18. Zagreb maraton & polumaraton

The race travels along Ilica, Zagreb's main shopping street

Croatia is a country of enthusiastic sports fans but you shouldn't expect any crowds lining the streets of the capital and cheering you on. Running is not the sport of first choice in Croatia, and few locals care about the largest running event in the country.

However, the atmosphere in the busy start/finish area on Zagreb's elegant main square Trg bana Jelačića is excellent, and the number of participants has increased significantly over the last years, not least because of the introduction of a half marathon and a 5k race.

A lucrative prize fund attracts many elite runners from neighbouring countries, and a new, traffic-free and certified course was introduced in 2008 as well.

The out-and-back course goes east and west from the start line and consists of one lap for the half marathon and two laps for the full marathon.

The first 8km or so to the turning point in the eastern suburb of Dubec are very mildly uphill on a wide and wind-prone road. Don't worry if you hear some apes near the football stadium - the zoo is on the other side of the road in the Maksimir park.

You run the same way back to the start/finish area and then westwards along Ilica, Zagreb's main shopping street, before you return to Jelačić square.

In the city centre, the road surface and the tram tracks demand some concentration. Seven tram lines stop at the main square.

In 2008, Tatjana Perepelkina from Russia (2:44:05) and Đuro Kodžo from Bosnia (2:16:45) set new marathon course records. The half marathon winners both came from neighbouring Slovenia - Daneja Grandovec (1:16:58) and Robert Kotnik (1:09:24).

Race report, results and photos: Zagreb Marathon 2010

The last metres to the finish on Jelačić Square

Country: Croatia

Venue (Map): Zagreb (Ljubljana 141km, Graz 183km, Trieste 232km, Budapest 349km)

Date: 11 October 2009 (Sunday)

Race distance: 5km; 21.1km; 42.2km (AIMS certified)

Start time: 10.00

Start and finish: Trg bana Jelačića (Jelačić Square)

Entries: online or on Saturday 10 October 2009 in the race centre; payment on arrival in Zagreb; no entries on the day!

Entry fees (21km, 42km): 150 HRK (ca. 20.50 EUR)

Entry fees (5km): no entry fees

Race centre: on Jelačić Square (Saturday 10 October from 8.00 to 20.00 and on the day from 7.00 to 8.30)

You get: T-Shirt; 21km and 42km runners also get a medal and lunch in a restaurant after the race

Prizes: prize money to the first 10 M/F in the marathon and first 5 M/F in the half marathon; sponsor prizes to the first 3 in the categories; prizes are not cumulative

Number of finishers 2008: 841 (212 (marathon), 330 (half marathon), 299 (5km))

Event website (in English and Croatian): www.zagreb-marathon.com

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