Foto: SV 98 28.08.2025 / English
Lilien Relay Marathon: A successful premiere
Nearly 600 runners celebrated the premiere of the Lilien Relay Marathon around the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor on Wednesday (August 27th). In teams of two to eight people, they faced the challenge of completing a marathon or half marathon distance together. What made the evening special was that the focus was not on individual performance, but on the spirit of togetherness. Whether with colleagues, friends, or as a club team, the team spirit was palpable everywhere, creating a lively atmosphere in and around the stadium.
Premiere with a great response
The idea behind the new running event: to get moving together and focus on team spirit. Numerous companies, clubs, and members accepted the invitation and formed relay teams, completing either a marathon or half marathon distance. „We are delighted that almost 600 running enthusiasts accepted our invitation. The special thing about this event is that you don’t run alone, but as a group, which naturally always creates more enthusiasm in sports,“ was the positive assessment of Michael Weilguny, Managing Director of SV Darmstadt 98.
The start and finish area of the Lilien Relay Marathon was located directly at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. From there, the varied route led through the adjacent forest. A water station provided refreshments along the way, while cold drinks and snacks awaited participants at the finish line. There was also an opportunity to round off the day of sport in a convivial atmosphere at the stadium kiosks.
Different relay sizes
There was something for all skill levels. In the marathon, teams could compete either in groups of four, each covering around ten kilometers, or in groups of eight, each covering five kilometers. In the half marathon, teams of two, four, or six could choose their own distance, so every group could find its perfect fit.
Weilguny, who competed himself and completed the marathon distance with his team, expressed his satisfaction with the successful start and was already looking ahead: „We hope to be able to expand the Lilien Relay Marathon even further next year and are optimistic that we will be able to welcome a four-digit number of participants here at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor.“