Dear Runner, Dear Women’s Run Community,
I can almost not believe it, we are already celebrating the 35th ASICS Austrian Women’s Run®! My goal, then as today, was to fill women with enthusiasm for running. It makes me unbelievably happy and proud that this passion for running has, over the past 34 years, spread like wildfire from generation to generation and hundreds of thousands of women have made it their sport. On the occasion of this special anniversary we have opened our archive, retrieved mementos, and collated many beautiful, moving background and heartfelt stories. Up until the start on 4 June 2023 , we shall constantly be presenting new information here. I wish you lots of pleasure while browsing and reviewing past events – perhaps you will be reminded of your own beginnings as a runner… I am very much looking forward to a great, unforgettable 35th ASICS Austrian Women’s Run®. Celebrate together with us and let us continue making history. Warmest regards, Ilse Dippmann
Timeline how it started
1986
THE SPARK
In the 1980s, running women were still a rarity. Ilse began to run and in the same year competed in her first marathon in New York. In Central Park, she saw a picture she had never seen before in Austria: numerous women running. Here she gets to know the first women's race in the world - the "New York Mini 10K".
1987
THE DECISION
Ilse Dippmann starts again at the NYC Marathon and comes back to Vienna with a clear vision: to motivate Austrians to run & convince them that running is the ideal sport for women. With her friends Elisabeth Brunnhuber, Uschi Huber, Maria Schafler, Gerhard Konrath and Wolfgang Konrad, she initiated the "Women's Running Project".
1988
THE FIRST TIME
June 12, Laxenburg Ilse Dippmann gives the starting signal for the 1st Austrian Women's Run with 440 pioneering women.
1991
10 KM TRY
To attract more women and girls, the 10km distance was offered for the first time. 78 female runners started over the new distan
1992
brand new
The unmistakable Frauenlauf logo is created. It becomes synonymous with female running in Austria.
1994
WE ARE 500
For the 7th edition of the Austrian Women's Run®, more than 500 runners are taking part for the first time!
1995
a. schnabl ON BOARD
Ilse Dippmann brings a new partner into the team with Andreas Schnabl. Together they will develop the Austrian Women's Run® over the next 21 years into one of the leading women's runs in the world.
1996
WELCOME TO THE DONAUPARK
The Austrian Women's Run moves from the Prater to the Donaupark! For the first time there will be childcare and the - now legendary - Nike Warm Up before the start.
1997
WOMEN'S RUNNING CLUB
In order to prepare for the Austrian Women's Run® and to make it easier for beginners to take their first running steps, the 1st Women's Running Club is founded in the Vienna Prater. The well-known "Fit in 12 Weeks" program begins. Dm drogerie markt joins as main sponsor for the next 25 years.
1998
WE MAKE HEADLINES
Federal Chancellor Viktor Klima gives the starting gong for 2,081 participants and we make the front pages of Austria's biggest daily newspapers for the first time. At the same time, we go online with our first website and bring the Blockstart to Austria.
1999
back to the roots
The Austrian Women's Run® grows and returns to the Vienna Prater. The new course length, the classic 5km women's distance inspires more than 3,000 runners. Pentek Timing takes over the chip timing for the 1st time. New in the women's race program: the children's race on the day before the women's race.
2000
EVEN MORE RUNS
We expand our spectrum and create with the Women's Fun Run in April the preparation run for the Austrian Women's Run. For the first time, girls and boys from the age of 3 start at the Kids' Run on the day before the Women's Run.
2001
FROM NOW 5 KM
For the first time in the history of the women's race, there is only a 5km distance, as is usual in international women's races...
2002
VIENNA SAYS THANK YOU
For her services to running and especially to women's running, Ilse Dippmann is awarded the Sports Medal of Honor of the City of Vienna by Vice Mayor Grete Laska.
2003
WE DOUBLE: 10 KM
There is also the possibility to start over a 10km distance. 1.485 runners make our "10er" from the beginning the biggest 10km event in Austria! PS: In 2016 there will already be over 7,000 participants in the 10er.
2004
THE WOMEN'S RUN AWARD
The Women's Run Award is launched and presented to courageous women who fight for their ideals. The first award winner is UN Special Ambassador Waris Dirie. And: for the first time we also welcome 263 female Nordic Walkers at the start.
2005
A MAGICAL YEAR
For the first time, more than 10,000 participants will be at the start. For the first time, top international female athletes will compete in the elite 5 km event. For the first time, women's running pioneer Kathrine Switzer will be our guest in Vienna - and we will present her with the Women's Running Award!
2006
award TO loroupe
Marathon runner Tegla Loroupe receives the Women's Run Award in recognition of her peace work in Africa and her social commitment.
2007
20 YEARS
The 20th anniversary. 14,603 women and girls join in the celebration and make the event the largest women's run in Central Europe. Ilse Dippmann is awarded the Golden Decoration of Merit of the Republic of Austria by Minister for Women's Affairs Doris Bures. Dancer and choreographer Alamande Belfor takes over the warm-up for the first time.
