Graz (Austria), Sunday 13 October 2013
Held in Austria's second-largest city, the Graz Marathon offers a number of road races that attract a large crowd of runners every year.
With about 3,600 finishers, the half marathon was the most popular distance last year, followed by the 10k race (1,700 finishers), the full marathon (850 finishers), and the marathon relay race for teams of four runners (over 200 teams).
All races start and finish at the Opera House in Graz's beautiful historic centre.
Despite all the hype about the new course that was introduced last year, we find the route neither particularly attractive nor fast.
Parts of the course run through the city centre and along the River Mur but other parts are less scenic, especially the long out-and-back run to the northern edge of the city. Participants in the full marathon have to run that section twice.
Towards the end of the race, fast marathon runners may have to wiggle their way through the half marathon crowd, complicated by the tram tracks on Herrengasse, Graz's main shopping street (pictured).
Compared to many other similar running events in our Race Guide, the entry fees are rather high. The fees for the marathon range from €50 up to €70.
Many runners find it very inconvenient that it is not possible to get the race pack on the day. Participants have to pick up their bibs on Friday or Saturday in a shopping mall which is located about six kilometres from the city centre.
Country: Austria
Venue (Map): Graz (Vienna 190km, Zagreb 190km, Ljublana 195km, Linz 224km)
Date: 13 October 2013 (Sunday)
Race distance: 10km; 21.1km; 42.2km; 42.2km relay (11.6+9.2+11.9+9.5km); children's races
Start time: 10.00 (21km, 42km, 42km relay); 10.15 (10km); 10.20 (children's races)
Start and finish: Grazer Oper (Opera House)
Entries: online (up to 7 Oct 2013); late entries on 11 and 12 Oct 2013; no entries on the day
Entry fees (10km): € 20/22/25/27/30 (up to 2 June/28 July/8 Sep/6 Oct/12 Oct 2013)
Entry fees (21km): € 30/35/40/45/50 (up to 2 June/28 July/8 Sep/6 Oct/12 Oct 2013)
Entry fees (42km): € 50/55/60/65/70 (up to 2 June/28 July/8 Sep/6 Oct/12 Oct 2013)
Entry fees (42km relay): € 90/100/110/120/130 (up to 2 June/28 July/8 Sep/6 Oct/12 Oct 2013)
Timing: ChampionChip — use your own chip, rent a chip for € 3 (€ 10 deposit) or buy a chip for € 33
Race centre: Sport eybl, Center West, Weblinger Gürtel 25 (Friday 9.00-19.00; Saturday 9.00-17.00)
You get: finisher medal; free use of public transport on race day
Prizes (10km, 21km, 42km): to the first 3 in each category
Baggage storage, showers: yes
Number of finishers 2012: 1686 (11.5km), 3598 (21km), 846 (42km), 213 relay teams
Event website: grazmarathon.at
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page! Please visit the official event website to verify the above information.