Graz (Austria), Sunday 9 October 2011

Held in Austria's second largest city, the Graz Marathon is an atmospheric road running event with over 5000 entrants and plenty of street music along the course.

With over 2600 finishers, the 21km half marathon was the most popular distance last year, followed by the 10.5km ‘City Run’ (about 1200 finishers), the 42km marathon (over 900 finishers), and the marathon relay race for teams of four runners (almost 200 teams).

The 42km route consists of two mildly undulating loops. Starting and finishing at the Opera House, participants run through the very pretty city centre, through residential and industrial parts of Graz, and along both banks of the River Mur.

Towards the end of the race, fast marathon runners will have to wiggle their way through the half marathon crowd, complicated by the tram tracks on Herrengasse, Graz's main shopping street (pictured above).

Compared to most running events in our Race Guide, the entry fees are high. Many runners will find it also rather inconvenient that they cannot get their bibs on the day of the race. They will have to pick them up on Friday or Saturday in a shopping centre six kilometres from the city centre.

In 2010, the marathon winners were Kenya's Robert Kirui (2:13:31) and Mildred Kiminy (2:38:29). Austria's Jürgen Mock (1:10:04) and Jessica Jarz (1:23:55) celebrated victory in the half marathon.

Country: Austria

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

Date: 9 October 2011 (Sunday)

Race distance: 42.2km; 21.1km; 10.5km; 42.2km relay (4x10.5km)

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

Start and finish: Grazer Oper (Opera House)

Entries: online; late entries on 7 and 8 Oct 2011; no entries on the day!

Entry fees (42km): 55/60 euros (until 1 Oct 2011/until 8 Oct 2011)

Entry fees (21km): 35/40 euros

Entry fees (10.5km): 22/25 euros

Entry fees (42km relay teams): 100/110 euros

Timing: ChampionChip - use your own chip or rent a chip for 3 euros (7 euros deposit)

Race centre: Intersport eybl, Center West, Weblinger Gürtel 25, 8054 Graz (Friday 7 Oct 9.00-19.00, Saturday 8 Oct 9.00-17-00)

You get: voucher for a meal, finisher medal, massage, free use of public transport on race day

Prizes: (?)

Changing facilities: in tents

Showers: ATG, Kastellfeldgasse 8, 8010 Graz

Award ceremony: 11.20 (10.5km), 11.45 (21km), 13.05 (42km), 13.20 (42km relay)

Number of finishers 2010: 934 (42km), 2700 (21km), 1328 (10.5), 193 relay teams

Event website (in German): www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/grazmarathon

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