Press Release - Hannover Marathon - 12/7/16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                   HAJ HANNOVER MARATHON ON 9th APRIL: 
             Arne Gabius chooses Hannover for next marathon

Organisers of the HAJ Hannover Marathon caused a major pre-Christmas 
surprise today by presenting German record holder Arne Gabius during a 
press conference. The 35 year-old will run his next marathon on 9th April 
in Hannover. The HAJ Hannover Marathon has developed well in recent years 
and is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race. Entry for the event, which also 
includes a half marathon that will feature the national championships for 
the first time, is available at: www.marathon-hannover.de

"I know that I probably caught many people by surprise by committing to the 
HAJ Hannover Marathon," said Arne Gabius. "However after my injury I was 
looking for a suitable race to come back and did not want to go for a major 
international marathon like London straightaway. I wanted to run in Germany 
and Hannover is a great race where I am sure that I will find excellent 
conditions."

A long-term injury with an inflammation in the pelvis area forced Arne 
Gabius to first withdraw from the Olympic marathon and then cancel any 
plans for an autumn marathon. Before he had dropped out of the London 
Marathon in April so that he last completed a marathon more than a year 
ago: It was in Frankfurt where he broke the long standing German marathon 
record with a time of 2:08:33 in October 2015.

"There should not be too much pressure for me in Hannover and I hope to 
enjoy the competition. Additionally the earlier April date of the race 
suits me," said Arne Gabius, who recently started running sessions again 
after doing most of his training in water before. He plans to run a first 
competitive race on New Year's Eve and will then determine when and how 
long he will go for training to Kenya in the built up to Hannover. It is 
likely that he will run at least one half marathon before his marathon 
race.

"Of course I would like to run a time of around 2:10 in Hannover - however 
at present I am simply unable to make any predictions. I have never had 
such a major injury in my career before so that I have to wait and see what 
kind of shape I can get myself in," said Arne Gabius, who might still opt 
for a marathon start at London's World Championships next summer. This will 
of course depend on his race in Hannover and on the recovery after that. On 
the very flat course in Hannover the German qualification time of 2:13:00 
should normally not be a major obstacle for Arne Gabius.

More information about the HAJ Marathon Hannover and online entry is 
available at: www.marathon-hannover.de

                                        ###