This guy is really on a roll – and has been for 37 years! Because unbelievable, but true: Viennese Gerhard Wally will contest his 712th marathon in Linz on Sunday! The 64-year-old told the “Krone” what excites him about running a marathon, how many running shoes he uses and what he advises all debutants.
At the first marathon in his native Vienna in 1984 he was fascinated as a spectator, and in 1986 for the first time as an active participant. “Since then I have not missed a Vienna marathon. In Linz unfortunately two because friends had already registered me for Paris in 2004 and for Rotterdam in 2006,” says Gerhard Wally.
Run 41 marathons in one year
Who ran 41 marathons in his record year 2012, an average of 20 per year and in 2007 ran 19 consecutive weekends! “Unfortunately, no one was detained anywhere on the 20th weekend,” grins the retired magistrate employee, who will of course also be at the start in Vienna next week. And who runs about ten marathons on one pair of running shoes.
Run instead of a tavern
What does he say to people who claim his high marathon frequency is unhealthy? “The question is: how do you define health? Should I sit down in the pub, drink a Doppler and smoke a pack of cigarettes?” said the 64-year-old. Who has experienced everything from running at -19 degrees to over 30 degrees plus, 14 of the 711 events he has completed worldwide in less than three hours so far, has missed only one (due to lumbago) and has after knee problems not being able to run around 80 to 100 kilometers per mile since 2017 week coming up. “I compensate for that with swimming, fitness, and strength training,” says Wally.
“Run with heart, mind and humor!”
What advice does the man, who starts again today with bib number 58 (his year of birth), give to those running their very first marathon in Linz on Sunday? “Run with heart, mind and humor! Reap with joy what you sow in training. But don’t overdo it and don’t force anything. Because there’s a next time!”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
