If you look closely, you will immediately notice that there are a noticeably large number of young faces among the onlookers at the marathon in 2022. Kids in running shoes and sports gear line the barriers around the starting area of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. They crane their necks to catch a glimpse of world-class athletes in the elite block. But they, who count the loudest during the countdown and cheer the most euphorically when the starting signal is given for the “big ones”, are themselves much more than “just” spectators: they are the main actors.
Highly motivated and in the best possible mood for the race, the aforementioned group of mini-marathoners gathers about a hundred metres behind the starting line. Many of them have completed a short warm-up programme before it is time for the pre-start rituals: A little stretching here, tying the shoes there, looking for the GPS signal with the watch, a few last instructions from the coach, then everything is ready.
At 10:55 a.m. the traditional last starting signal of the marathon Sunday is given – the mini-marathon runners are sent out on the 4.2 km course through Frankfurt’s skyscraper canyons. After just 13 minutes, the fastest youngsters are already back in the Festhalle and enjoy the last metres on the red carpet, just like the marathoners a little later.
