Oradea (Romania), Sunday 15 September 2013

The International Half Marathon of the Oradea City Running Day has, after just two years, established itself as one of the top running events in Romania.

Last year, around 200 runners from seven countries took part in the race. The winners were Romania's elite distance runners Marius Viorel Ionescu (1:04:58) and Cristiana Alexandra-Frumuz (1:13:39). Twelve athletes finished in sub 70 minutes. There's no need to rush, however. The time limit to finish the race is three hours.

In addition to the half marathon (four laps), the event offers a 10.55km race (two laps), a 5.27km charity run (one lap), a relay race, and a 1km run for children.

Oradea is a city of about 200,000 people, located on the eastern edge of the Great Hungarian Plain, just about 13km from the Romania-Hungary border. Approximately a quarter of the local population are ethnic Hungarians.

The start and finish of all races is on Ferdinand Square in the city centre, near the magnificent City Hall (pictured).

The route is mostly flat (with a few gently undulating bits) on roads and bikeways along both banks of the Crișul Repede River and through the city centre.

Country: Romania

Venue (Map): Oradea (Debrecen 73km, Budapest 261km, Belgrade 328km, Bucharest 600km)

Date: 15 September 2013 (Sunday)

Race distance: 21.1km; 10.55km; 5.27km; 21.1km relay (2x10.55km and 4x5.27km); 1km (children 13 years and under)

Start time: 9.00 (21km, 10.5km, relay); 12.00 (5.3km); 13.15 (children)

Start and finish: Piata Ferdinand (Ferdinand Square)

Entries: online with payment by bank transfer (until 13 Sep 2013); late entries on the day

Entry fees (21km): € 10/15/20 (until 15 May/10 Sep/15 Sep 2013)

Entry fees (21km relay): € 10/15/20 per person (until 15 May/10 Sep/15 Sep 2013)

Entry fees (10.5km): € 8/13/18 (until 15 May/10 Sep/15 Sep 2013)

Entry fees (5.3km charity run without timekeeping): € 5

Entry fees (children): no entry fees

Race centre: Saturday 14 Sep 14.00-20.00; on the day 7.30-8.30

You get: pasta party (on Saturday), T-shirt, chip timing, baggage storage, finisher medal

Prizes: (?)

Number of finishers 2012: 194 (21km); approximately 750 participants overall

Event website (in English, German, Hungarian, and Romanian): www.digi-oradeacityrunningday.com

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