16k Runners Registered for ING Night Marathon Luxembourg 2024

The 17th edition of the ING Night Marathon Luxembourg will take place on Saturday 11 May 2024.

As announced by ING and the City of Luxembourg (Ville de Luxembourg - VdL), the sporting event will kick off at Luxexpo The Box in Luxembourg-Kirchberg at 19:00 on 11 May. The 42.195 km circuit will lead participants through the districts of Kirchberg, Limpertsberg, Belair, Merl, Hollerich, Gare and the city centre, before bringing them back to the starting point.

In parallel to the ING Night Marathon, the sixth edition of "Roll & Run" will depart from Glacis at 18:00. This 7.2 km route will lead participants through the district of Limpertsberg with the objective of allowing them to fully enjoy the marathon atmosphere. Before and after the race, as well as throughout the evening, food and drink stands will available on Glacis.

With nearly 16,000 registrations, the organisers of the ING Night Marathon Luxembourg have reported a new registration record. Race director Erich François from step by step SA (organiser) explained that this figure represents an increase of 26% compared to last year's event. "It is especially among young runners aged eighteen to 28 that we can note a clear increase in registrations," he added. Runners from 124 countries will meet in the capital for this unique sporting event, running as night turns to day.

The step by step team also saw a 29% increase in business registrations. Society seems to be moving more again, which is also due, according to Erich François, to social media. "Many influencers promote a healthy lifestyle and particularly running, which benefits events like the ING Night Marathon Luxembourg," he said. With the slogan "From Office to 42", the initiative supported last year by Luxembourg's Ministry of Health, the European Commission and the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce has entered its second phase. Together with personal trainer David Steffes, running enthusiasts could prepare themselves for the event again from the beginning of February 2024.

The UNITY RUN remains popular, with students from seven different schools (Lycée Gaston Thorn, École Privée Fieldgen, Lycée Michel Rodange, École Européenne, International School Luxembourg, Lycée Michel Lucius, École Internationale Mondorf-les-Bains) taking part in this slightly different relay race. Eleven teams will run the total distance of the marathon, with each student covering one kilometre each. Participation fees and donations collected during this event will be entirely donated to the Unity Foundation, a charity that supports educational projects around the world - in this case, a project that promotes village schools and teacher training in Malawi.

For the first time in its history, the ING Night Marathon Luxembourg route has been barely modified this year. "The major transformation works due to the tram and on the Knuedler [Place Guillaume II] are behind us and the few minor modifications will probably not be noticed by the riders," explained Erich François.

In addition to the sporting action, musical entertainment is on the agenda. A total of 65 music groups will be spread out along the route that evening to create an "exceptional" atmosphere. These include samba and jazz groups, choirs, marching bands, percussionists, DJs and reggae groups.

According to the organisers, the biggest hotspots of this event (where it is not just about running) remain the Limpertsberg district, Place de la Constitution (Gëlle Fra) and Place Guillaume II, where the marathon and half-marathon courses separate. At the Philharmonie in Luxembourg-Kirchberg, the team from local running club FATBETTY.RUN will warm up the runners with their "Phil'station" and will be distributing cold beer.

At the finish station at Luxexpo (Hall 7), runners can enjoy music and a light show. "The finish in the hall is unique on the pan-European marathon scene. Everyone knows it's worth racing to the finish and being welcomed at Luxexpo," commented Erich François.

In addition to the classic marathon (42.195 km) and the half-marathon, the organisers are offering a relay race - the 5K Run for Success - during which four runners can share the marathon distance (departure from MUDAM at 20:10). Meanwhile, the Roll & Run race is aimed at sports enthusiasts who use wheelchairs, racing wheelchairs, Hoyt running chairs, strollers, skateboards, longboards, scooters, etc. A "mini" marathon and a "mini-mini" marathon are also planned, departing Luxexpo at 19:30 and at 19:40, respectively.

Among the Luxembourg runners, reigning champion Luc Scheller may have to prove himself against Charel Lehners, who placed eighth in last year's ING Night Marathon Luxembourg. Among the women, both the reigning champion and last year's Luxembourg winner, Shefi Xhaferaj, and the multiple Luxembourg winner of the ING Night Marathon, Karin Schank, will be competing. This year, according to the organisers, the celebrity of the race is Sabrina Mockenhaupt. The two-time Olympic Games participant (Athens 2004, London 2012) and multiple German long-distance running champion will take part in this year's event as part of a relay. The three remaining relay places will be drawn randomly.