23rd Half Marathon Mihanović 2010

Staged in the delightful Zagorje region in northern Croatia, this is certainly one of the nicest and most scenic road races in the country. In the last years there had been less than 100 finishers but it's a great little race and one of Croatia's longest-standing running events.

Participants register for the race at the spa of Tuheljske Toplice, about 50 kilometres from the capital Zagreb. From there, a bus drives them seven kilometres to the start in the village of Klanjec, situated on a hilltop close to the border with Slovenia.

After a group photo with the memorial of the poet Antun Mihanović the race kicks off with a deafening bang from a historic pistol.

The first kilometre is steep downhill. The race then travels through a gorge and along the River Sutla, which forms the border with Slovenia, to the lovely museum village of Kumrovec where runners pass the birthplace and the school of Tito, father of communist Yugoslavia.

The second half of the race goes into the hills, through woods, vineyards, cornfields and vegetable plots, dotted with lovely cottages. Some climbs are pretty steep. The route is not traffic-free but car traffic is limited. 

Finish is in the village of Tuheljske Toplice at the modern and very popular open-air spa complex. The after-race party, however, takes place at the old pools which are full of rustic charm - also good fun!

In 2009, the winners were Croatia's outstanding 50-year-old athlete Drago Paripović (1:16:51) and 49-year-old Ida Šurbek of Slovenia (1:23:46).

Country: Croatia

Venue (Map): Tuheljske Toplice (48km from Zagreb, 136km from Ljubljana, 160km from Graz)

Date: 30 May 2010 (Sunday)

Race distance: 21.1km

Start: 9.15 on the main square in Klanjec

Finish: at the hotel "Terme Tuhelj" in Tuheljske Toplice

Bus service to the start in Klanjec: 8.45 from Tuheljske Toplice

Entries: on the day from 7.30 at the hotel "Terme Tuhelj" in Tuheljske Toplice

Entry fees: 60 HRK (ca. 8.30 EUR)

You get: T-Shirt (?), a warm meal after the race, prize raffle, free entry to the old thermal pools

Free bus service from Zagreb: 6.30 (Andrašecova ulica at KK Cibona), return ca. 15.30

Prizes: prize money to the first 4 M/F and to category winners (prizes are not cumulative)

Number of finishers 2009: 71

Tourist information (in English): www.terme-tuhelj.hr

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