The Vienna City Marathon is the largest running event in Vienna and Austria's most important marathon. Every year, thousands of runners and tens of thousands of spectators turn the city into a stage of endurance, emotion and shared energy.
The course is known for being flat, fast and friendly to personal records. At the same time, it leads through the heart of Vienna and past some of the city's most iconic places.
One of its most spectacular sections is the Wiener Ringstrasse — the grand boulevard that surrounds Vienna's historic center. Here runners pass landmarks such as the Vienna State Opera, Parliament, City Hall, Burgtheater, the University of Vienna and monumental 19th century facades. On race day this stretch becomes a true arena: people stand shoulder to shoulder, music fills the air, voices echo through the streets. The energy almost carries the runners forward on its own.
Then comes the opposite: the Wiener Prater.
The Prater is one of the largest urban green spaces in Europe — with avenues, meadows, woodland and long, straight roads. The marathon passes through this area twice. Especially decisive is the section between kilometer 27 and 36.
This is where the famous Prater Hauptallee waits: roughly four kilometers long, wide, perfectly straight and lined with chestnut trees. While the Ringstrasse is loud and full of people, the Hauptallee feels open, quiet and almost endless. Here you hear footsteps, your own breathing and your own thoughts.
On the Ringstrasse, Vienna carries you.
In the Prater, you have to carry yourself.
It is no coincidence that Eliud Kipchoge ran the first sub two hour marathon distance right here, in the Vienna Prater.
I deliberately photographed at kilometer 35. For many runners, this is where the true marathon begins. In running culture, people speak of "hitting the wall" — that point where energy reserves drop, muscles grow heavy and every step becomes a decision.
Here the differences between people grow smaller. Whether elite or amateur — at this point everyone fights with the same questions: Is there enough left? How badly do I want this finish?
Some smile.
Some visibly suffer.
Some look completely empty.
But all of them want to reach the finish line.
This series was photographed using the Nikon Z9 and the Nikon Z8. Only two prime lenses were used, deliberately:
- NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S
- NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena
The entire series was developed in black and white in order to bring expression, light, structure and emotion more clearly to the surface. For a different perspective on gear and approach, see also my weekend with the Leica D-LUX 8.
On the Ringstrasse, Vienna carries you. In the Prater, you have to carry yourself.
