Dramatic 24-hour run in Gotha: Oberaden fights against the forces of nature!

Dramatic 24-hour run in Gotha: Oberaden fights against the forces of nature!

The 24-hour run of the German Championships took place last weekend in Gotha, Thuringia, an event that captivates athletes and fans alike. Among the approximately 160 participants were Dirk Wittkowski and Yvonne Schneider from SuS Oberaden, who competed under extreme conditions. Sports District Unna reports on the challenges the athletes faced, including heavy rain, cold nights and physical discomfort.

Conditions were initially tolerable, with pleasant temperatures and a little sunshine, but the weather soon changed. During the event there were heavy showers and gusts of wind, which caused problems for the runners. So it was not surprising that the run, which started at 10 a.m., had to be stopped after 21.5 hours after thunderstorms and heavy rain made the route impassable.

The achievements of the Oberaden athletes

Despite intestinal problems and exhaustion, Yvonne Schneider was able to cover a remarkable distance of 133 kilometers and took 4th place in the W40 age group. Dirk Wittkowski, who also had to overcome health challenges, covered a distance of 119.561 kilometers and came 12th in the M55 age group.

Both athletes had prepared for this competition for months. The journey to Gotha began with setting up a supply tent in the castle park, which added a pleasant social component: we met up with old acquaintances from the ultra-running scene and enjoyed a meal together with pizza and pasta. What was particularly pleasing was the surprise arrival of club colleagues Jürgen Graeber and Markus Marszalek, who looked after the athletes.

A look at the event

The 36th German Championships in the 24-hour run are not only a sporting highlight, but also a qualification opportunity for the 24-hour World Championships in Albi (France) in October. Among the men, last year's winner Norman Mascher-Aspensjö (SSC Berlin) was the clear favorite. However, the competition was strong, including Marko Gränitz (LG Würzburg), who had already covered 243 kilometers in 2022.

There was also exciting competition on the female side. Katrin Ochs (LG Filder) was an outstanding favorite with a best performance of 224 km from last year, while the seven-time German champion Antje Krause (USC Marburg) entered the race honorably with a best performance of 237 km, but from 2019.

Our look back shows the next challenges for the ultra runners, where the 24-hour run has been part of the official German Athletics Championships since 2019. This year, the weather was certainly one of the biggest hurdles that the participants had to overcome together. After the run, the athletes looked forward to a hot shower, breakfast at the hotel and finally a cozy dinner at a Greek restaurant to reflect on the weekend's experiences.

The event in Gotha will certainly be remembered by many athletes and fans. With a successful mix of sporting challenges and social encounters, the 24-hour run has once again proven its fascination. Further information about past competitions and results can be found in the overview DUV Sports and the detailed results Wikipedia.