20th Mödling Old Town Advent Race

Last year, more than 700 runners dashed through the small town of Mödling, 16 kilometres south of Austria's capital Vienna, running either 5.2km or 10.5km.

Elite athletes hoped to win some prize money, others came to have a cup of mulled wine on the Christmas market after the race. For most competitors, however, the main reason to participate in the event was the prospect of running through the neat and charming (but very small) old town centre.

The start is in the attractive little Herzoggasse, the finish on nearby Schrannenplatz, Mödling's pedestrianized main square. At first, you run a short lap around the old town, but then follows a much longer lap through residential areas. The 5.2k runners finish after a short and a long lap, those in the 10.5km main race run a short and three long laps.

In 2008, Austria's Martin Steinbauer won the 10.5k in a very good time of 32:19. Livia Tóth of Hungary was first woman in 38:08.

Country: Austria

Venue (Map): Mödling (16km from Vienna, 77km from Bratislava, 253km from Budapest)

Date: 29 November 2009 (Sunday)

Race distance: 5.24km; 10.52km; children 0.7km and 2.2km

Start time: 13.15 (0.7km), 13.30 (2.2km), 14.00 (5.2km), 15.00 (10.5km)

Start: Herzoggasse

Finish: Schrannenplatz

Entries: online or by fax; payment by credit card or bank transfer; late entries until 1 hour before the start

Entry fees (10.5km): 15 EUR (until 24 November), 18 EUR (late entries)

Entry fees (5.2km): 12 EUR (until 24 November), 15 EUR (late entries)

Entry fees (children): 3 EUR (late entries only)

Timing: ChampionChip - bring your own chip or rent a chip for 3 EUR (25 EUR deposit)

Race centre: Europa Schule Mödling, Lerchengasse 18, 2340 Mödling (Saturday 28 November from 16.00 to 18.00, and on the day from 11.00 to 14.00)

You get: finisher prize

Prizes: prize money to the first 3 M/F in the 10.5km race

Changing facilities: Europa Schule

Showers: Stadtbad Mödling (public swimming pool)

Number of finishers 2008: 430 (10.5km), 275 (5.2km), 58 children

Event website (in German): www.altstadtadventlauf.at

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