The course of the Reykjavik Marathon is unique, and very scenic and takes you along many of Reykjavik’s main sights. Highlights include: Harpa Concert Hall, Sólfar (the Sun Voyager) by the seaside, Höfði where Reagan and Gorbachev made a step in ending the Cold War, Grótta lighthouse and the Government Offices in Lækjargata.

The Marathon is one lap (except for the last part, as it goes nearly the same route as in the beginning of the race). The race starts and finishes downtown within sight of the pond and the city hall.

The first part of the course runs through a residential area where many of the locals come out of their houses to cheer the runners on. This is followed by a section where the runners pass along the seaside and have excellent views of the ocean, but also of the mountains surrounding Reykjavik, including Esjan and the Snaefellsjokull glacier. Participants in the marathon also run through the Ellioaardal valley, the location of one of the country’s more popular salmon fishing rivers, a small waterfall, and some woodland.

In the last part of the race, the participants pass a number of famous buildings, including Hofdi House, a Reykjavik City Council reception venue where US president Ronal Reagan and USSR General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev met for a summit in 1986.

Most of the race takes place on the streets of the city, although parts of the route are run on tracks, particularly the seaside and salmon rivers sections.

Reykjavik and surrounding areas only have about 200.000 inhabitants so the crowds are not huge however the support is fairly strong when running through residential areas. The spectators are very enthusiastic and there is also entertainment along the course.

The marathon and the half marathon follow the same route for the first 16 kms but split up after that, the half-marathon runners head back downtown but the marathon course keeps on going in a circle, mainly along the seaside around Reykjavik. It is a little bit hilly but not overly so.

The course is very scenic and beautiful and it takes you past many of Reykjavik’s main sights. Highlights include: Harpa Concert Hall, Sólfar (the Sun Voyager) by the seaside, Höfði where Reagan and Gorbachev made a step in ending the Cold War, Grótta lighthouse and the Government Offices in Lækjargata.

Reykjavik and surrounding areas only have about 200.000 inhabitants so the crowds are not huge however the support is fairly strong when running through residential areas. The spectators are very enthusiastic and there is also entertainment along the course.

The start is in Blackheath and Greenwich, in South East London. The course then runs past the Woolwich Artillery Barracks (at 7 miles/11.2 kms) round to the famous Cutty Sark in Greenwich. Here the crowds are thick, as supporters take advantage of the pubs and restaurants of this popular spot.

The runners then go through Surrey Quays (8 miles/12.8 kms) and Bermondsey, then along Jamaica Road to the majestic Tower Bridge (at about 12 miles/19.2 kms). On the other side of Tower Bridge you head East on the Highway past Wapping. Unless you are very fast, runners who have completed the circuit of the Isle of Dogs will already be coming the other way along the same road. Then it is 3-4 windswept miles (4.8-6.4 kms) around the Isle of Dogs, where the crowds are thinner. Then past the pointed-topped Canary Wharf (mile 19/30.4 kms), one of Europe’s tallest buildings towering 800ft above the City, where the pain begins as you loop around the north side of West India docks and Limehouse (mile 21/33.6 kms).

Then back in the other direction along the Highway, passing Tower Bridge (mile 22.5/36 kms) to the north side, with the runners still streaming across the Bridge. You then follow along the Embankment, past Cleopatra’s needle, up to the House of Commons and the Clock Tower containing Big Ben, at 25 miles (40 kms). With a mile to go (1.6 kms), you turn right at Westminster Bridge, into Parliament Square, down Birdcage Walk alongside St James’s Park. The last 200 yards (320 metres) you turn right outside the front of Buckingham Palace, and up the Mall towards Trafalgar Square. The finish is in the Mall, alongside St James’s Palace, with Buckingham Palace behind you.

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Run in the footsteps of Pheidipides, the legendary Athenian soldier that ran from the battlefield of Marathon to the city of Athens in full battle gear in 490BC to announce the victory of the Athenians. This event went down in history and gave its name to the race and distance we now know as the Marathon.

The first 4 kilometers are downhill, leading runners away from Marathon itself. The runners run along the Marathonos Avenue up to the 4km marker where they turn left and enter the Marathonomachon Str and area of the Marathon Tomb (War Memorial). The course follows a rather circular route around the War Memorial for the next 2.2km.

The course becomes flat between the 6km and 10km points (Nea Makri), but from the 11km to 17km the course undulates uphill, followed by a steep descent to Rafina Junction. Starting from the Rafina Junction, the course goes uphill again, with the most difficult part is found up to the 20km mark.

Runners pass along the district of Pikermi and through the city of Pallini (27km – 28km) continuing the ascent to Gerakas and Stavros Junction (30km – 31km). This steep ascent is followed by a steep descent leading to the Agia Paraskevi Square. Then, the runners follow the Mesogeion Avenue, going through the districts of Chalandri and Cholargos, meeting flat and downhill parts of the course all the way to the finish. The most characteristic downhill part is the one that starts form the Ministry of National Defense and finishes at the Katechaki Junction (37.5km).

Right after the Erricos Dynnan Hospital, the runners continue left on Michalakopoulou Avenue until the traffic lights at Michalakopoulou and Pheidippidou crossroads. They continue running on Pheidippidou Street until the crossroads at Kiffisias & Alexandras Avenue. After turning left on Vas. Sofias Avenue the runners pass by the American Embassy, the Athens Music Hall and the Park of Liberty (40km), where the last feed zone is located. As they reach the Hilton Hotel, they slightly turn right heading towards the Syntagma Square, passing by the Evaggelismos Hospital and the War Museum.

It is here that, all of a sudden, runners make eye contact with the Panathenaic Stadium, passing by the Presidential Residency and the National Gardens. Only a few meters remain in order for the runners to enter the Stadium and run the last meters inside it, before reaching the finish line.

