Eurasia Marathon - Definition

The Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon, also known as the Eurasia Marathon, is an international athletics event organized by the metropolitan municipality in Istanbul, Turkey every year in October since 1979. The course is asphalt, mostly flat and is free of traffic. It is the only course in the world where the marathon includes two continents, Asia and Europe, in one race. The marathon starts on the Asian side of the city, short before the First Bosporus Bridge, crosses the bridge giving an outstanding view of the Bosporus and Istanbul, and passes many historic sites including the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and ends in the Inönü Stadium in the European part. In all, the race crosses three bridges, one over the Bosporus and two over the Golden Horn.

To register for the marathon, participants must be 18 years of age or older on the race day. The three race categories for men and women are: marathon, 15 km and public run. A special category for disabled persons exists also. Course record for men is held by Taye Moges of Ethiopia in 2 hours 13 minutes and 37seconds (1997), and for women by Andriana Barbu of Romania in 2:34:39 (1997). In 2003, 571 athlets (523 men and 48 women) from all over the world took part in the marathon category only. Participation in the public run was with 150.000 people a record set in 1998.

External link

• Official Web site of the Eurasia Marathon (http://www.istanbulmarathon.org.tr/)