5th Slatina Marathon
This small road running event in eastern Croatia incorporates a full and a half marathon.
Participants run through the low-lying Podravina region, which stretches along the agriculturally rich basin of the River Drava. Livestock breeding, farming and fishing are typical activities in this unspectacular but charming area.
The race alternates in direction each year. In 2009, the full marathon starts in Slatina, a town of 11,000 inhabitants at the foot of the densely wooded Papuk hills, a favoured hiking destination in eastern Croatia. The finish is in Orahovica, a small town with a lake and a huge ruined castle nearby, and the most popular tourist destination in the area.
Half marathon runners start in the village of Mikleuš, which is en route to Orahovica.
The route is mostly flat, sometimes mildly undulating. The last section to the finish is uphill. Most of the race is on a main road, and there may be quite a bit of traffic.
In 2008, Norbert Persely from Hungary (2:38:22) and Ida Šurbek from Slovenia (2:58:21) claimed victory in the full marathon.
Country: Croatia
Venue: Slatina - Orahovica (Slatina-Pécs 78km, -Zagreb 183km, -Budapest 310km)
Date: 30 August 2009 (Sunday)
Distance: 21.1km, 42.2km
Start (42km): 11.00 Slatina
Start (21km): 11.00 Mikleuš (a bus to Mikleuš leaves Slatina at 10.00)
Finish: Orahovica
Entries: on the day
Entry fees: marathon 100 HRK (ca. 13.70 EUR), half marathon 80 HRK (ca. 11 EUR)
Race centre: Slatina, Trg Sv. Josipa (Sv. Josip Square), on the day until 9.45
You get: a present, a warm meal after the race
Prizes (marathon): prize money to the first 10 men and 6 women
Prizes (half marathon): prize money to the first 3 men and 3 women
Showers: yes
Number of finishers 2008: 32 (42km), 25 (21km)
Details (in Croatian): utrke.net