Island marathon starts off in top form in the anniversary year

Hanover/Palma de Mallorca, 16 October 2008. This year the start and finish area has been moved near to the cathedral, UNICEF is the new partner for the Kids Run and the climax will be a running duel between Jürgen Drews and Achim Achilles. Indeed the 5th International TUI Marathon Palma de Mallorca is turning out to be a great attraction in the anniversary year with a great many new ideas for both runners and spectators.

A real eye-catcher is the newly designed start and finish area in the Parc de la Mar below the La Seu cathedral. Spread out in front of this fantastic backdrop is the popular Marathon Market and the diverse supporting programme. The park – laid out with effervescent fountains, lawns and gardens – will as a result be at the centre of the event.

The younger runners too can look forward to a new running setting and an appealing route. On the Paseo Antonio Maura up-and-coming athletes between four and twelve year olds will compete for a good cause on a circular course of 500, 1,000 or 1,500 metres, depending on their age. Running under the motto of “Children of the north running for children of the south“ TUI will donate for each child that runs five euros to the UNICEF Programme for Education and Sport.

What would the “most beautiful island marathon of the world“ be without a celebrity starter? Achim Achilles, author of the popular column on running in Spiegel Online and pop singer Jürgen Drews, self-styled King of Mallorca, will be running their own race in the half marathon. Thanks to the professional preparations in the yoga studio “Yogayou“ in Palma, managed by actress Ursula Carven and Kim Steeb, both of the runners are in good shape.

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