Training Zone of the Vienna City Marathon

This is the place for everyone who loves running, has recently started, or wants to get back into it, or simply seeks training tips. 

Tip #1: Do it, and do it together. You'll always be motivated with a friend or a group.  
  

Training Plans

To help you prepare for the Vienna City Marathon 2025, we are once again offering VCM training plans for the marathon and Wiener Städtische Half Marathon from our partner Sportordination, tailored to the VCM Winter Running Series and the weekly VCM Training Runs. 

We will make the training plans available for download here approx. 3 months before the VCM.

We wish you all the best and lots of fun with your VCM preparation! 

 

VCM Training Runs - Your running community in Vienna

To support your preparation for the Vienna City Marathon and Wiener Städtische Half Marathon on 6 April 2025 and to boost your motivation, we will be holding weekly VCM Training Runs in the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna from 5 November 2024

From then on, many running enthusiasts will be out and about together every week in several pace groups with coaches from Sportordination. Participation is free of charge.The aim is to have a great experience at the VCM. Together we run!

The VCM Training Runs are an initiative of the Vienna Sports and Athletics Club (SLW). Our partner Sportordination organises the training sessions with experienced coaches in several pace groups.  
 

VCM Training Runs 2024/25

Just come along and join us. We look forward to seeing you! 

In November and December 2024, we will be running HIIT sessions alternating between 30 seconds of effort and 30 seconds of recovery. 

We offer various groups for these performance levels in relation to the possible race pace for marathons/half marathons:
  • 4:40-5:20 min/km
  • 5:20-6:00 min/km
  • 6:00-6:40 min/km
  • Goal: To finish the race! *
  • Optional: Running technique
* You clearly don't need to be in top form yet, but a certain amount of running experience is also required for the ‘finisher’ group because the HIIT units are demanding.
 
Here you can find details on the upcoming training sessions: 
VCM Training Runs Programs November & December 2024

From January 2025, we will be offering eight training groups with longer interval training programmes in line with the VCM training plans of the Sportordination. We will announce the weekly training programmes here in advance. 

The training is tailored to the VCM Winter Running Series and is geared towards target times of 3:15 to 4:45 hours for the marathon and 1:37 to 2:22 for the half marathon.  
 

Cloakroom

  • We can use the women's running container in the Stadionbad / Marathonweg area to store clothes.
  • The container is open from 18:15-18:25 and until 15 minutes after the end of training.
     

VCM training information

Subscribe to the free and GDPR-compliant. VCM Training Newsletter. This will keep you up to date on our preparation programmes.

We pick up the pace at the VCM Training Runs! 

We work on speed and the specific speed endurance required for the marathon. These intervals and HIIT units are challenging, which is precisely why we run them together in a group. The VCM Training Runs do not replace the runs to build up basic endurance. Rather, they provide an emphasis on speed and intensity that many runners might not be able to achieve on their own.  

HIIT means: “High Intensity Interval Training”

We run short series with 30 seconds of maximum or almost maximum effort. This is followed by an equally long break, e.g. slow jogging or walking.


Only come to the VCM Training Run if you are healthy!
 

  • In case of pain or infection: Take a break and give yourself time to get fit and fully resilient again.
  • If in doubt, have yourself checked by a doctor.
  • Be aware that the fast and perhaps unfamiliar training sessions are strenuous.
Participation is free of charge. We look forward to seeing you and having great training experiences together!

Important to know: 
  • As a group, we always run on the right-hand side of the Hauptallee.
  • Do not use headphones during training so that you can understand the information given by the coaches and other runners.
  • During the VCM Training Runs, pictures and videos will be taken for the social media channels of the Vienna City Marathon and Sportordination.
  • Participation in the VCM Training Runs is at your own risk. The organiser and the trainers accept no liability for accidents or damage.


 

Get ready for the race!

Shirts, caps & more - you'll find everything you need for your run in our online shop!