17th Turopolje Race
It's not really a scenic route, and parts of the course take you along Sunday morning traffic jams on the main road to Zagreb Airport - but still the atmosphere in this event is great. This is the first race of the year on Croatian soil with an international quality field, and runners come from far afield to see old friends (and make new ones).
The three-lap course is flat and fast (with one mild climb each lap) and well-marshalled. You will get a hot meal and free beer or soft drinks after the race, and your race number will be used for a raffle with lots of great prizes. A good prize fund ensures that you will see some of the best runners from Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Hungary. The potential for a PB is good - Slavko Petrović ran his Croatian record of 1:04:51 on this course in 2007. The supporting 5km run is also growing in popularity.
Turopolje is the name of the fertile plain around Velika Gorica. Many traditions have been preserved and with a bit of luck you may see some folk dancers and horse-drawn carts at the start as well.
Country: Croatia
Venue (Map): Velika Gorica (about 12km south-east of Zagreb city centre)
Date: 22 March 2009 (Sunday)
Time: 09.00 (children); 10.30 (5km and 21km); 10.35 (family run)
Race distance: 21.1 km; 5km; 1km (family run)
Start and finish: in front of 'Stadion Radnik', Ulica Hrvatske Bratske zajednice 80
Race course: mostly flat, 3 laps in the town of Velika Gorica
Entries: online on the event website (see below) or by e-mail
Entry fees: 100 HRK (about 13.50 EUR) (21km), 50 HRK (5km); no entry fee for the children's race
Race centre: Register and pay the entry fees on race day from 8am to 10.15am at the start.
You get: pasta party on Saturday evening (18pm) at the start; a hot meal and drinks after the race; T-Shirt, medal
Prizes: 21km: First 10 M/F, first 3 M/F in the categories, first 3 teams M/F; various prizes in the other races
Showers and changing facilities: Stadion Radnik
Presentation: from 12:45
Prize raffle: 14.00
Number of finishers 2008: 248 (21km), 108 (5km)
Event website: www.mkvg.hr
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.