A team from the Institute of Virology delivered a strong team performance at this year’s marathon in Hanover: competing under the name “Infectious Pace,” Lucas Mendes Monteiro, Josi Schenk, Carolin Vogt, Santiago Álvarez Cárdenas, Abel Viejo-Borbolla, and Xiangming Han completed the race together in 4 hours, 10 minutes, and 43 seconds.

All team members are affiliated with the Institute of Virology and work on various aspects of viral infections. Lucas Mendes Monteiro and Josi Schenk are PhD students of RESIST member Prof. Dr. Abel Viejo-Borbolla and focus on varicella-zoster virus (VZV), studying immune modulation and cellular metabolism. Carolin Vogt is a postdoctoral scientist of RESIST member Prof. Dr. Daniel Depledge and investigates transcriptional regulation during the switch from latent to lytic infection. Santiago Álvarez Cárdenas and Xiangming Han are PhD students of RESIST member and Co-Speaker Prof. Dr. Lars Dölken and contribute expertise in areas including cytomegalovirus, bioinformatics, and virus–host interactions.

For many participants, the event was more than just a sporting challenge. “The marathon was a great opportunity to further integrate with my colleagues and also a personal mental challenge,” said Santiago Álvarez Cárdenas, who set himself a goal of running more than 7 kilometers and achieved it in under 48 minutes. He highlighted the encouragement from colleagues and spectators along the route as particularly motivating.

Xiangming Han also emphasized the unique atmosphere: “The cheering crowds and the feeling of spring in Hannover made it an unforgettable experience. It was especially inspiring to see so many teams from Hannover Medical School taking part.”

Team spirit was at the heart of the achievement. Preparation, mutual support, and perseverance during the run strengthened the group’s cohesion. A particular highlight was completing the final 700 meters together, underscoring the collective nature of their success.

The team’s conclusion is clear: they thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are already planning to participate again next year.