THE ONLY INTERCONTINENTAL MARATHON! The Istanbul Marathon starts 300m behind the Bosphorus Bridge; the race course divides in Besiktas turnoff after passing the bridge, then goes down from Barbaros Boulevard to Besiktas, and follows the coastal road to reach Karakoy. Runners turn onto Eyup, after the Galata Bridge, and they …
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THE ONLY INTERCONTINENTAL MARATHON!
The Istanbul Marathon starts 300m behind the Bosphorus Bridge; the race course divides in Besiktas turnoff after passing the bridge, then goes down from Barbaros Boulevard to Besiktas, and follows the coastal road to reach Karakoy.
Runners turn onto Eyup, after the Galata Bridge, and they make turn right after the Feshane, and go from Unkapani Road to Yenikapi.
Race course returns from Bakirkoy and continues from coast to Gulhane Park, and goes through the park towards to the Blue Mosque. Hippodrome which, the meeting and sporting centres of Romans, Byzantium and Ottoman Empire, is finish point. The finish line is between entrance gate of Blue Mosque and Egypt Obelisk.
Running from Asia to Europe through the history of one of the oldest settlements in the world is what makes your efforts so rewarding. The distinguishing features of the city of Istanbul are its geographic location, unique natural beauty, and the great historical and cultural heritage which has come to symbolize the city. Istanbul is located on the Bosphorus peninsula, with Halic (Golden Horn) in the northwest of the country. It is the only city placed on two continents: European and Asian Regions. With a unique location, between the Balkans and Anatolia, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, Istanbul embraces both western and eastern cultures.
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I went with Marathon Tours. I ran in Athens the week before. Istanbul is worth it if you like history. You stay steps from the Blue Mosque and the Hagia … MORE
I went with Marathon Tours. I ran in Athens the week before. Istanbul is worth it if you like history. You stay steps from the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. I stayed at the Ottoman, and it had a distinct odor in the hallways.
Bag placement was actually dangerous due crowds and the nuances of the drop off location, again extremely crowded.
You start by running over the Bosphorus Strait. This bridge is awesome. There is not much crowd support during the race and there was no professional photography. You end the race steps from the hotels, and the crowd support at the end is worth it, kind of like a slim gauntlet for 200 yards.