Košice Peace Marathon, or Medzinárodný maratón mieru 2024 in Slovakia

The Košice Peace Marathon was held for the first time in 1924. Indeed, it's the oldest marathon in Europe and what is more, it's the second oldest in the world. During the first International Peace Marathon, there were just eight participants. However, the marathon movement became popular, and nowadays, a few thousand people come to Slovakia at the beginning of October in order to participate in this challenging event.

Disciplines

The marathon event traditionally starts at the Marathon Arena, offering various disciplines for participants. Runners can opt for the classical marathon covering 42.195 km, the half marathon Kosice-Sena spanning 21.097 km, or participate in the corporate-run and other options available. Additionally, there's the Relay Magna Marathon 4×1/4, where teams cover distances ranging from 9 to 12 km each. For those on wheels, there's an Inline category covering 20 km and a Handbike category also covering 20 km.

Route

The marathon itself has a time limit of 6 hours, accommodating a diverse range of participants. The inner-city circuit follows the original course used for the World Half-Marathon Championships in 1997. Notably, the course features no significant uphill sections and is entirely surfaced with asphalt. Marathon participants complete two laps of the course, while half-marathoners finish one lap, ensuring a challenging yet accessible route for all participants.

Registration Fees

The registration fees for the Košice Peace Marathon range from 40 to 60 euros, depending on the distance and when you register.