At Travelling Fit we have personally run the Athens Marathon, the Authentic, and we would be more than happy to share our experiences of this wonderful event with you.

Check out the Athens Marathon Route and Course Map and Athens Marathon elevation profile to learn more about what to expect!

Join 50,000 other marathoners and over 1 million spectators at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors marathon series. Since its inception in 1974, the course has been moved from the Grunewald, a large forest in West Berlin, to the city centre of West Berlin, to the current course which winds through both parts of the Berlin capital

The course takes you along the most scenic sites of Berlin, such as the Reichstag, the Siegessäule, Berliner Dom, Brandenburg, and Potsdamer Platz. The marathon course takes you through almost the entire city and has only a few turns. The finish of the Berlin Marathon runs through the historic Brandenburger Gate.

The course is home to a host of World Records, and has a total elevation gain of just 73M (241 feet), whilst the elevation loss is 79m (260 feet).

The Iceland Volcano Marathon and Half Marathon both start at the foot of the mighty Hverfjall volcano crater. The route leads runners west across a road composed of volcanic sand and gravel and onto the main road that encircles Lake Mývatn.

The next 2.5km are run on asphalt and lead to the unique lava field of Dimmuborgir, which means “Black Fortress.” An eruption roughly 2300 years ago created this vast expanse of black lava stacks and caves – folklore surrounding the region often associates it with the gates of hell. In Dimmuborgir, the route follows narrow trails in a counterclockwise circle and then runs under the Gatklettur Arch (pictured).

From there, the trail narrows to a single track for the following 1.1 km. The flora here is extremely fragile and it is very, very important that all runners exercise extra caution and stay on the trail. Do not pass each other if it means stepping off the trail and do make room for each other!

As the trail widens up again, the mighty Hverfjall crater is now front and center. Running clockwise around it, we’ll pass the start line just before heading up the crater itself. Rising more than 100 meters, the view from the top offers a 360-degree view of the North Volcanic Zone. The route follows the rim of the crater all the way around – a 3 km circuit – and back down the same trail we came up.

Continuing north, the route comes very close to the Jardbödin Nature Baths and, although the baths can’t be seen from the route, the volcanic activity below the surface can be seen in the steam rising from the ground. The final 4 km begin with about 1.5 km on asphalt, taking us past the Grjótagá cave, which was made famous in Game of Thrones (although the cave cannot be seen from the route).

The last 2.5 km stretch is run on a gravel road will lead runners to the finish line at the Vogar Ferdathjonusta.

Notes:

When passing places of public interest it is important to keep in mind that this race doesn’t have exclusivity in the area and all roads and sights are open to regular visitors and locals too. With the early start, however, most of the route will be fairly empty.

Do not forget that this is first and foremost an adventure. We are far away from comforts of home and this makes it impossible to offer services at the same level usually provided in city marathons.

The Iceland Volcano Marathon and Half Marathon both start at the foot of the mighty Hverfjall volcano crater. The route leads runners west across a road composed of volcanic sand and gravel and onto the main road that encircles Lake Mývatn.

The next 2.5km are run on asphalt and lead to the unique lava field of Dimmuborgir, which means “Black Fortress.” An eruption roughly 2300 years ago created this vast expanse of black lava stacks and caves – folklore surrounding the region often associates it with the gates of hell. In Dimmuborgir, the route follows narrow trails in a counterclockwise circle and then runs under the Gatklettur Arch (pictured).

From there, the trail narrows to a single track for the following 1.1 km. The flora here is extremely fragile and it is very, very important that all runners exercise extra caution and stay on the trail. Do not pass each other if it means stepping off the trail and do make room for each other!

As the trail widens up again, the mighty Hverfjall crater is now front and center. Running clockwise around it, we’ll pass the start line just before heading up the crater itself. Rising more than 100 meters, the view from the top offers a 360-degree view of the North Volcanic Zone. The route follows the rim of the crater all the way around – a 3 km circuit – and back down the same trail we came up.

Continuing north, the route comes very close to the Jardbödin Nature Baths and, although the baths can’t be seen from the route, the volcanic activity below the surface can be seen in the steam rising from the ground.

The marathon runners will now split away from the half-marathon runners as they turn right and run along the east side of the Hverfjall crater. The surface changes to pitch black volcanic sand and lava rock in a landscape that looks more like the moon than the earth.

Shortly after passing the halfway mark, the marathon route changes back to a gray-green landscape consisting of lava rock and shrubbery and leads runners to the bottom of the Ludent crater. At the 25km mark, runners start an out-and-back stretch of approximately 2.5 km, running along a line of smaller craters that popped up more than 2000 years ago as the volcanic activities moved south.

There is a 5-hour cut-off point at 31.5 km, meaning that runners who did not reach 31.5 km within 5 hours of the start will be removed from the race and driven back to the finish line. After the cut-off point, runners will find themselves on another tough, shorter hill leading back onto the black volcanic sand, and then following the same path back towards the Jardbödin Nature Baths and merging again with the half marathon runners.

The final 4 km begin with about 1.5 km on asphalt, taking us past the Grjótagá cave, which was made famous in Game of Thrones (although the cave cannot be seen from the route).

The last 2.5 km stretch is run on a gravel road will lead runners to the finish line at the Vogar Ferdathjonusta.

Notes:

When passing places of public interest it is important to keep in mind that this race doesn’t have exclusivity in the area and all roads and sights are open to regular visitors and locals too. With the early start, however, most of the route will be fairly empty.

Do not forget that this is first and foremost an adventure. We are far away from comforts of home and this makes it impossible to offer services at the same level usually provided in city marathons.