Preview: 3rd "Kilometres of Keszthely" 2010
Keszthely (Hungary), Sunday 30 May 2010
The Festetics Palace in Keszthely (Photo Copyright © 2010 Edit Bérces)
Lake Balaton, Central Europe's largest lake, and the pretty university town of Keszthely provide a fine setting for this running event in western Hungary.
The event, which is held at the end of May, comprises a half marathon (two laps), a full marathon (four laps), and a marathon relay for teams of four runners.
This year, the race features a new course. The route is attractive, mildly undulating and AIMS certified, but it's not really an easy course to set a personal best time.
The start is on Keszthely's main square. Participants run through the pedestrian zone, residential areas and parks, along the lakeside promenade, and through the park of the imposing Festetics Palace. The finish is at the pier at Lake Balaton.
A short section is out-and-back, so that each lap includes one turning point.
In 2009, the event had more than 500 participants. Gábor Szabó (2:45:16) and Szilvia Lubics (3:23:44) defended their titles in the marathon. The half marathon winners were Béla Horváth (1:15:28) and Anikó Kálovics (1:19:23).
Country: Hungary
Venue (Map): Keszthely (Zagreb 188km, Budapest 190km, Vienna 194km, Ljubljana 269km)
Date: 30 May 2010 (Sunday)
Race distance: 21.1km; 42.2km; 4-person marathon relay (12/10/10/10km)
Start time: 9.50 (wheelchairs, handcyclists); 10.00 (runners)
Start: Fő tér (main square)
Finish: at the pier at Lake Balaton (10 minutes walk from the start)
Entries: online, by post or by fax, payment by bank transfer; late entries on Saturday 29 May (14.00-17.00) and on the day (7.00-9.30)
Entry fees (21km): 2500/3500/5000 HUF (until 31 March/until 30 April/late entries)
Entry fees (42km): 3500/4500/6000 HUF
Entry fees (relay teams): 5000/6000/8000 HUF
<Exchange rate: 1000 HUF = ca. 3.75 EUR (February 2010)>
Race centre: Balaton Congress Centre and Theatre, 3 Fő tér, Keszthely
You get: T-Shirt, pre-race pasta party on Saturday, timing chip rental, transport of personal clothing to the finish, finisher present; finisher medal to individual runners
Prizes: first 3 M/F (21km, 42km), first 3 relay teams (male, female and mixed)
Showers and changing facilities: yes
Presentation: 15.00 at the pier
Number of finishers 2009: 243 (21km), 87 (42km), 48 relay teams
Event website (in Hungarian and English): www.keszthelyikilometerek.hu
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.