Now in its eighth edition, the Raiffeisen Bank Bucharest Marathon is the largest running event in Romania, gathering more than 10,000 people from over 55 countries. The event will take place on October 3 and October 4, having Constitutiei Square as a start/finish point.

This year’s edition of the marathon also comes with a big change: the route has been expanded to 33 km. In previous editions, the runners had to cover a distance of 21 km twice.

“We’re happy that we have a longer route, it was difficult to get it. We hope to have a complete route of 42 km by the 10th edition of the marathon, extended towards the north part of the capital. The drivers will probably be angry with us because so many km of roads will be closed for traffic, but at least we’ll have a few hours without any smell of exhaust gases,” said Valeria van Groningen, president of Bucharest Running Club Association, the event’s organizer, cited by local Mediafax.

The event gives runners the chance to discover Bucharest while running, as the route includes some of the largest boulevards in the Romanian capital, and some of its most well-known squares: Libertatii Blvd., Splaiul Independentei, Unirii Blvd., Calea Victoriei, Regina Elisabeta Blvd., Decebal Blvd., Calea 13 Septembrie, Unirii and Victoriei squares, and Alba Iulia and Operei squares. Find the route maps here.

The whole event will be live streamed online on the event's official webpage, and on Facebook.

The traffic will be closed for cars on October 3, between 07:00 and 14:30, on Unirii Blvd., between Constitutiei Square and the intersection with Regina Maria, on both lanes. The car traffic will also be closed on October 4, between 06:30 and 16:00, on the route of 33 km.

All adult races will be organized on Sunday, October 4. Adult runners can choose from four races: the marathon (42.195 km), the half-marathon (21.097 km), the marathon relay (42.195 km – 4 runners x 10.548 km), and the fun race (3.6 km). The event also includes a wheelchair race with three distance options: 42.195 km, 21.097 km, and 3.6 km.

Kids’ races will be organized on October 3, in Constitutiei Square. Children aged between 5 and 12 can register for the race. Also, teenagers aged between 13 and 18 can register for the Teen’s Race (3.6 km).

The competitive races (marathon, half-marathon, marathon relay) will start at 09:30 on October 4, in Constitutiei Square.

The entry fee for the individual marathon costs EUR 55 if made on October 2 and October 3 at Sport Expo. In the same conditions, the entry fee for the half marathon is EUR 40, for the relay race is EUR 120, and for the fun race is RON 45. The registration for the wheelchair race and the kids’ race is free.

Winners of the marathon, the half-marathon, and the relay race will receive money prizes. Ciuc Radler Fun Race (3.6 km), Teen’s Race (3.6 km), UNIQA Asigurari Kids’ Race (0.8 km - 1.6 km), and SAMAS Jogging in Diapers will not offer prize money. The prizes for these races will consist of products and services.

The awarding festivities will be organized in Constitutiei Square. Find more information about the event’s schedule, prizes, and rules here.

Participants can change their clothes before and after the competition in a tent located near the Sport Expo area. There will be hydration and refreshing points along the route, as well as first aid points and toilets.

Many big local companies have joined the marathon as sponsors in an effort to raise money for several charities.

Vodafone Foundation brings Vodafone Big Marathon to Romania this October

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Bucharest Marathon on Facebook)