Runners who are not planning to stay in Graz over the marathon weekend may find it rather complicated that they will have to pick up their race number a day before the event in a shopping centre 6km from Hauptplatz, the main square. It's not possible to get it on the day.
Athletes from neighbouring countries like Italy, Slovenia and Hungary will also find the entry fees way above average.
Nevertheless, it's a hugely popular event with approximately 5000 entrants and plenty of street music along the course.
Runners choose between a 42k full marathon, a 21k half marathon, a 10.5k quarter marathon, and a 42k relay race for teams of four.
The half marathon consists of one lap, the marathon of two laps. Start and finish are at the Opera House. The first 2km are mildly uphill to the Hilmteich, a nice little pond in a leafy part of Graz. From there, you run 3km slightly downhill towards the River Mur, passing the Botanical Garden and the University. The race then takes you through residential areas and industrial portions in the northern and southern suburbs of Graz. A short section is on a footpath along the river. The last kilometre runs along tram tracks on Herrengasse, the elegant main shopping street.
With over 250,000 inhabitants, Graz is Austria's second largest city. It's well worth to walk up the Schlossberg ("Castle Hill") for the views of the beautiful old town and the hills around.
In 2008, EthiopianTesfaye Bogale won the marathon in 2:18:45, Slovene masters athlete Ida Šurbek broke the tape as the first woman in a time of 2:49:19.
Country: Austria
Venue (Map): Graz (Zagreb 190km, Ljublana 195km, Udine 292km, Budapest 338km)
Date: 11 October 2009 (Sunday)
Race distance: 42.2km; 21.1km; 10.5km ("City Run"); marathon relay (4x10.5km)
Start time: 10.00 (21km and 42km); 10.10 (10.5km and relay)
Start and finish: Grazer Oper (opera house)
Entries: online until 4 October 2009; late entries in the race centre (Friday 9 October 9.00-19.00 and Saturday 10 October 9.00-17-00); no entries on the day!
Entry fees (42km): 40/45/50/55 EUR (until 4 June/until 4 August/until 4 October/late entries)
Entry fees (21km): 25/30/35/40 EUR
Entry fees (10.5km): 15/17/20/25 EUR
Entry fees (relay teams): 80/95/105/110 EUR
Race centre: Intersport Eybl, Center West, Weblinger Gürtel 25, 8054 Graz (Friday 9 October 9.00-19.00 and Saturday 10 October 9.00-17-00)
You get: T-Shirt, voucher for a meal and a drink in the Interspar Restaurant in the Shopping Center West, baggage storage, timing chip rental, finisher medal, massage at the finish, free use of public transport on Sunday
Prizes: ?
Showers and changing facilities: ATG, Kastellfeldgasse 8, 8010 Graz
Presentation: 11.30 (half marathon), 12.30 (marathon)
Number of finishers 2008: 850 (marathon), 2192 (half marathon), 1029 (10.5km), 217 relay teams
Event website (in German, no English information): www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/grazmarathon
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.