The Košice Peace Marathon is an opportunity for every runner to take their family and friends and visit Košice, the gothic pearl of the Europe, European Capital of Culture 2013 and the Best European City of Sport 2016. Discover the place, where the fundamentals of modern marathon movement were set in 1924.
10 REASONS TO RUN KOŠICE MARATHON (EUROPE‘S OLDEST SINCE 1924):
1) WE ARE CLOSE
You will quickly find out that Košice is not far at all. Located right in the heart of Europe and easily approachable by car or train. City has good flight connections to the whole world – over 500 destinations are available with just one stop.
2) UNIQUE PRIMACIES
Visit the first European city that achieved municipal coat of arms in 1369. Nowadays the city’s proud rests in the oldest marathon in Europe. In 2013 Košice was awarded the title European Capital of Culture and in 2016 became the Best European City of Sports.
3) WHERE MODERN MARATHON WAS BORN
You will find yourself in the city where tens of thousands spectators have been cheering for marathon since 1924, where olympic champions conquered the course at the time most of us even hadn’t been born yet. Only Boston experienced more.
4) THE WINNERS GALLERY
Stay awhile and visit the unique statue of the Marathon Runner. Engraved in bronze you can read names of all Košice winners out
of which many were worldwide known champions.
5) BACK TO 1380
Experience the moment of peace in the easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe, established in 1380. St Elizabeth Cathedral is a dominant part of the great Slovakian historical monument reservation of incalculable value.
6) ENJOY KOŠICE
Evening before the marathon start all the runners and tourists are absorbed by the city nightlife and international festival of modern street art White Night (Nuit Blanche). Pubs and restaurants with local and world delicacies, great beer or tasty vine will enchante you.
7) PERFECT COURSE
CR ♂ 2:07:01
CR ♀ 2:27:34
Stay awhile and visit the unique statue of the Marathon Runner. Engraved in bronze you can read names of all Košice winners out of which many were worldwide known champions.
8) ECSTATIC ATMOSPHERE
The atmosphere is electrifying. One can’t find a lot of other world marathons where almost each citizen is applauding all along the course from start to finish. Generations of Košice citizens understand and truly love marathon.
9) EVERYTHING WITHIN REACH
One of the very pleasant features of Košice Marathon is a fact that all the key points are close together. From the registration desks to the start gate, from the finish line to the swimming pool or your hotel room. Most of these crucial locations are situated near at hand.
10) FAMILY MARATHON
If you are not a self-traveler but looking for some family trip, the cultural and historical monuments, comfortable hotels and variable accompanying running disciplines may be the perfect match for you.
LESS
Oldest marathon in Europe.
It is a two loop course going through historic downtown and around the city. It has a great atmosphere with tons of people cheering on over entire course. It is … MORE
It is a two loop course going through historic downtown and around the city. It has a great atmosphere with tons of people cheering on over entire course. It is a very flat course.
The Good:
Aid stations are evenly distributed (about every 5k) – Water on all of them, variation of gatorade on every other.
There were couple of food stations – bananas, oranges.
The Bad:
No enforcement of corals – I’ve seen D coral people in the very front – very frustrating to pass on cobble stone (right at the start)
Porta-potties are accessible by general public which means you stand in line behind people that do not run wondering whether you make it to the start line on time.
Tons of Spectators
The race was held on a Sunday and started in the town center. Overall, the course was flat. There were so many spectators throughout the course. It was as if … MORE
The race was held on a Sunday and started in the town center. Overall, the course was flat. There were so many spectators throughout the course. It was as if the entire town was out in attendance.
The last half mile is gated off so you are in a chute. There are tons of people cheering you on. This was an amazing experience to finish off the race.
If you are looking for an international race with thousands of spectators, I would highly recommend this one.