2008
10 min ON orf1
For the first time in the history of the Women's Run, all 16,100 starting places have already been allocated by the pre-registration deadline and ORF will broadcast a 10-minute summary of the Austrian dm Women's Run® in a separate program on the day of the event.
2009
FULLY BOOKED AFTER 45 DAYS!
2 days before the official registration deadline we are already completely booked! This has never happened before! With more than 18,000 starters, the Austrian dm Women's Run is the largest in continental Europe.
2010
20.000+!
21,121 women and girls from 71 nations followed the motto "See you at the finish line". The Women's Run is forced to move from Kaiserallee/Rotundenplatz to its current home because of the new WU. This involuntary step lays the foundation for further growth.
2011
TRACK RECORD!
The Portuguese Ana Dulce Félix sets a new course record in the 5 km elite event - and remains unbeaten to this day with a time of 15:27.4 min. With more than 25,000 participants, there seems to be no end to the enthusiasm for the women's race.
2012
25 years = more than running
For our 25th anniversary, we let it rip. With another record number of participants - a sensational 30,052 women and girls from 66 nations - we have long been the sporting highlight of the season and "the place to be" for tens of thousands. From now on, we will also support young athletics talents with the Young Athletes Award.
2013
WE CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY!
No matter what age, performance level, origin, religion, language - running unites! 30,100 women and girls at the start of the Austrian Women's Run confirm this. More than 300 runners from Slovakia are also taking part!
2014
WE ARE Partners!
Our shirt bears the fur drawing of a cheetah, the fastest land mammal in the world. The design emphasizes the athleticism & speed of the runners. At the same time, triplets of cheetahs see the light of day in Schönbrunn Zoo. - And we take over the sponsorship.
2015
run the city
There have never been so many women and girls running, walking and training in public spaces. From now on, we will accompany our community through the women's running season with many side events outside of the joint women's running training sessions.
2016
33.000
20 years of women's race training and 33,000 at the start- this puts us at the top of women's races worldwide. During the Austrian Event Hall of Fame Gala Ilse Dippmann and the Austrian Women's Run will be inducted into the "Hall of Fame of Austrian Events".
2017
ReCord!
The Austrian Women's Run celebrates its 30th anniversary with a new record number of participants! There are over 35,000 female runners at the start and the motto "Time to celebrate" and the Racer Pink T-shirt with heart and flames are a huge success.
2018
ASICS IS ON BOARD
We welcome ASICS as a new partner on board. From now on we are called ASICS Austrian Women's Run. The sporty image of the event is also reinforced by the additional interactive sporty program on the Frauenlauf stage. At the Women's Run, every runner experiences "moments that count!".
2019
8TH TIME 30.000
More than 30,000 female starters from 92 nations were at the start in 2019! For the 8th year in a row, the number of participants exceeded 30,000.
2020
CANCELLATION DUE TO PANDEMIC
Due to Corona, the ASICS Austrian Women's Run 2020 unfortunately had to be cancelled. ASICS gives thank you shirts to all participants who donated the entry fee for the Women's Run.
2021
TAKE OFF: TRACK RECORD!
Vicoty Chepngeno (KEN) sets a new course record with a time of 15:03 min over the 5 km distance. After a year and a half break, a real running event again. Runners and walkers can participate virtually parallel to the event.
2022
We Run to move
Together with 18,000 participants, we set an example for the goals of all women and girls.
Teeshirtparade Which one do you have?
Medals show honor the runners
Gallary
Our winners stars of the 5k elite competition
Vicoty Chepngeno (KEN) - 2022
15:02
Gladys Chepkurui (KEN) - 2021
14:49,2
Caroline Gitonga (KEN) - 2019
15:48,0
Susan Krumins (NLD) - 2018
15:57,1
Sara Moreira (POR) - 2017
15:35,4
Sara Moreira (POR) - 2016
15:37,1
Jessica O'Connell (CAN) - 2015
15:32,8
Ana Dulce-Felix (POR) - 2014
15:41,6
Joyce Jemutai-Kiplimo (KEN) - 2013
15:46,7
Ana Dulce-Felix (POR) - 2012
15:30,1
Ana Dulce-Felix (POR) - 2011
15:27,4 (Streckenrekord)
Irina Mikitenko (GER) - 2010
15:39,4
Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT) - 2009
15:29,4
Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) - 2008
15:57,6
Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) - 2007
15:36,6
Krisztina Papp (HUN) - 2006
15:35,9
Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) - 2005
15:42,9
Susanne Pumper (AUT) - 2004
15:43,4
Susanne Pumper (AUT) - 2003
16:21,3
Susanne Pumper (AUT) - 2002
16:38,7
Susanne Pumper (AUT) - 2001
16:09,0