Preview: 10th Karst Half Marathon
Sežana (Slovenia), Sunday 21 March 2010
The first major running event in the Slovene race calendar is held in March on the beautiful Karst limestone plateau, just a few kilometres from the Adriatic Coast and the Italian port of Trieste.
Last year, more than 2600 runners participated in the half marathon and the 8.45km race.
The start and the finish are in the small town of Sežana (Italian: Sesana).
The attractive, undulating half marathon route travels through the fields of the stud farm of Lipica, the origin of the Lipizzaner horses, and then across the Italian border. Almost 9 kilometres are on Italian soil. You run back to Sežana on a nice cycle path. A short section is on a trail. The difference between the lowest and the highest point on the course is around 100 metres.
The event also incorporates a race walking competition on the track as well as a guided walk.
In 2009, Slovenia's Robert Kotnik set a new course record of 1:06:58. Valentina Bonanni from Trieste led the women home.
Country: Slovenia
Venue (Map): Sežana (14km from Trieste, 75km from Udine, 80km from Ljubljana)
Date: 21 March 2010 (Sunday)
Race distance: 21.1km, 8.45km, 5km (race walking), 100/400m (children)
Start time: 11.00 (21km, 8.45km); 11.05 (children), 11.30 (race walkers)
Start and finish: Sežana, športni park, Kosovelova ulica 5
Entries: online or by post; entries close 14 March; no entries on the day!
Entry fees (21km, 8.45km): 20 EUR; 15 EUR (race walking); no entry fees for children
Race centre: in the sports hall at the start (open from 8.30h)
You get: folding chair, finisher medal, warm soup with meat, timing chip rental
Prizes (21km): First 5 M/F; first 3 in each category
Prizes (8.45km): First 5 M/F
Showers and changing facilities: in the sports hall (no baggage storage!)
Award ceremony: 13.30 in the sports hall
Number of finishers 2009: 1421 (21km), 1247 (8.45km)
Event website (in Slovene): www.kraskimaraton.com
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.