Page 1/2 Budapest Marathon, Half Marathon and 30K - 2009

The Budapest Marathon first appeared in 1984 under the old socialist system. Since then it has shown its face every year and developed quite a bit on the way. In 1984, 650 people finished the course while on October 5, 2008, when the latest Budapest Marathon appeared, 13,000 runners from more than 50 countries entered the race. About the same field is expected for the next Budapest Marathon on 4 October 2009.
Besides the 42.195 km individual marathon race, it is possible to enter as a 3 or 5 person relay team or a 30 km course following the last 30 km of the marathon route. In addition to this, a 4 km Fun Run for children and a 7.5 km Minimarathon are taking place. On September 6, 2009, a half marathon race is taking place with a course similar to the marathon.
The course of the Budapest Marathon is a veritable sightseeing tour. The starting line is placed on the impressive Heroes’ Square, where the anticipating runners are encircled by 24 statues of former kings, governors and other characters from 1,000 years of Hungarian history. From there runners are led directly to UNESCO World Heritage Site, Andrassy Avenue, aligned with neo-renaissance palaces and mansions. Soon runners will find themselves touring up, down and across Danube river, passing some of the main attractions of the capital, including Buda Castle, Parliament Building and the 150 years old Chain Bridge. Because a large part of the marathon is taking place on the banks of Danube River, the course is very flat with the bridges across the river as the only gradients. Feel free to try to go for that PB, if you can keep your attention off the sights along the route.
Race weekend will finish stylishly with fireworks and a post-race party, but before that, a treat, which is bound to keep your spirits up for those final gruelling kilometres, is offered every finishing marathoner: Free entry to one of the oldest spas in the city, the Szechenyi Bath, with saunas, thermal baths, 22 indoor and outdoor pools and many other features that will make your worn-out body think it’s in heaven. Registration and further information? Please follow the link to the official Budapest Marathon site here.

Budapest Marathon Course
If you follow this link you will find maps of the marathon course, the start and finish areas, as well as course maps of the 4 km Fun Run for children and the 7.5 km Minimarathon.


Budapest Marathon Results and Information