Graz (Austria), Sunday 10 October 2010

The Graz Marathon in Austria is a hugely popular event with more than 5000 entrants and plenty of street music along the course. The event includes a 42km marathon, a 21km half marathon, a 10.5km quarter marathon, and a 42km 4-person relay.

Many runners, however, will find it rather inconvenient that they will have to pick up their race numbers a day before the event in a shopping centre six kilometres 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.

The half marathon consists of one lap, the full marathon of two laps.

Start and finish is 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 travels through residential and industrial areas in the northern and southern suburbs. A short section is on a footpath along the river. The last kilometre runs along tram tracks on Herrengasse, Graz's 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 2009, the marathon winners were Kenya's Nixon Machichim (2:13:26) and Rael Kiyara (2:33:04).

Country: Austria

Venue (Map): Graz (Vienna 190km, Zagreb 190km, Ljublana 195km, Udine 292km, Budapest 338km)

Date: 10 October 2010 (Sunday)

Distance: 42.2km; 21.1km; 10.5km; marathon relay (4x10.5km)

Start time: 10.00 (21km, 42km); 10.10 (10.5km); 10.15 (relay)

Start and finish: Grazer Oper (Opera House)

Entries: online; late entries in the race centre; no entries on the day!

Entry fees (42km): 45/50/55/60 EUR (until 3 June/3 August/3 October/late entries)

Entry fees (21km): 25/30/35/40 EUR

Entry fees (10.5km): 15/20/22/25 EUR

Entry fees (relay teams): 80/90/100/110 EUR

Timing: ChampionChip 

Race centre: Intersport Eybl, Center West, Weblinger Gürtel 25, 8054 Graz (Friday 8 October 9.00-19.00 and Saturday 9 October 9.00-17-00)

You get: T-Shirt, voucher for a meal and a drink, massage, free use of public transport on Sunday

Prizes: (?)

Showers and changing facilities: ATG, Kastellfeldgasse 8, 8010 Graz

Number of finishers 2009: 836 (42km), 2627 (21km), 1206 (10.5km), 225 relay teams

Event website (in German, limited information in English):

www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/grazmarathon

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