88. Maratón Mieru 2011
After the Boston Marathon, the marathon in the city of Košice in eastern Slovakia is the world's second-oldest annual marathon. The first edition of the race took place in 1924.
Accordingly, the marathon has a high standing among Košice's residents, many of whom give the runners great support. The course is traffic-free, certified, mostly flat, and fast. Last year's winners were Gilbert Chepkwony of Kenya (2:08:33) and Almaz Alemu Balcha of Ethiopia (2:36:35).
Nevertheless, the course is usually not crowded. In 2010, the two-lap marathon had about 750 finishers, and around 1100 runners took part in the one-lap half marathon.
Košice is a pleasant and lively city of 240,000 people. Start and finish of the marathon are on the beautiful pedestrianized main square. The route runs along the main boulevard, through various residential parts of the city, and through a green area on the northern edge of Košice.
Country: Slovakia
Venue (Map): Košice (Kraków 247km, Budapest 258km, Bratislava 460km, Vienna 504km)
Date: 2 October 2011 (Sunday)
Race distance: 42.2km, 21.1km; 42.2km relay (4x10.55km); 20km (inline skaters, handcyclists, wheelchairs); 4.2km (non-competitive run without time-keeping)
Start time: 8.55 (wheelchairs); 9.00 (42km, 21km, and inline); 9.07 (4.2km)
Start and finish: at the "Hotel Doubletree by Hilton", Hlavná 1, Košice
Entries: online (until 28 Sep 2011); payment by credit card or bank transfer; late entries on 30 Sep and 1 Oct 2011; no entries on the day
Entry fees (42km, 21km, 20km): 35/40/50 euros (until 30 Jun/15 Sep/1 Oct 2011)
Entry fees (relay): 120 euros per team
Timing: ChampionChip - 5 euros deposit (fully refundable)
Race centre: Marathon Expo, near the start (30 Sep 10.00-20.00, and 1 Oct 8.00-20.00)
You get: pasta party, goody bag, timing chip rental
Prizes: prize money to the first 10 men and 6 women and to the first 3 in each category (42km)
Number of finishers 2010: 746 (42km), 1115 (21km), 44 relay teams, 200 inline skaters, 15 handcyclists
Event website (in Slovak and English): www.kosicemarathon.com
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.