We are happy to inform you that we collaborate with a number of accommodation and
service providers to offer lodging and other travel services for runners and their families with
special Runner’s rates and discounts at hotels!

• Apartments to feel at home in Budapest.
• Excellent value for money hotels.
• Elegant 5 and 4 star hotels at amazing prices.
• All located in the centre or a few minutes from the Race Center.

Book now for the EARLY BIRD prices and get even 25% percent off!

We are constantly adding more hotels and services.

Coming in a Group?
Like every year, we have always Special Group Offers with discounted rates at best Budapest hotels with transfers and a large variety of fun and sightseeing activities.

Cruise on the Danube with an elegant dinner,

Have a pasta party the evening before the race,

Discover Budapest walking or jogging with a guide,

and many more ideas!

DOWNLOAD OUR 2013 CATALOGUE FOR FRESH IDEAS - but we can do anything, tell us your needs!

Contact us at budapest.marathon@underguide.com for more information and your offer!

Links DOWNLOAD OUR 2013 CATALOGUE of SIGHTSEEING ACTIVITIES

All together 19 200 runners participated at the 27th Spar Budapest Marathon and Running Festival. Runners started from the Heroes’ Square, run through the World Heritage Andrassy avenue, crossed the Danube on the Chain Bridge, the first bridge in Hungary built above the Danube in the 1840’s. 4300 runners chose the 42 km individual race, and out of this 40% arrived from abroad, making the marathon a real international event. Counting all the distances 2650 international runners coming from 61 countries participated at Hungary’s biggest mass sport event. The biggest group came from France (400 runners) followed by the UK (300), and Italy (250).

In Budapest you could choose from a wide range of distances. Besides the individual 42 km, you could run in relay teams for 3 or for 5 people. Or individually 30 km, 7 km (Mini Marathon) or 3,5 km (Fun Run). The 1100 relay teams and the 30 km runners not only enjoyed their own run, but they also helped the marathon runners mentally with their presence.
A unique possibility in Budapest for those who want to run alone, but not quite ready for the marathon yet is the 30 km race. 850 sport men and women did that, and joined the race at the 12th km, and after running 30 km they finished the race at the same place, in the City Park, together with the marathon runners and relay teams.
„I loved it! The 30k distance was the perfect challenge for a half marathon runner who doesn't have the time or energy to go to whole distance! Will be back again and with my running buddies!” Joanna from the UK about the 30k unique distance at Budapest Marathon
For some the 42 km was not challenging enough so they chose to make it more interesting and run in costumes. You could see a UFO couple, a witch, a fire fighter with all his equipments, or a running Rubik Cube. This is interesting because of two reasons: the world famous Rubik Cube was invented by the Hungarian Ernő Rubik in the 70’s. Because of the enormous success around the World we can say it became a real Hungaricum. The other is that the man inside the cube (István Kocza) is a world record holder in Rubic Cube fixing. István has been running in Budapest Marathons since the 90’s but after becoming world champion with Rubic Cube, he decided to combine his two hobbies, the Rubic Cube, and the running. In the last 5 years he always runs inside his hand made, huge Rubic Cube.
The weather at the race was ideal, 17 C at the start, and cloudy. Later on the Sun came out from the clouds, but fortunately was still not too hot. The storm what was announced by the media before, only arrived after 4 pm, when the runners already sat at one of Budapest ’s nice bars, or rested their tired legs at one of the famous Thermal bathes.

Results:
Men
1. Gábor Józsa (HUN) 2:21:06
2. Dániel Soós(HUN) 2:24:54
3. Tamás Nagy (HUN) 2:25:43

Women:
1. Tímea Merényi (HUN) 2:49:30
2. Andrea Szederkényi-Takács (HUN) 2:54:03
3. Judit Nagy Földingné (HUN) 2:56:49

Dear Runners,

I would like to let you know that the problem with the NET-GROSS TIME at the SPAR-Marathon was caused by the current malfunction of the chip timing system. Approx. during the first 2 minutes of the start our system did not work with full efficiency, so many of your starting time had been not recorded. Our engineers are working on the evaluation and reconstruction of the problem in order to avoid such data loss in the future.

Hereby, I would like to apologize on the behalf of EvoChip Hungary Kft because of the possible inconveniences!

Yours sincerely,

Attila Dencs
Executive EvoChip Hungary Ltd.

IMPORTANT! The starting times changed on both the Half Marathon and the Marathon.

27th Nike Budapest International Half Marathon:
9:00 - Half Marathon and Half Marathon in pairs
12:15 - Fun Run

27th Spar Budapest International Marathon:
9:30 - 42km individual, Relay for 3, Ekiden for 5
9:45 - Minimaraton
10:25 - Fun run
+
from 10:15 - 30 km individual (start is from the 12. km of the course)

The registration is open for the Minimaraton (7 km). If you run the 42 km or the 30 km on of your relatives or one of your friend gets a free start at this distance. For this you have to download the registration form and send it back in e-mail.

The start of both the Budapest Half Marathon and the Budapest Marathon lies very close to Heroes Square. This will be the first major sight on your route along the race. You will cross it right on the first kilometre but don’t miss admiring it!

Hősök tere (meaning "Heroes’ Square" in Hungarian) lies at the end of Andrássy Avenue, next to City Park. Let’s see the story behind the statues on the square:

Gabriel archangel

7 Magyar leader

Saint Stephen the first Magyar king

Seven leaders of the "Magyar" tribes and the first Hungarian King:
The central site of the hero's square, as well as a landmark of Budapest, is the Millennium Memorial with statues of the leaders of the seven Magyar tribes that founded Hungary in the 9th century and other outstanding figures of Hungarian history including the first Magyar king. Saint Stephan who was crowned on the 1st January 1001.


Legend of Gabriel archangel and the Hungarian Crown:
According to a legend Otto III. German-Roman Emperor promised the crown of Atilla to the Polish King. But Stephan also demanded it. Otto has found and personally opened the tomb of Karl I. and found there the royal scepter and the crown. He than took it to Rome where he and Pope Sylvester II. decided to give the crown to the Polish King. The pope however had a dream in which Gabriel archangel warned him that the crown should not be given to the Polish King, but to the deputy who arrives the next morning. Next morning an ambassador of Stephen arrived and asked for the crown. Sylvester Pope blessed the crown, and also sent an apostolic cross with him, as well as a letter to the King Apostolic rights for Hungarians. This indicated that the crown was not simply God's earthly power broker, but also the embodiment of the Hungarian state as well.



Construction of the square:
The construction of the memorial was started when the one thousandth anniversary of the settlements of Magyars in Carpathian basin was celebrated (in 1896), It was finished 4 years later in 1900 and the square got its name then.


Museums at Hősök tere:
Hősök tere is surrounded by two important buildings, Museum of Fine Arts on the left and the Hall of Art (contemporary art) on the right. An excellent programme before or after the race to visit these and to walk along the square, checking the monuments and the historical sights.

Race reports from around the world

Runners came from more than 50 countries to participate in the 26th Spar International Budapest Marathon in October 2011. Among them there were also journalists, below you can find a link to a Chinese, a Finnish and a French article.

Race Reports in the World Press