Lena Lees-Bussemas (right) and her husband mastered the “Dreiburgenland Marathon” together. −Photo: organizer
Lena Lees-Bussemas (right) and her husband mastered the “Dreiburgenland Marathon” together. −Photo: organizer
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Dreiburgenland instead of a metropolis. Thurmansbang instead of New York. The participation of Lena Lees-Bussemas (32) in this year’s “Dreiburgenland Marathon” was really not planned. It was more of an act of desperation – but with a doubly happy ending: The 32-year-old from East Westphalia won the women’s race (to the report) and completed a marathon (42.195 kilometers) for the first time under four hours (3:58:23 hours).
Originally, Lees-Bussemas and her husband Mark (52) wanted to start in the New York Marathon this Sunday. They had already registered for it in January. But the corona pandemic ruined the plans. As an alternative, the pair of runners had found the 42.195 kilometers in Lausanne (Switzerland). That should take place last Sunday. On Wednesday evening, the organizers sent out the start numbers and so the ambitious amateur athlete Lena Lees-Bussemas and her husband set off for Lake Geneva on Thursday afternoon after months of preparatory training. “We were just before the Swiss border when unfortunately the cancellation came at 7 p.m.”, reports Lees-Bussemas. A shock. “Then the frustration was great.” In an emergency, the 32-year-old market researcher did some research on the Internet – and became aware of the “Dreiburgenland Marathon”. A phone call (to the organizer Ludwig Schürger) later, she and her husband were registered and drove hundreds of kilometers across Germany into the Bavarian Forest. “We arrived on Friday afternoon and I was just happy,” reveals Lena Lees-Bussemas.
“It was mystical and very muddy”Less than 24 hours later, the 32-year-old and her husband, who actually always run together, were at the start of the 19th “Dreiburgenland Marathon”. Knowing that there is a mountainous route ahead of them compared to the Lausanne Marathon, with a total of 880 meters of altitude on two laps. “It was very muddy, but also mystical, we were able to enjoy the beautiful landscape a lot,” says the runner. A total of five women (out of around 170 participants) had planned the 42.195 kilometers, Lees-Bussemas was the fastest with a seven-minute lead and should also receive the trophy at the finish. “I really wanted to stay under four hours in my third marathon and I am very happy that I made it,” the East Westphalian told the PNP.
She and her husband stayed at the Hotel Schürger for three days, crossing the finish line simultaneously (3:58:23 and 3:58:24 hours). Incidentally, the short trip to Lower Bavaria was not the first visit to the region. “In fact, we’ve been here several times to mountain bike.” But never as unplanned as this time …
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