half hour 15 seconds per km slower than planned and see how you finish. That's the Klagenfurt lesson.

Note: the three-lap configuration reflects the 2023-2026 editions. Check the official 2027 map.