Topusko Half Marathon 2009

This so-called "half marathon" is great value for no money.

It's a well organized event, there are no entry fees, you get a warm meal and free entry to the pools of the spa complex "Top Terme", and you don't even have to run 21 kilometres to complete a half marathon. The course is just about 17 kilometres long.

Topusko is a small town 80 kilometres south of Zagreb and just 10 kilometres from the border with Bosnia. It suffered badly during the Croatian War of Independence.

In 1991, the town was heavily shelled and occupied by Serb forces. The Croatian minority fled but came back after Topusko's liberation in the "Operation Storm" in 1995. Croats now form the majority of the local population. About 30 per cent are Serbs.

The start and the finish are at the spa with its thermal indoor and outdoor pools. Participants run two laps. The course is mildly undulating and takes you through villages and fields.

The winners in 2008 were Đuro Kodžo of Bosnia (54:10) and Ida Šurbek of Slovenia (1:03:04).

Country: Croatia

Venue (Map): Topusko (Karlovac 52km, Zagreb 80km, Plitvice National Park 83km)

Date: 15 August 2009 (Saturday)

Race distance: 17km

Start time: 10.00

Start and finish: at the spa complex "Top Terme"

Entries: on the day from 8.00 to 9.30 in front of the dressing rooms

Entry fees: no entry fees

You get: T-Shirt, medal, a warm meal, free entry to the pools on the day of the event

Prizes: trophies and a hotel voucher (one night in the Hotel "Toplice") to the first M/F; prize money and medal to the first 3 in the categories

Number of finishers 2008: 101

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