Words by Robert Birnbaum. Photography by Theo Mcinnes and Sofieke van Bilsen.

Vienna. Romantic architectural masterpieces and expansive green spaces meet an eclectic art and culture scene. It’s no wonder that the Austrian capital is regularly voted the world's most liveable city. And Vienna's running hotspots are teeming with runners who deploy a more laid-back pace, too. The Viennese running community is coming into its own, especially in recent years.

Vienna native and OAC Europe runner Sebastian Frey is a fan: "If you combine some of the hipper cities like London, Paris and Milan and take it up a notch, that’s Vienna. Life here is underrated," Sebastian states with a smile. And although Vienna has a population of almost two million people, the city on the Danube is often referred to as a village. 

"Runners just know each other here. When you go for a run in the park, you always see the same faces. Then you introduce yourself and start a conversation. You quickly become friends with people you wouldn't have met otherwise. Running in Vienna connects people."

One of these running friendships is Christoph Sander, whose father was Sebastian's youth coach (like I said, Vienna is actually a village). The former semi-pro still remembers the Vienna in which runners were firmly entrenched in the community, but weren’t forming a community of their own.

"When I retired as a semi-pro in 2018, there were only a few [community events]. The only fixed meeting points were the big running events in Vienna – the Vienna Marathon, the Vienna Women's Run, Night Run and a few more. Track runners or road runners mostly kept to their local teams. The typical running clubs, such as the Vienna Running Collective, have only started to appear in recent years. This opens the door to new runners – run clubs are open to new members and getting them excited about running." 

Viennese running clubs and run crews coexisted, but without a sweet spot where a close-knit community could form. While track athletes enjoyed access to a running track, professional coaching and official competitions, amateur runners in run crews had full flexibility without club membership. The best of both worlds? Christoph Sander saw an opportunity to bring the camps together.

"With my background in the event industry, I said: 'Come on, let's create an event to bring the run crews to the track'." Christoph recalls the key question at the start of the project: "What can I give people to get them to the world of athletics?"

"Then it came to me: many marathons advertise that you run on the same course as the stars. So we simply do 1,000 and 5,000m on the track – with the same set-up as the elite [competition]. Everyone can take part. I recruit well-known pacers – Olympians from Austria and popular club members of the community – to accompany you on your fastest 1,000 or 5,000m of your life on the track."

And Track Night Vienna was born.

"I want to show people that track and field isn't an elitist sport, but for everyone. There will be Olympic finalists and, at the same time, amateur runners who rip off 1,000m in three minutes." 

Alongside community building, Track Night Vienna has another goal. Christoph's years of competition experience have shown him that running events can be improved.

"I've run at track meets on every continent. But even when I ran a personal best, the atmosphere just wasn’t there. Track races are often just about following procedure. The runners notice that. That it’s not about them."

Christoph's suggestions for change: more trackside spectators and crowds in the infield, a spectacular supporting program and music that really pushes the athletes during races. He sees great potential for the future of the sport, especially before, after and between races: "I think you get ten times more people to athletics events if there is good food, cool drinks and a good atmosphere. When it's not just about athletics." 

Christoph suggests that the traditional concept needs to be adapted to a new era: "We live in a world with a short attention span, so you have to offer people something [else]. They watch the race for three laps here, then they get a tattoo there, then they do a 20m sprint. At Track Night Vienna you can expect good music, a good atmosphere, everything you would expect from a festival. But combined with absolute world-class sport and the running community.’

What do Viennese runners think of Track Night Vienna? 

"Being able to run an 'honest' time on the track is very popular. Especially with amateur runners, because they thought they weren't allowed on the track. But of course, they are – we include a competition at their pace so that everyone can join in."

Sebastian Frey is among the famed Track Night Vienna alums. He toed the start line when Christoph Sander and team hosted the event at LAZ stadium for the first time. And over the years, he’s witnessed how the small track meeting has matured into an international highlight event.

"I've been there every year since the first Track Night Vienna. It gets bigger, faster and more professional every year. At the beginning, we couldn't even imagine what it would become. Nobody from the club thought it would get this big."

"It's not just this simple go to the start, run and go home again. There's just so much more going on around it. You can hear that the atmosphere is incredible at almost every meet. But at Track Night Vienna, it’s actually true. The music, the atmosphere and the people really push me through the laps. It's unbelievable. I've never experienced anything like it."

"It's difficult to put into words, you have to experience it for yourself. But once you've seen it, you want to take part every year."

Track Night Vienna returns to Prater Stadium in Vienna on June 22, 2024. Sign up now and secure your chance for new PBs and a track spectacle like you’ve never experienced before.