Islandsbanki Reykjavik Marathon

The annual Islandsbanki Reykjavik Marathon will take place in mid August, the same day as Reykjavik Culture Night. The Marathon starts and finishes in Laekjargata, in the heart of Reykjavik.Runners can choose from six different distances: marathon, half marathon, relay race, 10 km race, 3 km fun run and a LazyTown run. The race offers an atmosphere which is both relaxed and welcoming. Around 1,000 runners participate in the marathon and 2,000 in the half marathon, making both races less crowded than is generally the case in larger events. Since the Reykjavik Marathon also includes 10k, 3k fun run and children’s run distances, it’s also a family event and fits all age groups and levels.The running conditions in Reykjavik marathon are usually extremely comfortable – the route is smoothly paved and very flat, while the weather tends to be breezy and in the mid-teens centigrade. Much of the Reykjavik Marathon route is along the coast line of Reykjavik and Seltjarnarnes, offering participants the benefits of the fresh breeze from the ocean with some blue mountains in the backdrop. Participation in the Reykjavik Marathon is surely a lifetime experience and a unique way to see the city.

MarathonThe course of the Reykjavik Marathon is unique, and very scenic. The marathon is one lap (except for the last part, as it goes nearly the same route as in the beginning of the race). The race starts and finishes downtown within sight of the pond and the city hall. The location is unbeatable, considering that a large number of hotels are within 5 to 10 minutes walking distance from the start of the race.The first part of the course runs through a residential area where many of the inhabitants come out of their houses to cheer the runners on. This is followed by a section where the runners pass along the seaside and have excellent views of the ocean, but also of the mountains surrounding Reykjavik, including Esjan and the Snæfellsjökull glacier. Participants in the marathon also run through the Elliðaárdal valley, the location of one of the country’s more popular salmon-fishing rivers, a small waterfall, and some woodland. In the last part of the race, the participants pass a number of famous buildings, including Höfdi House, a Reykjavik City Council reception venue where US President Ronald Reagan and USSR General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev met for a summit in 1986.Most of the race takes place on the streets of the city, although parts of the route are run on tracks, particularly the seaside and salmon river sections.These are the streets and tracks runners run through: Lækjargata, Fríkirkjuvegur, Skothúsvegur, Suðurgata, Lynghagi, Ægisíða, Nesvegur, Suðurströnd, Lindarbraut, Norðurströnd, Eiðsgrandi, Ánanaust, Fiskislóð, Grandagarður, Mýrargata, Geirsgata, Kalkofnsvegur, Sæbraut to east, Sæbraut to west, Kringlumýrarbraut, path alongside Suðurlandsbraut, Engjavegur, Múlavegur, Þvottalaugavegur, Engjavegur, path to the east alongside Suðurlandsbraut, pedestrian bridge over Miklubraut, path to the east alongside Miklubraut and under Reykjanesbraut, path to the south alongside Reykjanesbraut, path going under Reykjanesbraut and going to the west through Fossvogsdalur valley and follow the path up to Faxaskjól, Ægissíða, Nesvegur, Suðurströnd, go onto the path that goes around Bakkatjörn pond, pass lighthouse by Grótta, path alongside Norðurströnd, Eiðsgranda and Ánanaustum, Mýrargata, Geirsgata and Lækjargata.Half MarathonThe course of the half marathon is one lap. The race starts and finishes downtown within sight of the pond and the city hall. The location is unbeatable, considering that a large number of hotels are within 5 to 10 minutes walking distance from the start of the race.The first part of the course runs through a residential area where many of the inhabitants come out of their houses to cheer the runners on. This is followed by a section where the runners pass along the seaside and have excellent views of the ocean, but also of the mountains surrounding Reykjavik, including Esjan and the Snæfellsjökull glacier. In the last part of the race, the participants pass a number of famous buildings, including Höfdi House, a Reykjavik City Council reception venue where US President Ronald Reagan and USSR General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev met for a summit in 1986.Most of the race takes place on the streets of the city, although parts of the route are run on tracks, particularly the seaside section.These are the streets and tracks runners run through: Lækjargata, Fríkirkjuvegur, Skothúsvegur, Suðurgata, Lynghagi, Ægisíða, Nesvegur, Suðurströnd, Lindarbraut, Norðurströnd, Eiðsgrandi, Ánanaust, Fiskislóð, Grandagarður, Mýrargata, Geirsgata, Kalkofnsvegur, Sæbraut to the east, Sægarðar, Sæbraut to the west, Kalkofnsvegur and Lækjargata.

he course of the Reykjavik Marathon is unique, and very scenic. The race starts and finishes downtown within sight of the pond and the city hall. The location is unbeatable, considering that a large number of hotels are within 5 to 10 minutes' walking distance from the start of the race. The first part of the course runs through a residential area where many of the inhabitants come out of their houses to cheer the runners on. This is followed by a section where the runners pass along the seaside and have excellent views of the ocean, but also of the mountains surrounding Reykjavik, including Esjan and the Snæfellsjökull glacier. Participants in the marathon also run through the Elliðaárdal valley, the location of one of the country's more popular salmon-fishing rivers, a small waterfall, and some woodland. The participants pass a number of famous buildings, including Höfdi House, a Reykjavik City Council reception venue where US President Ronald Reagan and USSR General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev met for a summit in 1986.

Refreshment stations will be located every 5 KM. Powerade and water will be provided and bananas on the second half of the route. Runners in the full marathon can leave a refreshment at the EXPO. It will be brought to the 21 km and/or the 31 km drinking station. Be sure to mark your refreshments very well. At the refreshment station by the finish line marathon runners can also have pretzels.

All the runners that finish the race will receive a medal. The top three runners in the marathon will receive special awards as well as money prize.

Timing is done by a MyLaps/ChampionChip electronic timing. Each participant gets a chip that is linked to his/her name and number. This data chip has to be securely fastened to the runners shoe to give correct results. Click here for further information about timing.

The time limit for marathon and half marathon is six hours. Starting at 8:40 and ending at 14:40. The 10k race has a three hours time limit.