Goteborgsvarvet Half Marathon
Gothenburg, Sweden
- Half Marathon
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Ready for your next big challange? Göteborgsvarvet is the world’s largest half marathon with a race course throughout the streets of Gothenburg. The course will take you through Gothenburg’s best parts. The route passes two bridges with an amazing view over the archipelago and the harbour of Gothenburg. You will … MORE
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Nice race in nice city
Large race around the city sites. A lot of spectators cheering and musical groups performing. A very positive experience. Although there were many start groups, my start group 5 was … MORE
Large race around the city sites. A lot of spectators cheering and musical groups performing. A very positive experience. Although there were many start groups, my start group 5 was crowded for the whole distance. This was partly because a lot of the race was on bike trails. But it is best to start at the front of your start group if you want a PR. The T-shirt was not included in the price, but you could buy one at the expo.
Worlds biggest halfmarathon
...when it comes to numbers of participants. More than 60,000 runners flood the pitoresque city of Gothenborg (pop of about 500,000) on Swedens West coast every year. Saying that, I … MORE
…when it comes to numbers of participants. More than 60,000 runners flood the pitoresque city of Gothenborg (pop of about 500,000) on Swedens West coast every year. Saying that, I was suprised how easy and smooth the expo/ race number pick-up was. No waiting on Saturday morning whatsoever! The half starts with the elites at 1p.m. and the start stretches over 3 hours! In about 25 corals, people who finished the race before start with their estimated running time in the first 9 corals, in between large running groups of the sponsors (like Volvo), newbies to the race get put into the last couple corals (starting 3-4pm). The start is in the botanical gardens and then the course lead the runners over the river “Göte älv” to a more updated area of the city along modern housing structures on the river shore and back over the river into the old city (Kungssportplatzen, the old opera, theatre, university…) to the botanical gardens where you cross the finish line in a small stadium (Slottskogsvallen). The course is ever changing, slight ups and downs and turns and lots of stuff to see and hear- I think I have never run anywhere with so many music/ entertainment spots- and since we were in Sweden of course you could also find an ABBA cover band. Public transportation was free with the BIB, medal for all finishers and plenty of water stations (plus isotonics) on the course. They also had free coffee at the finish but other than a banana no free food but a huge festival area with stuff to buy. The only free swag was a drinking bottle.
Beautiful well organized race!
Beautiful scenic course through the city of Gothenburg with a few uphill parts. Very good atmosphere as many people were cheering at the course. With more than 60.000 runners it´s … MORE
Beautiful scenic course through the city of Gothenburg with a few uphill parts. Very good atmosphere as many people were cheering at the course. With more than 60.000 runners it´s a little bit crowded and depending on your start corral it can be annoying. All in all a very nice half marathon!