Unique promotion on the Plus Budapest International Marathon

Register now to the 23rd Plus Budapest International Marathon and bring a friend, a relative, a running partner for FREE to one of the following distances:

• Minimarathon (7,5 km)
• Fun Run (3,5 km)

Register here.

Don't miss the opportunity of a unique race and get an unforgettable experience!

Race centre

The race centre can be found at City Park (Városliget), in the Petőfi Hall (Petőfi csarnok), address: Zichy Mihály út. You can get there on foot from Heroes' Square (Hősök tere). Opening hours:

• 04. October 2008: from 12:00 pm to 18:00 pm
• 05. October 2008: from 7:00 am to 9:45 am

Warning! There will be no safekeeping of any objects in the race centre. Dressing rooms can be reached by 5-10 minute walk from here.

No start number picking up on other days!

Picking up your start number

All start numbers must be acquired at the race centre in Petőfi Hall during opening hours. Tables will be divided according to start number (ex. 4001-4090) so you can quickly select your table. Obtaining your start number is easier on presentation of the confirmation letter. If you don't have this, then you can check your number on the startlist that will be set up at the location. Otherwise our staff will gladly help.

Start package

Registration fee includes (for single marathon runners): unique T-shirt, sponsor gift, sponge, ChampionChip timing system, pasta party ticket, finisher kit, medal service, refreshment station at every 4 km, relax at the Széchenyi Bath, certificate, finisher photo and result booklet.

The chip

The single and relay/ekiden marathon times will be measured by ChampionChip system. If you have your own ChampionChip then you can submit its number to the entry personnel when signing in, or at the latest when you acquire your start number.

For those who have no chip of their own, there will be a single chip provided for the race with your start number. The deposit fee for this chip is either 5 € or 1000 HUF. This deposit will be returned to you after the race, in exchange for the chip. Naturally, if you are using your own chip you do not have to pay this deposit. We ask all runners to check their chips at the chip-control desk.

You must use chip on the race. You may not participate in the race without one.

Attention: the chip cannot be used at any other races. The chip must be returned until 16.00 o'clock at the latest to specific tents assembled at the finish area, not the race centre. Foreign runners will have separate tents to go to! Please fasten the chip to your shoelaces. How to fasten the chip on your shoe? First you have to untie and remove your shoelaces, put your chip on it then tie it again. It's important that you not only fasten it to your shoe and not after tightening the laces otherwise you might lose your chip.

Changing rooms, safekeeping

Paying the original entry fee means that you can change clothes at the Széchenyi Bath. Those male runners, who paid discount entry fee, have to use the dressing room in Petőfi Hall, safekeeping in Petőfi Hall also. Changing rooms for all women will be in Széchenyi Bath.

Attention: wardrobe can be found at a separate area inside the dressing rooms of Széchenyi Bath. Your clothes are kept at the clothes deposit not the dressing room. We take no responsibility for clothes or valuables left at the start/finish area or in dressing rooms.

Pasta party

It has become an annual tradition to hold the Pasta Party on Saturday, this year on 04. October 2008 from 16:00 pm to 18:00 pm. For this we provide tickets to all individual, 30k and relay marathon runners so that the more of us can help reinforce muscles before the race. You get your ticket when you obtain your start number. Friends and relatives are also welcome to attend the party; they may buy tickets at the race centre or in front of the Pasta Party tent.
Pasta Party will be held on Felvonulási tér in a huge white tent.

Start

Start gate will be set up on Heroes' Square (Hősök tere) for all distances. Starting times (times are subject to change!):

• 9.20 and 9.40 - Fun Run (4K) starts (there are two starts, because of the huge number of runners)
• 10.00 - Marathon and Marathon Relay/Ekiden start
• 10.15 - Minimarathon start
• approx. from 10.30 - 30 km start according to the runners personal speed. Start at 12 195 km of the marathon course.

The Heroes' Square is located about 1000 meters from the race centre. The start area will be divided separately according to planned race times. Runners must position themselves in the appropriate section. Sections of race time: -3:00, 3:00-3:45, 3:45-4:30 and 4:30+. Please start from the right section!

Course

The course is approved by the AIMS. It is flat for most parts, the only difference in levels are the driveways leading up and down from the bridges. The course guides the runners through the most beautiful parts of the city, next to the most famous buildings and even attractions that are part of the World Heritage, and through our greatest bridges.

The course may vary slightly according to road reconstructions and the construction work on metro line 4.

