Career
On September 23, 2018, the AsstrA Running Team took part in two running events: the Absolute Moscow Marathon, whose route passed through the center of the Russian capital, and the International Wachau Marathon, where athletes had run through the amazingly picturesque wine-growing region of Austria.
AsstrA Running Team member Vyacheslav Polkanov, Engineer of Operation Department was also positive despite the onset of autumn temperatures:
"The weather was non-marathon: rain and cold wind. Nevertheless, running lifted our spirits and we got a boost of energy to start a new working week. Thank you, AsstrA, for encouraging physical activity in this way. I will be happy to take part in more such sports events!"
AsstrA Running Team member Alena Santalainen , Focus Customer Service Specialist, shares her impressions of the Wachau Marathon:
“Here I participated in probably the best organized marathon I have ever seen – and I have seen a few. From an early-morning train for participants to a post-marathon massage and a free trip to the spa, every single detail was thought through!”
The Wachau Marathon is in fact very special, as it ties in with wine. In spring in Corinthia you have the opportunity to run close to beautiful lakes and mountains, and now in autumn you can enjoy watching the grape harvest in one of best wine regions in Austria. So along the way you can see Donau on one side and endless vineyards on the other. Small cities and castles along the way make you feel like you are running in a fairy tail.
We got very lucky with the weather. The week before the marathon was hot and dry, and I was seriously worried that I would have to run I would have to run in 25 C weather! Fortunately, it started to rain on Saturday and temperatures fell to an almost ideal 16 C. Overall, I am very happy with my results in this very challenging event.
Marathons are of course all about challenges – and in this case even more! The focus of this year’s event was on charity and community, so the city of Krems agreed to give 1€ to charity every time a bell next to the course was rung! The organization of the race relied primarily on local companies and suppliers who could give a great overall experience to every participant. Businesses and their communities thus learned to go the extra mile together as a team – in this marathon and in the race of life!
