Interview with Limassol Marathon GSO

You are organizing the Limassol Marathon GSO on April 10th 2016. Can you describe briefly what makes your event unique? Why should runners participate in it? 

The Limassol Marathon GSO is unique in so many ways. The most important characteristic of the Limassol Marathon - and one of its biggest comparative advantages - is that the race course stretches for 21 km along the beautiful Mediterranean coastline of the city of Limassol. This provides runners with beautiful scenery and a refreshing sea breeze. Another important characteristic of the Limassol Marathon GSO is that the race course is flat. This enables professional runners to improve their personal times and semi-professionals or just running enthusiasts to enjoy a relatively easy race, which nevertheless complies with the highest international running standards.

All of the races are traffic free, and they are measured and timed by experienced professionals. We are certified by AIMS and we try to provide our international runners with all the comforts so that they can stay focused on their race and enjoy their stay in Limassol!

What is the scenery along the route like?

The scenery of the Limassol Marathon is one of its strongest characteristics. The race starts from the multifunctional sea-side park of Limassol. It stretches along the 21 km Limassol coast, providing the runner with beautiful and picturesque scenery. The Limassol Marathon runners will see the city as it really is. They will see the modern development of the city with its high-rise building as well as the city's history with the ancient Amathus ruins, which date back to 1100 BC. Of course, all of the aforementioned sights are right next to the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

What things have the participants particularly liked about your event?

We are proud to say that most of our runners leave the Limassol Marathon satisfied. Through our research, we have concluded that the most popular characteristics of our event are the overall atmosphere, the race route and the holiday experience aspect of our event. In detail, our runners liked the fact that the start of the Limassol Marathon is a big festivity embraced by the people of Limassol. Thousands of participants and spectators come to the starting point to cheer the contestants on. There is live music and live acts, and the atmosphere is rather vibrant and enthusiastic. This is a very good boost for the runners. The race route with its aforementioned beauties as well as its flat nature leaves the runners satisfied. Furthermore, our international runners enjoy the packages we provide them for accommodation, transportation etc. in order to have a care-free marathon experience.

Where is your event located and how are runners able to travel there easily?

Our event is located at the multifunctional sea-side park of Molos. Limassol is a small city in comparison to other major Marathon destinations. The Molos Park is located on the east end of the coastal road of Limassol and is accessible via public transportation (buses). Furthermore, many hotels and major locations of Limassol are within a walking distance from the park. 

For those who want to be more comfortable and who want to get the chance to discover the city as well as Cyprus, the Limassol Marathon can provide very attractive car rental deals.

How many runners do you expect to have in your event?

We expect the event to be sold-out with 10,000 runners.

When was your event arranged for the first time?

The Limassol Marathon GSO first took place in 2006. This year is special for us as it is the 10th anniversary of the race.

Why was your event created in the first place and how has it changed over the years?

Our event was created as an initiative from the 4 major authorities of the city. These are the Limassol Municipality, the Athletics Club of Limassol (GSO), the Chamber of Commerce and the Limassol Tourist Development Company.

The event started in 2006 with 70 runners! In 2015 we had 10,000 runners from 50 different countries. The Limassol Marathon has become the biggest sports event on the island, with 6 different races. Our races are: The Marathon Race, the Half-Marathon Race, the Petrolina 10  km Health Race, the PrimeTel 5 km Corporate Race, the 5 km City Race and the McDonald's 1 km Kids Race.

What else should runners do in the city after/before the race?

The city of Limassol, as well as Cyprus, has a history which goes back thousands of years. In Limassol, you can visit the ancient Amathunta Kingdom, where Theseus left the pregnant Ariadne to be cared for after the battle with the Minotaur. Furthermore, you can visit the ancient kingdom of Kourion and enjoy the magnificent view from the ancient Kourion amphitheatre. The Kolossi Castle, a crusader stronghold at the time, is also located 11 km west of Limassol. Additionally, in the center of Limassol you can visit the castle of Richard the Lionheart. 

The Limassol district is also full of beautiful traditional villages with a strong heritage on winemaking. Enjoy the traditional Cypriot wine, which according to mythology was favored by Dionysus, the god of the grape harvest, winemaking, ritual madness, fertility, theatre and religious ecstasy.

For the less adventurous, a simple relaxing walk along the beautiful beaches of Limassol may be enough.

Anything else you want to tell about your event?

The Limassol Marathon will take place on Sunday the 10th of April 2016. 

Our early bird registration will be open until the 31st of January 2016. We offer a 40% discount for early bird registrations.