12th "Karst Half Marathon" 2012

Sežana (Slovenia), Sunday 25 March 2012

The route runs through the Lipica Stud.

The Mali kraški maraton is one of Slovenia's largest running events. Last year, over 1500 runners took part in the half marathon, and more than 1100 in the 8.45km run.

In 2012, however, the field may be smaller as it's not clear yet if Slovenians will be ready to pay up to 40 euros to register for the race — twice as much as two years ago.

The number of international competitors is limited anyway because official race information is only available in Slovene — although approximately 9 kilometres of the half marathon course are run on Italian soil.

The start and finish are at the sports park of the small town of Sežana, which is located on the beautiful Karst limestone plateau, near the port of Trieste in Italy.

The half marathon is an undulating and attractive loop which takes runners through the Lipica Stud (where Lipizzaner horses have been bred for over 400 years) and through a number of Karst villages with its small stone houses.

In 2011, the 21km winners were Primož Kobe (1:06:20) and Lucija Krkoč (1:18:45).

Remember that the night before the event the clocks jump one hour forward due to the start of 'European Summer Time', so don't be late!

Country: Slovenia

Venue (Map): Sežana (14km from Trieste, 75km from Udine, 80km from Ljubljana)

Date: 25 March 2012 (Sunday)

Race distance: 21.1km; 8.45km; 400m/100m (children); 5km (race walking)

Start time: 10.30 (children); 11.00 (21km; 8.45km); 11.30 (5km race walking)

Start and finish: Športni park, Kosovelova ulica 5, Sežana

Entries: online or by post, payment by bank transfer; entries close 15 March 2012; no entries on the day; entry limit 3000 runners

Entry fees (21km, 8.45km): € 23 (up to 14 Jan), € 33 (up to 15 Feb), € 40 (up to 15 Mar 2012)

Entry fees (children): no entry fees

Timing: ChampionChip - 3 euros off the entry fees if you use your own chip

Race centre: in the sports hall (on the day from 9.00)

You get: timing chip; T-shirt, a meal after the race

Prizes (21km): to the first 5 M/F and to the first 3 in each category

Prizes (8.45km): to the first 5 M/F

Showers and changing facilities: in the sports hall

Award ceremony: 13.30 in the sports hall

Number of finishers 2011: 1562 (21km), 1165 (8.45km)

Event website (in Slovene): www.kraskimaraton.com/mkm2012

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.