You are arranging the Reykjavik Spring Marathon on the 23rd of April, and the Autumn Marathon on the 22nd of October. Tell us something about the event - what makes it unique? Why should runners participate in it?
The Spring Marathon takes place in Reykjavik, the northernmost capital of the world in Iceland, the land of ice and fire. The island is the youngest landmass on earth with some unique geological wonders that cannot be found elsewhere in the world. You will meet the friendly and happy Icelanders and enjoy the best things the city has to offer.
How is the scenery?
The race starts on the banks of Elliðaá, one of the best salmon rivers in Iceland, in a valley with lava formation from a volcano that erupted about 5500 years ago. In Fossvogsdalur the course runs through a green valley on the boundaries between Reykjavik and the neighboring town Kópavogur. After crossing a bridge over one of the main highways to the south-west corner of the island, the North Atlantic Ocean meets the runners with a chance to see the stratovolcano Snæfellsjökull in the horizon over Faxaflói bay, made famous by Jules Verne in his 1864 novel Journey to the Center of the Earth.
The route bends away from the coastline for a while when running alongside Öskjuhlíð, a hill with a rotating restaurant Pearl on top of geothermal watertanks, that used to be an island after last ice age 10000 years ago when the sea level was 40 m higher than now. When coming back to the shoreline runners see a sandy beach, which is heated up by geothermal water during summer time to make the sea a little warmer to swim in. After passing the end of the runway of the domestic airport the route continues along the coast, with a view of Bessastaðir, the presidential residence, until it reaches the turning point on the west side of Reykjavik. On the way back on the same route, the scenery can be admired form a different perspective. The marathoners run two laps on the course.
What have participants especially liked about the event?
We have had comments like “the experience is one I won't soon forget from the scenery" to "the friendliest people I've ever met while running” and “It was an awesome experience to have had the chance to run in Reykjavik, Iceland”. I think what most people like is the personal, relaxed and friendly atmosphere around the race and how we have been able to make our guests feel welcome.
How can runners travel to the event?
The event is located in the capital of Iceland, our island in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean between America and Europe. There are frequent flight connections to Iceland from most major cities on both continents. The international airport is in Keflavik, about 50 km from Reykjavik. In Reykjavík there are hotels of all sizes and standards. The race takes place in the eastern part of the city, about 5,5 km east from the city center. You can take the bus number 16 from Hlemmur square, the main bus terminal in the city. The bus stops about 300 meters from the start. It's also possible to take a taxi to the start. The address is Rafstöðvarvegur 4.
How many runners do you expect to have in the event?
We expect to have around 250 runners in the race. Foreign runners have shown more interest in the event than ever before, so we might very well exceed that number. There is however no risk that we will be sold out. There is plenty of space for everyone.
When was the event arranged for the first time?
The first event took place in 1998. In the beginning we only offered the marathon distance, but since 2005 we have also organized a half marathon. We arrange two events every year, the Reykjavik Spring Marathon and the Reykjavik Autumn Marathon. The total number of marathons we have arranged are now up to 36, with 21 half marathons.
Why was your event created in the first place and how has it changed over the years?
The event was created in the beginning to give Icelandic runners more marathons to choose from. Before that the only marathon held in Iceland was the Reykjavik marathon, so by adding these two marathons the number of marathons in Iceland tripled. In the beginning of the century it became more and more popular to travel from abroad to run a marathon here. At some point we considered to discontinue organizing the race, but then we had the bank crash in 2008 and the runners came back.
What kind of weather conditions should runners expect to face in your event?
In Iceland the weather can be very unpredictable. The temperature can range from 0°C to 10°C or even higher if the sun appears. It is therefore wise to bring warm running clothes along just in case.
What else should runners do in the city after/before the race?
Although Reykjavík is a small city on an international scale, it has a cosmopolitan appearance with lots of culture, arts and activities. The city has many geothermal pools and spas worth visiting, especially after the race. The downtown area is filled with unique and delicious restaurants that offer tasty Icelandic cuisine. In addition, there is no better way to experience the best of downtown Reykjavik than to join the fun on Wake Up Reykjavík’s “Reykjavik Bar Crawl tour”. For more information visit Wake up Reykjavik.
The following day you can go on a whale watching tour or walk around the city visiting some of the art museums, the Hallgrímskirkja church, the old harbor, the whale or settlement exhibitions, the Pearl with a nice view over the city, or the Höfði house. For more information and accommodation, we recommend that you visit Visit Reykjavik. If you plan to do some trips out to the countryside, we highly recommend that you contact the nice people at Icelandic Farm Holidays. They will help you plan your ideal holiday in the countryside. They have over 170 countryside accommodations and organize self-drives.
Anything else you want to tell about your event?
Until now we haven't had many foreign runners coming to our race, but we believe that it is about to change. Our goal is to offer a low priced event in the beautiful environment of the city, based on the work of volunteers that have a passion for running. Those that have showed up so far have not been disappointed. Here are some of their comments:
"Thanks for organizing this great day. It added a lot of fun to our stay in Reykjavik. See you during a future run!!"
"I wanted to say thank you so much for being so responsive and going the extra mile in making sure I made it. Great race. Great people! I'll make sure I come back!!"
"Thank you again for putting this race on and being so in touch with the runners. The 2 girls who ran it with me were also very happy and excited to have run in it and very pleased with the raffle gifts they got at the finish! I wish you much success and future growth and would consider another trip to Iceland, perhaps some spring to see more of your beautiful country and of course, run another half marathon there."
Read more and sign up for Reykjavik Spring Marathon or Reykjavik Autumn Marathon!