Heroes's Square (Hősök tere) - Andrássy Street (Andrássy utca)- József Attila Street (József Attila utca) - Roosevelt Square (Roosevelt tér) - Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Lánchíd) - Clark Ádám Square (Clark Ádám tér) - Fő Street (Fő utca) - Jégverem Street (Jégverem utca) - Bem Quay (Bem rakpart) - Drive down road of Halász Street - Lower quay of Buda (Budai alsó rakpart) - Drive up road to Lágymányosi Bridge - Pázmány Péter Quay (Pázmány Péter rakpart) - South drive down road to Petőfi Bridge - Petőfi Bridge (Petőfi híd) - Boráros Square (Boráros tér) - Közraktár Street (Közraktár utca) - Belgrád Quay (Belgrád rakpart) - Lower quay of Pest - TURNING (in front of Szent István Park) - Lower Quay of Pest - North drive up road to Margaret Bridge - Jászai Mari Square (Jászai Mari tér) - Margaret Bridge (Margit híd) - Central Road of Margaret Island - Árpád Bridge - Tavasz Street (Tavasz utca) - Hídfő Street (Hídfő utca) - Fő Square (Fő tér) - Laktanya Street (Laktanya utca) - Folyamőr Street (Folyamőr utca) - Bogdani Street (Bogdáni út) - Szentendrei Street (Szentendrei út) - Mozaik Street (Mozaik utca) - Óbuda lower quay - Újlaki Lower Quay - Lower Quay of Buda - Drive up way of Bertalan Lajos Street - Műegyetem Quay (Műegyetem rakpart) - South drive up Road to Petőfi Bridge - Petőfi Bridge - Boráros Square (Boráros tér) - Közraktár Street (Közraktár utca) - Belgrád Quay (Belgrád rakpart) - Lower Quay of Pest - Drive up Road of Markó Street - Szechenyi Upper Quay (Széchenyi felső rkp). - Balassi Street (Balassi utca) - Szalay Street (Szalay utca) - Kossuth Square (Kossuth tér) - Alkotmány Street (Alkotmány utca) Bajcsy Zs. Street (Bajcsy Zs. Út) - Overpass of Nyugati Square (Nyugati téri felüljáró) - Vaci Street (Váci út) - Under Ferdinánd Bridge (Ferdinánd híd alatt) - Lehet Street (Lehel út) - Dózsa György Street (Dózsa György út) - Allatkerti Street (Állatkerti út) - Allatkert Promenade (Állatkerti körút) - Heroes' Square (Hősök tere) - Kós Károly Promenade (Kós Károly sétány) - Promenade of Városliget (Városligeti körút) - Paál László Street (Paál László út) - Olof Palme Promenade (Olof Palme sétány)

Street musicians on the course

Running 42 km is not easy and can be boring sometimes. We would like to help you with some fun, so there will be several musicians on the course. There are more than 30 music-points with more than 90 buskers.

Time limit

The time limit is 5 hours and 30 minutes. The closing bus that runners can get up on if they suffer an injury or are forced to give up will follow the race. The closed roads will be opened after the time limit elapses, for this reason those who are caught up by the closing bus must get up on it. Runners who give up or suffer an injury will be transported back to the race centre by the bus. Please return your chip on the bus should this be the case. It is forbidden to keep running once the bus passes you because roads will be opened to traffic after the time limit. Part time limits:

• 10K: 1h 18m
• 20K: 2h 36m
• 30K: 3h 55m
• 40K: 5h 13m

Age limit: we accept entries from runners who were born before 6th October 1990.

Categories

Prizes awarded only by gender 1st-6th places in arriving order, no separate awards by categories.

Asics pace makers

There will be Asics pace makers who run 3:30, 4:00 and 4:30 times to help amateurs better achieve their own planned time. Each time span will have two runners assigned to, with attached colour balloons to they can be seen from a distance: 3:30 - red balloons, 4:00 - yellow balloons, 4:30 - blue balloons.

Refreshment stations

There will be eleven refreshment stations along the course, making sure you acquire the amount of liquid that you need. The first and last stations will only provide water while all other stations offer banana, lemon, glucose, isodrink and water. All stations supply water so you can wet your sponge while running. We ask all runners to keep their sponges with them until the end of the race. Refreshment station locations are at: 4.2 km - 8.4 km - 11.8 km - 15.8 km - 19.6 km - 24.3 km - 28 km - 32 km - 36.5 km - 40.2 km - and in the finish. Toilets will be set up in the start/finish area and beside each station.

Personal refreshments

Runners may also use their own refreshments. Should you prefer these, please submit them at the race centre on 04. October 2008 at the desk where you pick up your start number or on 05. October 2008 from 7:30 am to 8:45 am next to the entrance of the Petőfi Hall. Attention: we will provide blank stickers and markers at the area so you can label your refreshments. Make sure you write your start number and station number on the label because without this information we cannot get it to the appropriate place for you. We cannot help in giving own refreshments to the runners. Unused bottles and containers of such will be disposed of after the race.

