Zalaegerszeg (Hungary), Wednesday 31 December 2014

Held annually on New Year's Eve in the town of Zalaegerszeg in western Hungary, the Szilveszteri Hegyimaraton — also named ‘Egerszegi Mountain Man Marathon’ or just ‘MMM’ — is more of a fun run than a serious race.

Participants can choose between four routes:

• 3.5km
• 10.1km (+190m of ascent/-190m of descent)
• 24.2km (+360m/-360m)
• 40.9km (+720m/-720m)

Starting and finishing at a college in the south-western part of Zalaegerszeg (about 1.5 kilometres from the town centre), participants run up and down several hills — through woods, vineyards, parks, residential and industrial areas — mostly on asphalt roads or cycleways, partly on trails.

The route will remain open to traffic during the event and there may not be very many marshals on the marathon course. So, don't lose sight of the course markers!

Last year, the event recorded 361 finishers. The fastest finishers in the 40.9km run were Gábor Németh (2:46:25) and Szilvia Lubics (3:14:40).

Race report and photos: 15. Egerszegi Mountain Man Marathon 2009

Country: Hungary

Venue (Map): Zalaegerszeg (Graz 135km, Zagreb 180km, Vienna 190km, Budapest 228km)

Date: 31 December 2014 (Wednesday)

Race distance: 3.5km; 10.1km; 24.2km; 40.9km

Start time: 9.00

Start and finish: at the 'Deák Ferenc Szakközépiskola' college on Göcsej Road

Race centre: Deák Ferenc Szakközépiskola, Göcseji út 16

Entries: online with payment by bank transfer (up to 26 December 2014); late entries on the day (up to 8.45); reduced entry fees for runners aged 17 years or under

Entry fees (3.5km): no entry fees

Entry fees (10km, 24km, 41km): 1200 HUF (up to 26 Dec 2014), 1500 HUF (on 31 Dec 2014)

Exchange rate: 1000 HUF = ca. 3.26 EUR (December 2014)

You get: snacks and drinks on the course and at the finish; free entry to the public swimming pool and sauna in Zalaegerszeg (on the day 15.00-17.00)

Prizes: to the first 3 M/F in each race

Award ceremony: at 13.30

Number of finishers 2013: 58 (3.5km), 192 (10.1km), 70 (24.2km), 41 (40.9km)

Event website (in Hungarian): szilveszterihegyimaraton.hu

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