First aid

First aid will be available from start to finish, at multiple locations throughout the course. These are: an ambulance that will follow behind the race, another ambulance will be ready at the Lánchíd (Chain Bridge) in the relay switch area, doctors will constantly circle up and down the course, and a final first aid station will be set up at the finish line.

Finish

The finish will be located near Olof Palme promenade (in City Park). Relay runners will have to enter a separate lane. All marathon runners will receive a unique medal and a finisher bag upon crossing the finish line. The finish area is reserved only for runners and race staff - friends, relatives and other company may not enter this area. We ask all runners to return their chips to one of the collecting tents. There will be medal graving in the finish area in case you would like to have your name and time onto the medal.

Massage after the race

At the finish area, masseurs will be waiting for those who wish to relax their feet. The massage is free; its duration is about 10 minutes.

Relaxing in the Széchenyi Bath

Paying the original entry fee means that you are authorised to have a rest in the Széchenyi Bath after the race (one of Hungary's famous thermal baths). You may enter the bath after showing your start number. Entrance will be on the circus side of the bath. We kindly ask all our runners to take a quick shower before using the Széchenyi Thermal Baths after the race, in order to keep the water as clean as possible for their fellow visitors. You can go to the bath till 17 o'clock.

Results

Net time is being measured by ChampionChip timing system. Results may be viewed on the race site on 05. October 2008 from 22:00 pm . We send result booklet and certificate with own finisher picture to all marathon finishers in November. Awarding: there will be an absolute awarding system between marathon and 30km runners.

Important information

Please note: fair sportsman-like behaviour is expected of all participants. Please keep the marked route. The race number must be worn on the chest. There is no possibility for participation without chip. It is forbidden to participate in the race with skates, bicycles, dogs or other pets. Violation of these rules or not wearing a start number will result in exclusion from the race. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Entries will be limited upon decision of the organiser. Entry forms will be dealt within the order of their incoming. Early submission of the entry forms will guarantee your participation in the marathon. Due to organizational reasons, payment of the registration fee by cheque is not possible. In case of double registration a handling fee of EUR 5 will be deducted from the amount to be refunded. Registered participants, who fail to take part in the race, for whatever reasons, may not claim a refund of the participation fee, but the registration will be valid for next year. Please make sure that your e-mail address is given correctly, otherwise it will be impossible to mail the confirmation.

Programs

The day of the marathon is also a family day and multiple programs will await adults and children throughout the whole day on Felvonulási tér. Various artists will perform on stage all day long and you can visit the sport-exhibitions or have a meal in one of the different restaurants nearby. A performance of fireworks will be closing the event at 8.00 p.m. in the evening.

Public transport

Vehicles you can take to City Park (Városliget): underground (labelled M1, the yellow line) or trolley bus number 70, 72, 74, 75, 79. More information on www.bkv.hu/angol/home/index.html

Training opportunities

There are many places of training in Budapest. Let us recommend some of these to our runners: the most beautiful and most famous ones are Margaret Island and City Park (Városliget).

Training opportunities

• Run the Marathon in relay team! A race for teams of 3 or 5 runners; the course, start location and time are similar to the Marathon. Distances for teams of 3 members: 12.6 km - 21.6 km - 8 km; distances for teams of 5 members: 12.6 km - 7.4 km - 8.2 km - 6 km - 8 km. Start: 10.00.
• 30 km is a special running race. Participants join the marathon runners at the 12.195th km with the same pace. Start: according to personal pace.
• Minimarathon: 7.5 km race. Start: 10.15.
• Have you got a child? Fun Run was created for them: 4 km race. Starts: 9.20 and 9.40.
• Walking Day in City Park: 3.5 km, start from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m continuously
• Plus Walking: 4 km, start at 9.45 (after the second start of Fun Run).

Don't miss the common training with your running mates before the Marathon! Breakfast Run on 04. October 2008 on Margaret Island (Margitsziget). Distance: 5 km. Start: 9 a.m. Race centre: Margaret Island Athletic Centre (Margitszigeti Atlétikai Centrum).

How to register?

You can register:

• on-line, on this website
• by downloading, filling in and sending back the entry form to Budapest Marathon Organisation to Vaci út 152. Budapest-1138, HUNGARY or by e-mail to budapest.run@t-online.hu
• entering the race on the spot for foreigner runners: at "Local entries" desk located at the Petőfi Hall

Entry fees

Amount is determined by the date of payment!

In case you have already took part on our race, please contact us at budapest.run@t-online.hu for a discount entry fee.

Future date

• 05. October 2008
• 04. October 2009
• 03. October 2010